VIDEO – Atlanta, Georgia Theft by Shoplifting Charges – Dunwoody, Alpharetta, Kennesaw

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I’ve received theft by shoplifting charges in Georgia, but my court notice says Dunwoody Municipal Court, what’s happening here?

Hello, I’m attorney Scott Smith and I’m here today to talk with you about shoplifting charges. We see a lot of theft by shoplifting arrests in metro Atlanta due to the number of shopping malls in the area. Lenox Mall, Phipps, Atlantic Station, Perimeter Mall, North Point Mall, Town Center, and all the other malls in the Atlanta area.

We also see a lot of shoplifting charges coming from stores like Walmart, Marshall’s, and TJ Maxx.

Many of these cases will originate in municipal courts like Atlanta, Dunwoody, Alpharetta, and Kennesaw.

A theft by shoplifting charge in Georgia can be accused as a misdemeanor or a felony depending on: the amount alleged to have been taken, the number of shoplifting convictions showing on your criminal history, and whether there was a pattern of recent shoplifting activity.

Shoplifting cases generally have two components. The first part is the criminal case. But often folks arrested for theft by shoplifting will receive a letter in the mail from law firms or collection agencies on behalf of the store asking for a payment for a civil penalty. We urge anyone watching this to consult with a Georgia attorney before making any payment to a law firm or collection agency due to this shoplifting charge. It could have an impact on your case.

It is important to state people who shoplift are not bad people. Generally the case comes down to one of three things. The person charged is sometimes depressed. It was an honest mistake such as an accidental concealment or not actually taking the item. Or finally the person thought they needed the item to survive or they were taking it for thrills. Ninety percent of the people we represent fall within the first two categories, depression or an honest mistake.

There are many was to resolve your theft by shoplifting charges in Georgia. Our office of experienced Georgia shoplifting attorneys can evaluate your case and tell you about potential defenses and outcomes. Let us help you today. Call our office at 404-581-0999. Thank you.

VIDEO – What Happens to Your Georgia Drivers License After You Are Arrested for DUI in Georgia

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You’ve been arrested for DUI in Georgia. The officer has read you Georgia’s Implied Consent Notice, requesting a blood or breath test. What do you do? What happens if you refuse to take the State’s test? Can you get a permit to drive to work or school? What happens to your drivers license after DUI arrest in Georgia?

Watch the video below and call us today at 404-581-0999 for a free consultation or to answer your questions.

What happens to your Georgia Driver’s License after DUI arrest in Georgia?

Hello, I’m attorney Scott Smith and today we’re talking about what happens to your Georgia Driver’s License after you’ve been arrested for DUI here in Georgia.

You’re arrested for DUI. You’re read from an orange card asking for a blood or breath test and then later the police officer takes your license from you. In its place he hands you a sheet of paper called a DDS 1205 form. I’ve got an example right here. It has some basic information on the top and on the bottom it says notice of license suspension and temporary driving permit.

Can the officer take my license from me? What is this sheet of paper? Why did I receive it?

That piece of paper is going to act as your temporary Georgia driver’s license. In Georgia, our law allows the police officer to take your license from you and return it to the Department of Driver Services, also known as DDS for suspension by simply being suspected of DUI. That piece of paper that the officer gives you in place of your license states your license will be suspended in thirty days if you do not request an appeal of the suspension within ten business days from the date of your arrest. In essence, you only have ten days to prevent an automatic suspension of your license. If you don’t appeal the pending suspension, your license gets suspended.

You may lose your ability to drive for one year. If you are arrested for DUI and you did not give the officer the test they requested, that means a one year suspension with no ability to get a work permit to drive for work. If you did give the requested sample, and the result was over the legal limit, you may be eligible for a work permit.

At our office of experienced Atlanta criminal defense attorneys, we can look at your case, let you know if you need to submit a request for appeal, help you make sure your appeal is submitted correctly so you do not lose your right to drive, and we’ll even give you a copy of the ten day letter which you can submit on your own to get the process started.

Don’t lose your ability to drive after a DUI arrest. Call us today at 404-581-0999. Thank you.

VIDEO: Charged with Carrying a Firearm into Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport?

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EO70ooDXuEw&feature=youtu.be

Forgot you left your Glock 19 in your carryon bag?

This happens more often than you would imagine.

In 2012, Hartsfield-Jackson Airport in Atlanta had more guns seized at TSA checkpoints than any airport in the U.S. with 96.  Don’t leave your gun in your carry-on bag, because what results is being charged with Carrying a Weapon in an Unauthorized Area.  Your weapon will be seized and you will be arrested.

Once arrested, you will be fingerprinted and need to make bond.  If arrested at Hartsfield-Jackson Airport for Carrying a Weapon in an Unauthorized Area, your court case will be assigned to the Clayton County State Court Solicitor General’s Office for prosecution.  Bond will likely be $3,500.00.

Our firm has handled a number of these cases and every case to-date has been dismissed.  There are several proactive steps we can take in order to make sure the case gets dismissed; including a gun safety course and community service.  It should be noted there is also an administrative component to these cases where the Department of Homeland Security/TSA will move to fine you through the administrative courts.  If you find yourself having been charged and want to protect your record, CALL US immediately 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 404-581-0999.

VIDEO: DUI Courthouse Procedure in Municipal Court of Atlanta

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Peachstate’s own W. Scott Smith discusses procedure in the Municipal Court of Atlanta for people arrested for DUI in the City of Atlanta.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8EYTmmB0KDc&feature=youtu.be

For those arrested for DUI in the city of Atlanta, you are generally pulled over by a city of Atlanta police officer or a Georgia Department of Public Safety state trooper. They will give you a citation to appear in court at 150 Garnett Street, Atlanta, GA 30303 generally within 72 hours of the time of arrest. The Municipal Court of Atlanta generally has between 800 and 1500 people on its calendar daily. The courtroom that handles DUI in the Municipal Court of Atlanta is Courtroom 5A and the Judge is Christopher E. Ward. He takes the bench promptly around 8:10 every morning. He handles all cases for citizens who have retained private counsel first before handling unrepresented persons or persons who have hired the public defender. No electronic devices are allowed in his courtroom and he requires everyone pay attention to all proceedings (no reading of books, newspapers, or magazines, either).

If you’ve been arrested, we can handle that first court appearance for you. If you hire our law firm we will file an entry of appearance on your behalf and show up at that first court date. We will also show up at all subsequent court dates on your behalf which will hopefully ease the burden of arrest. Don’t go into the City of Atlanta unrepresented. Call 404-581-0999 today for a FREE CONSULTATION. We will meet with you on the weekend if necessary to discuss your case and representing you in this pending DUI charge.