Can a Spouse of a Convicted Felon Own a Gun in Georgia?

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By:  Mary Agramonte

Georgia law prohibits people convicted of felonies from possessing firearms. Similarly, people currently on first offender probation are also not allowed to carry guns. You must be discharged from probation as a first offender without an adjudication of guilt in order to lawfully possess a firearm. Felons cannot have guns unless and until their rights are restored in the State of Georgia.

But what if you are a convicted felon and someone else near you owns a gun? Or what if you are in the same vehicle as someone who has a gun? Likewise, one of the questions we are asked most often is “can my spouse or partner have a gun in the same home as me if I am a felon?”

The short answer is: it depends. The question that is going to be asked by law enforcement and the Courts is whether or not the State can prove YOU possessed the gun. You do not have to actually have it in your hand or your pocket in order to be charged and convicted with Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. In some instances, it simply has to be near you, or in a place where the circumstances point to the weapon being yours. This is because Georgia law recognizes two different kinds of ‘possession.’ The first is Actual Possession and the other kind is Constructive Possession.

Actual Possession is where you truly possess the gun: it is in your pocket or in your car, for example. With Constructive Possession, the line can be a little more blurry on whether or not you will be arrested or convicted of possession the firearm by a convicted felon. When  dealing with Constructive Possession, you can be arrested for possessing a firearm even if you never possessed it. The State can prove it through circumstantial evidence. For example, constructive possession occurs where a gun is in a shared hotel room with you and a friend, and you know the gun is there, and you tell police where it is. In that situation, the State will allege you had possession of the firearm- even if you never touched it. Another example of constructive possession would be if the gun was found in the drawer of a shared bedroom, near clothes that match your gender. Additionally, you can be charged with possession of a firearm by convicted felony if your co-defendant carried a gun in an armed robbery that you were a part of even if you never touched the gun.

So the answer to the age-old question is yes, your spouse can own a gun as long as you don’t possess it- actually or constructively, but to be wary as the distinction is not always clear. If you or a loved one has been arrested for Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon, call us today for a free consultation on the case at 404-581-0999.

Georgia DUI Law: DUI and Your Record

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An arrest and/or conviction for DUI in Georgia will impact your record. There are two types of records, a criminal record, maintained by the Georgia Crime and Information Center (GCIC) and your driving record, also called a Motor Vehicle Report (MVR – maintained by the Department of Driver’s Services).

This article serves to explain how a DUI affects your record, both criminal and driving, and whether you can get a DUI taken off of your records.

Georgia Criminal Record

If you are arrested, booked, and fingerprinted, this information will be forwarded to GCIC and placed on your record. If you are applying for a new job, housing, or if your employer runs a background check on you, they will be able to see the arrest on your GCIC. Each arrest is reported as a “cycle,” which shows the date of arrest, the arresting agency, the offense charged, and a “disposition.” The disposition describes the outcome of the case. If the case is still pending, the disposition will show an arrest but no outcome. If you are convicted or the case was dismissed or reduced, the disposition will state as such.

If you are convicted of DUI, whether at trial or through a plea, it will remain on your record permanently. You will not be able to get the record restricted, you cannot get it expunged, you cannot use first offender. This remains true even if your DUI charge was reduced to Reckless Driving.

Georgia Driving Record

Your Motor Vehicle Report (MVR) is very similar to your GCIC. If you have been arrested for DUI and the officer takes your driver’s license in order to facilitate an administrative suspension of your license, your MVR will show a pending administrative license suspension. If this administrative potion of the case is dismissed, your MVR will be cleared up. However, if you are ultimately convicted of DUI through a plea or trial, your MVR will reflect this conviction and you can expect your insurance prices to rise because insurance companies have access to these MVR’s. This conviction will remain on your MVR permanently.

Contact Us

If you or someone you know has been arrested for driving under the influence, contact the law firm of W. Scott Smith at 404.581.0999 today for a free case evaluation. You’ll find a local Atlanta DUI attorney ready to aggressively fight on your behalf. You can also find out more detailed information about Atlanta laws here.

Juvenile Traffic Attorney in Georgia

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When someone under the age of 17 receives a traffic ticket, the Juvenile Court in the county where the offense occurred carries jurisdiction to handle it. Traffic tickets given to children under the age of 17 are classified in one of two ways. 1) Juvenile Traffic or 2) Delinquency case. Some of the most common Juvenile Traffic cases are:

·       Speeding

·       Following too Closely

·       Failure to Obey Traffic Control Device

·       Use of a Cell Phone

·       Failure to Yield

·       Failure to Maintain Lane

Certain offenses, however, are handled strictly as Delinquency cases. These offenses are treated much more serious within Juvenile Court. The following offenses are treated as Delinquency cases in Georgia:

·       Aggressive driving

·       Reckless driving

·       DUI Alcohol or Drugs

·       A speeding offense punishable by four or more points

·       Homicide by vehicle

·       Manslaughter resulting from the operation of a vehicle

·       Any felony in the commission of which a motor vehicle is used

·       Racing

·       Fleeing or attempting to elude an officer

·       Fraudulent or fictitious use of a driver’s license

·       Hit and run or leaving the scene of an accident

·       Any offense committed by an unlicensed driver under 16 years of age

On these more serious delinquency matters, the child could be ordered into temporary custody of DFCS, or if the child has prior juvenile history, or commits a felony, then he or she can be placed in an institution, camp, or other facility for delinquent children. There are several less severe ways a Judge can handle the case that do not involve the sanctions mentioned above. For example, the following dispositions are also available in Juvenile court:

·       Reprimand or order (only available for less serious tickets)

·       License suspension

·       Traffic school, Community Service, and/or a Fine

·       Substance abuse program

·       Probation

Even better, in most Juvenile Traffic cases, an informal disposition is available in most Georgia counties’ Juvenile Court. This sometimes is called Diversion or Abeyance. This means the Court does not transmit the disposition to the Department of Driver’s Services, or to the State at all. After a brief supervision period or perhaps a traffic class or community service, the child’s case is dismissed and the juvenile record can be completely sealed. 

It is important to note that the Department of Driver Services will suspend juvenile license privileges once a ticket is paid in some situations, including WITH certain speeding offenses. It is not wise to handle a juvenile traffic case without a lawyer for this reason amongst the other consequences possible within Juvenile Courts in Georgia.

If you or a loved one has received a traffic ticket and are under the age of 17, call us today for a FREE CONSULTATION on how to best proceed with your case. 404-581-0999.

Traffic Tickets while Traveling through Atlanta, Georgia

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by Ryan Walsh

We receive calls every day from people who receive traffic tickets while driving on the highways of Georgia. Due to traffic, congestion, construction, and rural police departments, out of state residents are targeted and ticketed every day.

These local courts think they can make money off of you since you live out of state. They think you will just pay the fine and move along. Sometimes the officer will even tell you that it is a non-points violation and can just be paid online when that isn’t actually the case.

Georgia is a points state, meaning every conviction for a moving violation involves points that may be added to your out of state license. Also, the conviction may be reported on your driving history and affect insurance rates.

Traffic tickets in Georgia involve more than just a payment of a fine. It is important to understand the risk of just paying the citation on your driving history. It may cost you a lot more than just the fine amount.

Common traffic tickets we see involving out of state drivers include move-over violations, super speeder tickets, hands-free device citations, and accident cases.

I work every day in the traffic courts around Georgia and can give you the best advice on how to approach your citation. Call us today at 404-581-0999 and ask for Ryan Walsh or e-mail me anytime at ryan@peachstatelawyer.com.

What do you do if you are arrested for possession with intent or trafficking in drugs in Georgia?

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If you or a loved one is arrested for Possession with Intent to Distribute or Trafficking in Georgia, it is important that you act immediately to protect yourself. Do not wait until your court date to get an attorney and to preserve evidence.

The District Attorney has a dedicated division to prosecute cases involving Possession with Intent to Distribute or Trafficking. They will vigorously prosecute you if you are charged with a crime involving selling cocaine, heroin, methamphetamines, marijuana or other illegal drugs.   

Do not think that just because you are innocent that the charges will be dismissed. Drug charges are aggressively prosecuted all over the State of Georgia.

Make sure your attorney has had felony jury trials and has won these cases. Do not let an attorney handle your case who does not specifically handle drug cases. Many drug cases are won at a motions hearing. It is imperative that you get body cams, dash cams, search warrants and take witness statements of anyone involved in the search and seizure of the drugs.  

The law may say you are presumed innocent but in drug cases, you have to prove your innocence.

Here is what you should do if arrested for Possession with Intent to Distribute or Trafficking.

  1. Hire an attorney – Make sure that attorney actually handles and tries drug cases. Most criminal defense attorneys do not handle these cases. Make sure the attorney you talk to does regularly handles drug cases in Georgia
  2. Avoid making any statements – Do not walk into the police department and profess your innocence. The police will not believe you. Do not think you can show up at your first court date and tell the prosecutor and judge that you are innocent and expect the charges to be dropped. If you are arrested for possession with intent to distribute or trafficking, you have to start preparing for your jury trial. Do not make any statements to anyone except your lawyer.
  3. Start gathering important evidence
    1. Gather and preserve any physical evidence in your possession.
    1. Gather and preserve any documents that might relate to this accusation including emails, texts, social media, phone records, GPS records, computer records or any other document that might show where you were when this incident allegedly occurred.
    1. Witnesses – Immediately make a list of any person who you think might have information about this accusation. Do not discuss the case with this person but pass this list of potential witnesses to your attorney and let your attorney contact them.

Here is what you should never do if arrested for possession with intent to distribute or trafficking in Georgia.

  1. Never talk to law enforcement or the prosecutor without an attorney.

If you are arrested for possession with intent to distribute or trafficking in cocaine, heroin, marijuana, methamphetamine or any other illegal drug, please call our office 24/7 at 404-581-0999 or send us an email at mike@peachstatelawyer.com. We will sit down with you and fully discuss your case and what to expect in court. There is no charge for the initial consultation. You will only retain us if you feel we are the best law firm to represent you. It is your case and your life so you need to hire the lawyer that you feel gives you the best chance to win.

Georgia DUI Law: Challenging the Stop, Defective Equipment

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Georgia DUI investigations usually begin with a routine traffic stop. At a minimum, in order to stop you and your vehicle, the stopping officer needs to have “reasonable and articulable suspicion” to believe a crime has, or is about to be committed. An officer normally satisfies this requirement by observing a traffic or equipment violation. However, if it is determined the officer did NOT have reasonable and articulable suspicion to stop your vehicle; this could result in the suppression of evidence and the ultimate dismissal of a DUI charge.

Therefore, it is crucial to examine the most common types of traffic violations that result in a DUI investigation. This article serves to inform you of the nature, methods of proof, penalties, and challenges to a defective equipment offense in Georgia.

The Offense

O.C.G.A. §§ 40-8-7(a) and (b) state:

(a) No person shall drive or move on any highway any motor vehicle, trailer, semi trailer, or pole trailer, or any combination thereof, unless the equipment upon any and every such vehicle is in good working order and adjustment as required in this chapter and the vehicle is in such safe mechanical condition as not to endanger the driver or other occupant or any person upon the highway.

(b) It is a misdemeanor for any person to drive or move, or for the owner to cause or knowingly permit to be driven or moved, on any street or highway any vehicle or combination of vehicles:

(1) Which is in such unsafe condition as to endanger any person;

(2) Which does not contain those parts or is not at all times equipped with such lights and other equipment in proper condition and adjustment as required in this chapter; or

(3) Which is equipped in any manner in violation of this chapter.

Even if you are driving perfectly, a police officer may still stop your vehicle if any of its equipment is non-operational. Examples include, but are not limited to, missing taillight, broken tag light, or a low hanging bumper. Although the spirit of this law is to protect other motorists from defective vehicles on the road, this traffic offense is often used as a “pre-textual stop,” meaning the officer stops you for this offense in hopes of discovering another criminal offense, particularly DUI. Although the law used to criticize these types of stops, a line of United States Supreme Court cases has weakened these types of challenges.[1]   

Penalties

Under Georgia law, technically, these equipment violations are misdemeanors and are therefore punishable with up to a maximum fine of $1,000 and up to one year in jail. Although these are the maximum punishments, equipment violations generally do not result in jail time. Normally, if you get the defective equipment fixed, and provide proof of such to the prosecuting attorney, your case will likely be dismissed.

Challenging the Stop

If an officer pulls you over for an equipment violation and ultimately arrests you for DUI, you may lodge a challenge to the stop of your vehicle through a motion to suppress or a motion in limine. These challenges are designed to attack the stop, arrest, or any evidence gathered as a result of an unlawful stop and/or arrest.

If you are facing a DUI-Less Safe case, the State will have to prove “less safe driving.” If you have only been cited for defective equipment, the State will have great difficulty in proving alcohol caused you to be a less safe driver because there is no “less safe” driving act (ie. speeding, failure to maintain lane, improper turn, etc.). This is a major issue a defense attorney should raise during trial.

Contact Us

If you or someone you know has been arrested for driving under the influence, contact the law firm of W. Scott Smith at 404.581.0999 today for a free case evaluation. You’ll find a local Atlanta DUI attorney ready to aggressively fight on your behalf. You can also find out more detailed information about Atlanta laws here.

[1] See, Atwater v. City of Lago Vista, 532 U.S. 318, 121 S. Ct. 1536 (2001); Whren v. U.S., 517 U.S. 806, 116 S. Ct. 1769  (1996); Ohio v. Robinette, 519 U.S. 33, 117 S. Ct. 417 (1996); and Maryland v. Wilson, 519 U.S. 408, 117 S. Ct. 882 (1997).

Georgia DUI Law: Challenging the Stop, Speeding

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Georgia DUI investigations usually begin with a routine traffic stop. At a minimum, in order to stop you and your vehicle, the stopping officer needs to have “reasonable and articulable suspicion” to believe a crime has, or is about to be committed. An officer normally satisfies this requirement by observing a traffic or equipment violation. However, if it is determined the officer did NOT have reasonable and articulable suspicion to stop your vehicle; this could result in the suppression of evidence and the ultimate dismissal of a DUI charge.

Therefore, it is crucial to examine the most common types of traffic violations that result in a DUI investigation. This article serves to inform you of the nature, methods of proof, penalties, and challenges to a speeding offense in Georgia.

The Offense

Speeding is one of the most common traffic offenses associated with DUI arrests in Georgia. This is likely because officers are equipped with speed detection devices and it is the type of offense that catches an officer’s eye.

In order to fully understand speeding laws in Georgia, you would have to refer to various parts of five different statutes: O.C.G.A. §§ 40-6-180, 40-6-181, 40-6-182, 40-6-183 and 40-6-188. The provisions of O.C.G.A. § 40-6-180 also cover the catch-all offense known as “driving too fast for conditions.”

Georgia has “absolute” speed limits, meaning a violation occurs even at one mile per hour over the posted speed limit. Unless otherwise posted, the absolute speed limits are as follows:

  • 20 miles per hour in school zones
  • 30 miles per hour in urban and residential districts
  • 35 miles per hour on unpaved country roads
  • 65 miles per hour on sections of physically divided highways without full access control on the state highway system
  • 70 miles per hour on interstate highways, and
  • 55 miles per hour on other roadways.

Absolute limits aside, Georgia’s basic speeding law prohibit driving at a speed greater than is “reasonable and prudent under the conditions and having regard for the actual and potential hazards then existing.” Therefore, a driver must always drive at a safe and reasonable speed. What is safe and reasonable depends on the circumstances. 40 miles per hour on a clear day with no traffic is more safe and reasonable than 40 miles per hour in a snow storm with heavy traffic.

Penalties

Under Georgia law, technically, speeding offenses are misdemeanors and are therefore punishable with up to a maximum fine of $1,000 and up to one year in jail. Although these are the maximum punishments, speeding cases generally do not result in jail time.

For a first time speeding offense, the maximum fines are as follows:

  • $0 for speeding by 5 miles per hour or less over the limit
  • $25 for speeding by more than 5 but less than 10 miles per hour over the limit
  • $100 for speeding by more than 10 but less than 14 miles per hour over the limit
  • $125 for speeding by more than 14 but less than 19 miles per hour over the limit
  • $150 for speeding by at least 19 but less than 24 miles per hour over the limit
  • $500 for speeding by at least 24 but less than 34 miles per hour over the limit

Speeding in “work zones” can be punished by fines ranging from $100 to $2,000 and/or jail up to twelve months as this is a “high and aggravated” misdemeanor. Also, anyone convicted of speeding at 85 miles per hour, or 75 miles per hour on a two lane highway, will be deemed a “super speeder,” causing an additional $200 fine to be added to the sentence. These fine amounts are base fines and do not include statutory surcharges which significantly increase the total fine amount. A sentencing judge can always add on defensive driving courses as a condition of your sentence. In addition to fines and course, a motorist can also expect points to be assessed on their license by DDS (2-6 points depending on the offense).

Challenging the Stop

A speeding charge may be challenged through a motion to suppress or a motion in limine which are designed to attack the stop, arrest, or any evidence gathered as a result of an unlawful stop and/or arrest.

The State has the burden of proving each and every law regarding speed detection devices.

First, the arresting officer will attempt to establish they visually estimated your speed. Visual estimation of speed is sufficient to convict in Georgia.

In order to establish a “visual estimation,” the officer must testify that: he/she is trained in the visual estimation of speed for vehicles, how long he/she has been trained, how he/she was trained, how many visual estimations he/she has made in their career, and that he/she is accurate to within +- 5 mph of their estimation.

The State must also prove:

  • The department issuing you the citation has a permit issued by the Department of Public Safety to operate speed detection devices. The prosecutor may either admit this document into evidence or just have the officer testify that such a permit exists. O.C.G.A. 40-14-2.
  • The prosecutor must prove that the location where you were speeding is on the Department of Public Safety’s list of approved locations for the use of speed detection devices. Many prosecutors think the officer’s testimony alone is enough to satisfy this requirement, but the prosecutor must admit this list into evidence. O.C.G.A. 40-14-3.
  • The prosecutor must prove that the agency issuing the citation has a permit from the Federal Communications Commission to operate the device, and that device was inspected by a technician before it was placed into service and that the device is serviced by the technician annually. This provision only applies to citations based on radar evidence. This provision does not apply to speeding tickets issued based on Lidar/laser, VASCAR, pacing, or other forms of speed detection. O.C.G.A. 40-14-4.
  • The prosecutor must prove that the officer tested his speed detection device for accuracy at the beginning and end of his shift and that he recorded the results in a logbook. This may be proven through oral testimony, or the prosecutor may admit the logbook into evidence. O.C.G.A. 40-14-5.
  • The prosecutor must prove that there are signs at least 24 by 30 inches when you enter the county, city, etc. warning that there are speed detection devices in use. O.C.G.A. 40-14-6.
  • The prosecutor must prove that the officer was not using the speed detection device within 500 feet of these signs. O.C.G.A. 40-14-6.
  • The prosecutor must prove that the officer was not using the speed detection device within 500 feet of a change in speed limit sign. O.C.G.A. 40-14-6.
  • The prosecutor must prove that the officer operating a stationary speed detection device was visible for at least 500 feet to traffic. O.C.G.A. 40-14-7.
  • The prosecutor must prove that your speed was more than 10 mph over the posted speed limit unless you are in a school zone, historic district, or residential zones all of which must be properly marked. An area with a speed limit of 35 mph is not automatically a residential zone. The area must be properly marked as a school, historic, or residential zone. O.C.G.A. 40-14-8.
  • The prosecutor must prove you were not within 300 feet of a change in speed limit sign (if inside a municipality) or within 600 feet of a change in speed limit sign (if outside a municipality). O.C.G.A. 40-14-9.
  • The prosecutor must prove that there was not a change in the speed limit in the 30 days prior to your being issued the ticket at the location where you were given the ticket. O.C.G.A. 40-14-9.
  • The prosecutor must prove the location where you received the ticket is no on a grade in excess of 7 percent. Just because a location is listed on the Department of Public Safety’s list of approved locations for the use of speed detection devices this does not mean the location has been measured for the grade. This is an excellent source for cross-examination. O.C.G.A. 40-14-9.
  • The prosecutor must prove the officer issuing you the ticket has a permit to operate speed detection devices. This may be proven by admitting the permit or having the officer testify that he is certified. O.C.G.A. 40-14-10.

In addition to these technical requirements, an experienced attorney can also raise challenges to errors committed by the operator of a speed detection device. Examples include, but are not limited to: lack of training, misidentifying your vehicle as the speeding vehicle, improper movement or aiming of the speed detection device, the officer’s visibility and/or reaction time, interference with the device (weather conditions, radio interference, air conditioning, reflective surfaces).

As we can see, there are many intricate requirements the prosecution must properly satisfy in order to prove speeding. Because of these various requirements, it is highly recommended you contact an experienced attorney who can raise these challenges in a pre-trial motion or at trial.

Contact Us

If you or someone you know has been arrested for driving under the influence, contact the law firm of W. Scott Smith at 404.581.0999 today for a free case evaluation. You’ll find a local Atlanta DUI attorney ready to aggressively fight on your behalf. You can also find out more detailed information about Atlanta laws here.

Georgia DUI Law: Challenging the Stop, Improper Turn

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Georgia DUI investigations usually begin with a routine traffic stop. At a minimum, in order to stop you and your vehicle, the stopping officer needs to have “reasonable and articulable suspicion” to believe a crime has, or is about to be committed. An officer normally satisfies this requirement by observing a traffic or equipment violation. However, if it is determined the officer did NOT have reasonable and articulable suspicion to stop your vehicle; this could result in the suppression of evidence and the ultimate dismissal of a DUI charge.

Therefore, it is crucial to examine the most common types of traffic violations that result in a DUI investigation. This article serves to inform you of what type of things police officers are looking for when stopping for improper turn.

The Offense

O.C.G.A. § 40-6-120 requires the driver of a vehicle intending to turn at an intersection to do the following:

(1) RIGHT TURN. Both the approach for a right turn and a right turn shall be made as close as practicable to the right-hand curb or edge of the roadway;

(2) LEFT TURN.

(A) As used in this paragraph, the term “extreme left-hand lane” means the lane furthest to the left that is lawfully available to traffic moving in the same direction as the turning vehicle. In the event of multiple lanes, the second extreme left-hand lane shall be the lane to the right of the extreme left-hand lane that is lawfully available to traffic moving in the same direction as the turning vehicle. The third extreme left-hand lane shall be the lane to the right of the second extreme left-hand lane and so forth.

(B) The driver of a vehicle intending to turn left shall approach the turn in the extreme left-hand lane lawfully available to traffic moving in the direction of travel of the turning vehicle. Whenever practicable, the left turn shall be made to the left of the center of the intersection and so as to exit the intersection or other location in the extreme left-hand lane lawfully available to traffic moving in the same direction as the turning vehicle on the roadway being entered.

(C) In the event of multiple turn lanes, the driver of a vehicle turning left shall exit the intersection in the same relative travel lane as the vehicle entered the intersection. If the vehicle is in the second extreme left-hand lane entering the intersection the vehicle shall exit the intersection in the second extreme left-hand lane. Where there are multiple lanes of travel in the same direction safe for travel, a vehicle shall not be permitted to make a lane change once the intersection has been entered.

The most common way to violate this law is when you make a “wide turn.” A wide turn is when you start your turn in one lane and drift over into another lane while executing or finishing your turn. This is a common maneuver you will see on the road and a close look at the language of the law prohibits this conduct.

Interestingly, in State v. Morgan, 260 Ga. App. 263, 581 S.E.2d 296 (2003), the Court of Appeals upheld the trial court’s suppression of the traffic stop. Morgan was stopped for making a right hand turn into the left lane of two eastbound lanes of Hwy 278, then immediately got into a left turn lane to turn onto Hazelbrand Rd. approximately 100 yards from where he entered Hwy 278; the turn was reasonable and the reasonable suspicion for the stop was unreasonable. Because the spirit of our traffic laws is to ensure safe and reasonable driving among motorists, the Court decided, given the facts of Morgan and the reasonableness of his driving, there was no reasonable and articulable suspicion to stop his vehicle even though Morgan made a wide turn.

Challenging the Stop

Like any traffic stop,  is important to challenge the officer’s observations to determine whether the stopping officer has reasonable and articulable suspicion necessary to stop your car. The most successful way to accomplish this is to challenge the officer’s perception. Key issues include, but are not limited to:

  • Distance between the officer and your vehicle
  • Angles of officer’s observation
  • Traffic conditions (no traffic makes an improper turn more reasonable and safe)
  • Lighting
  • The mechanics of the turn

Contact Us

If you or someone you know has been arrested for driving under the influence, contact the law firm of W. Scott Smith at 404.581.0999 today for a free case evaluation. You’ll find a local Atlanta DUI attorney ready to aggressively fight on your behalf. You can also find out more detailed information about Atlanta laws here.

Did I get arrested? A discussion of what constitutes an arrest and how it impacts your Georgia Criminal History

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In Georgia, many offenses that are not crimes in every state, like traffic offenses, are considered criminal offenses. Because so many offenses that aren’t treated like crimes in every state are crimes, it’s important to know if your interaction with law enforcement constitutes an arrest in the State of Georgia.

Not every arrest will go on your criminal history. For an arrest to go on your Georgia criminal history or GCIC you must be fingerprinted and it must be reported to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. If you aren’t fingerprinted, that arrest should not show up on your criminal history. Lets talk about some specific instances and whether they constitute an arrest

Traffic Citations

Traffic citations are considered arrests in Georgia, but not in the traditional sense, and most likely do not have to be reported. If you are given a traffic citation and allowed to drive away, or given a citation by an officer on the street and allowed to leave, that is technically an arrest. But that arrest will not show up on your criminal history because you were never fingerprinted. A conviction for any traffic offense will show up on your driving history.

Traditional Arrest (Handcuffed, Taken to Jail, and Fingerprinted)

If you were handcuffed, taken to jail, and fingerprinted by any Georgia law enforcement officer, you should expect that arrest to show up on your criminal history. Most non-traffic offenses will result in arrest, but occasionally some minor misdemeanor offenses in Georgia like possession of marijuana less than an ounce, theft by shoplifting, minor in possession of alcohol, and disorderly conduct will not result in arrest. You may only be issued a citation. However, in these instances, you may be asked to be fingerprinted when your case is resolved, even if that resolution ends in dismissal.

Warrant Application Hearings

A warrant application hearing is different than the traditional arrest process. If a citizen believes you have committed a crime against them, they can go to the Magistrate Court in the county which the alleged crime occurred and file a warrant application. You would then be required to appear in front of a judge. The Judge would hear evidence bfrom both parties regarding the alleged criminal conduct and decide if a warrant should be issued. If the Judge grants a warrant, they can either ask you to turn yourself in and post a bond (often times just a signature bond) or ask the Sheriff to take you into custody. That is the Judge’s discretion. A warrant application may or may not go on your Georgia criminal history. Again, it depends on whether or not you are fingerprinted during the process.

We hope this knowledge assists you in understanding the warrant process. Our office is here for all your Georgia criminal law needs. Please call us today at 404-581-0999.

Smash and Grab Burglary in Georgia

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A Smash and Grab Burglary is one where a person intentionally enters a retail establishment with the intent to commit a theft, and causes damage in excess of $500.00 damages to the establishment without the owner’s consent. The most common form of a Smash and Grab burglary is done in a jewelry store where the glass cases are broken. However, all retail establishments are included under Georgia law, including restaurants. If a glass door is broken during a burglary, or a lock is broken, and it results in more than $500 in damage, you can be charged under the Smash and Grab statute in Georgia. This is true even if nothing is ever taken or stolen.

Smash and Grab burglaries are treated more harshly in Georgia than a regular retail burglary (which is known as Burglary in the 2nd degree in Georgia). For example, on a first offense for Smash and Grab, it is a mandatory minimum 2 to 20 years to serve and/or a fine of up to $100,000.  On a second conviction for Smash and Grab, the sentence will range of a minimum of 5 years in prison and up to 20 years or a fine of up to $100,000.  On the other hand, a Burglary in the 2nd degree is a lesser included offense, and has a mandatory minimum sentence of a year (versus two years on a first offense Smash and Grab).

Under Georgia law, eyewitnesses are not required for a conviction for burglary, and this includes a Smash and Grab burglary. Fingerprints, DNA on cigarette left nearby, surveillance footage, and even cell phone records showing the person near the scene can all be sufficient for a conviction. A seasoned attorney who has handled these unique cases will do a full case evaluation and may attack the methods of the investigation, as well as any cell phone records, search warrants, and forensic testing done by law enforcement.

If you or a loved one has been charged with Burglary in Georgia, including a Smash and Grab, call the Law Office of W. Scott Smith today for a free case evaluation at 404-581-0999.