If you drive 85 mph or faster on any road or 75 mph or faster on a two-lane highway in Smyrna, Georgia, you become a super speeder. In addition to the local fines, you must also pay a $200 super speeder fee to the Georgia Department of Driver Services (DDS). You have 90 days from […]
Rule 24-4-404 generally prohibits the admission of evidence of a person’s character or character traits to prove that they acted in conformity with that character on a particular occasion. In simple terms, the State cannot argue: “he did it before, so he must have done it again.” This is the fundamental bar against propensity evidence. […]
Under existing federal and state law, police can conduct a warrantless search of a vehicle under specific circumstances and still comply with the provisions of the 4th amendment against unreasonable searches and seizures. This exception is known as a search incident to arrest established in Arizona v. Gant, 556. U.S. 332 (2009). Gant outlines two […]
In Georgia, asset forfeiture is the government’s way of taking property it claims is connected to a crime. Most often, you see it in drug cases. The State isn’t just prosecuting the person, it’s going after the property itself like cash, cars, or even a house. Under Georgia Controlled Substances Act, law enforcement can seize […]
O.C.G.A. § 16-11-39 classifies disorderly conduct as a misdemeanor offense. The law prohibits various behaviors that disturb the peace or endanger others’ safety. What Counts as Disorderly Conduct? A person commits disorderly conduct when they: Act violently or loudly in a way that makes someone fear for their safety. Behave violently in a manner that […]
Under Official Code of Georgia Annotated § 16-8-14, theft by shoplifting occurs when someone takes merchandise without paying. The person must intend to keep it or deprive the owner of its value. This includes actions like: Concealing or taking items Switching price tags or labels Putting items in different packaging Paying […]
The legal standard of “beyond a reasonable doubt” is the cornerstone of the criminal justice system. However, the history of this standard has continued to evolve since before the 18th century. The criminal justice system struggled due to the heavy influence of religious ideologies. Jurors feared that convicting an innocent person would lead to religious […]
Under Official Code of Georgia Annotated § 16-8-14, theft by shoplifting occurs when someone takes merchandise without paying. The person must intend to keep it or deprive the owner of its value. This includes actions like: Concealing or taking items Switching price tags or labels Putting items in different packaging Paying […]
In Georgia, a theft charge can encompass either misdemeanor or felony penalties, depending on the value of the goods or property in question. If you have been arrested for theft, you could be charged with any of the following: theft by taking, theft by deception, theft by conversion, theft by shoplifting, and so on. However, […]
If you missed a court date in the Municipal Court of Atlanta, you may now have “FTA” (Failure to Appear) status. This means you didn’t show up for your scheduled court date, and the court may have suspended your driver’s license as a result. Many people don’t realize this has happened until an officer pulls […]
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