Boating Under the Influence in Hall County

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Georgia law makes it a crime to operate a boat or other moving water vessel (for example, a jet ski) under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or a combination on a public waterway. The legal blood alcohol content for someone over 21 is the same as it is for a car: .08. The legal limit for someone under 21 is .02. Even if you are under the legal limit, you can be charged with BIU less safe, meaning that you were under the influence to the extent it was less safe to operate the vessel. If you have a child under 14 on board, you will also be charged with the separate crime of child endangerment. If you get a BUI after a boating accident, you may also be charged with serious injury by vessel or homicide by vessel.

There are two important differences between boating under the influence and driving under the influence. The first is that officers don’t need probable cause to stop your boat. Officers are allowed to stop and board any vessel operating on a public waterway to perform safety checks. If officers suspect that you are impaired, they can ask you to perform field sobriety tests and read you the implied consent law. Implied consent means that your ability to operate a vessel is conditioned on you submitting to chemical tests of your blood, breath, or urine. If you refuse testing or your BAC is above .08, your license to operate a vessel may be suspended for a minimum of one year. That brings us to the second important difference between a BUI and a DUI. For a DUI you have 30 days from the date of arrest to submit an appeal of your license suspension to DDS. You only have 10 days to file the suspension appeal for a BUI and it must be submitted to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. A suspension of your boating license or conviction of BUI does not affect your ability to drive a car.

The penalties for the first conviction of BUI are a fine between $300 and $1,000; a period of incarceration of 10 days to 12 months but, the time to serve can be suspended, stayed, or probated except if your BAC is over .08 then you must serve a minimum of 24 hours; a minimum of 40 hours of community service; completion of a DUI alcohol or drug risk reduction program; and a clinical drug and alcohol evaluation and complete any recommended treatment. The penalties increase with each BUI conviction.

If you or a loved one has been charged with boating under the influence it is important to have a knowledgeable advocate. Give us a call at 404-581-0999 for a free consultation.

I Got Caught Speeding. Now What?

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If you’ve spent any time driving in Atlanta, I’m sure you’ve either witnessed another driver speeding or sped yourself. Ramifications from a speeding ticket vary based on your speed:

  • 15-18 mph over: 2 points
  • 19-23 mph: 3 points
  • 24-33 mph: 4 points
  • 34+: 6 points

In Georgia, if you accumulate 15 points in a 24 month period, your license will be suspended. If you are looking to reduce the number of points on your license, we always recommend taking a DDS-approved Defensive Driving course. A certificate of completion from one of these driving courses can reduce the number of points on your license by seven within a five year period.

The fine amount will depend on your exact speed but can range anywhere between $25-$1,000 or more. It is important to note that if you are traveling 75 mph+ on a 2-lane highway or 85+ on a 4-lane highway, you will be subject to a super speeder fine. In Georgia, this means that there is an additional $200 fine. You must pay the super speeder fine within 120 days or you will face a license suspension.

If you’re caught speeding, give our office a call IMMEDIATELY. Know your rights!

Possession of Tools – Cobb County Criminal Defense Attorney

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Georgia law criminalizes the possession of tools for the commission of a crime. In fact, it is a felony offense. If you are arrested in Cobb County for Possession of Tools, the First Appearance hearing will be the initial court appearance in front of a Judge. This occurs within 48 hours of an arrest without a warrant, or 72 hours if there was an arrest warrant. The Cobb County Judge will notify the person of the charges, as well as set bond at this stage.

If arrested in Marietta and Cobb County for Possession of Tools, the case will be prosecuted by the Cobb County District Attorney’s Office. The next court date will be the Arraignment and takes place at the Cobb County Superior Court.

Not all tools in your possession will result in criminal charges. The law states it is unlawful to possession any tool, explosive, or device commonly used in burglary, theft, or another crime, with the intent to make use thereof in the commission of a crime.

Examples of tools that can result in criminal charges are crowbars and glass break devices. For example, you could be arrested if found looking inside someone’s car windows late at night with a glass break tool in your hand. The tools do not have to do with burglary to fall under this crime. For example, we routinely see pipes and scales charged as Possession of Tools, as these items are used to commit crimes of Possession of Drugs. In these instances, the rule of Lenity applies, which is discussed below under the Defenses section

 

What is the sentence for Possession of Tools in Cobb County?

The sentence for Possession of Tools is a 1 to 5 year imprisonment sentence. Possession of tools is a felony offense, which is sentenced more harshly than misdemeanors. This is found at O.C.G.A. § 16-7-20.

 

What are Possible Defenses to Possession of Tools in Cobb County?

First, the mere possession of a common instrument is not a crime. A screw driver can be used to commit crimes, but it can also be used for numerous other lawful purposes. The same goes with wire cutters, flashlights, and gloves. These items are commonly used for all sorts of lawful and legitimate activities. The State must prove, beyond a reasonable doubt, that there was intent to use the tool to commit a crime. It is an incredibly high standard, especially since tools are used for so many other purposes.

Additionally, any time contraband is found, a thorough investigation must be conducted by a criminal defense attorney very quickly after arrest, into whether or not a valid, lawful, and constitutional search had occurred. We all have a right to be free from unreasonable searches and seizures. An officer cannot search your car without probable cause of a crime occurring, and then later charge you after finding a tool common in burglaries. In this instance, the tools found could be suppressed, and the case subsequently dismissed.

Other defenses fall on whether or not the tool is one that is commonly used for the commission of the crime. The State must not only prove possession of a tool but it must be one that is commonly used to commit crimes. For example, Georgia law has held that body armor is not a tool commonly used in armed robbery, and thus there is insufficient evidence to show proof Possession of Tools. Georgia law has also held a two-by-four was not a tool for purposes of this statute in an Armed Robbery case because it is not commonly used in armed robberies.

The rule of lenity may also apply in felony Possession of Tools cases. For example, if the conduct alleged falls within both felony Possession of Tools and misdemeanor Possession of Drug Related Object, then the Lenity rule requires that person be subject to misdemeanor penalties.

If you or a loved one has been arrested for POSSESSION OF TOOLS in Cobb County, W. Scott Smith is here to offer a FREE CONSULTATION at 404-581-0999.

Child Cruelty in Gwinnett County

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In Georgia, there are three types of child cruelty- 1st, 2nd, and 3rd degree.

  • 1st degree child cruelty occurs when a parent, guardian, or other person supervising a child willfully deprives a child of necessary sustenance to the point that the child’s health or well-being is jeopardized OR when a person maliciously causes a child under 18 cruel or excessive mental or physical pain. 1st degree child cruelty is a felony and, if you are found guilty, you will be punished by 5 to 20 years in prison.
  • 2nd degree child cruelty occurs when a person acts or fails to act in a way that demonstrates a willful and wanton disregard for the safety of others and that act or failure to act causes cruel or excessive mental or physical pain to a child under 18 years old. 2nd degree child cruelty is also a felony and, if you are found guilty, you will be punished by 1 to 10 years in prison.
  • 3rd degree child cruelty occurs when a person is the primary aggressor intentionally allows a child under the age of 18 to witness the commission of a forcible felony or family violence battery OR when a person knows that a child under the age of 18 is present and sees or hears the person commit a forcible felony or family violence battery. A person convicted of 3rd degree child cruelty is guilty of a misdemeanor.

As you can see, the punishment for child cruelty can be severe. It is important that you hire a lawyer experienced in defending child cruelty cases. The lawyers at W. Scott Smith will zealously defend you against child cruelty allegations. If you find yourself accused of child cruelty, call our office at 404-581-0999 today for a free consultation.

DUI Less Safe: What is It?

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If you’ve been pulled over for a DUI you may have seen a charge on the citation saying “DUI Less Safe.” There’s a lot of confusion about what this actually means. What people most commonly think of is “DUI Per Se” meaning that the authorities have a numerical reading of your blood alcohol content through blood, breath, or urine. If you’re over 21 years old, that means your BAC was above a .08.

On the other hand, “DUI Less Safe” essentially means that the driver is considered less safe to operate a vehicle due to alcohol or drug impairment, regardless of whether they meet the specific BAC threshold for DUI Per Se. DUI Less Safe is common in two scenarios, the first being a refusal of tests that may indicate impairment due to a BAC reading. If a police officer sees certain driving and/or physical manifestations that could indicate alcohol impairment and the driver refuses to perform any sobriety tests, they will usually issue a citation with DUI Less Safe because they do not have the BAC reading to issue DUI Per Se. The second scenario when DUI Less Safe is used is when your blood, breath, or urine shows that there is alcohol in your system, but the BAC is less than .08. Although it may seem strange to receive a DUI when your BAC is under the legal threshold for DUI Per Se, it does happen because the officer has deemed the driver “less safe” to operate a vehicle due to impairment.

If you or a loved one has gotten pulled over for a DUI in Georgia don’t hesitate! Call our office TODAY.

Child Hearsay in Georgia

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If you are charged with child molestation, cruelty to children, or any crime, in Georgia, where a child is the alleged victim, the State will fie a Motion to Admit Child Hearsay testimony.

This is pursuant to O.C.G.A. 24-8-820. This status is the Georgia Child Hearsay Statute.

O.C.G.A. 24-8-820 reads as follows:

(a) A statement made by a child younger than 16 years of age describing any act of sexual contact or physical abuse performed with or on such child by another or with or on another in the presence of such child shall be admissible in evidence by the testimony of the person to whom made if the proponent of such statement provides notice to the adverse party prior to trial of the intention to use such out-of-court statement and such child testifies at trial, unless the adverse party forfeits or waives such child’s testimony as provide in this title, and, at the time of the testimony regarding the out-of-court statements, the person to whom the child made such statement is subject to cross-examination regarding the out-of-court statements.

All that is required is:

  1. Notice to the defendant of the State’s intention to use such statements.
  2. The child testifying at trial, unless the defendant waives it.
  3. The person to whom the statements were made is subject to cross-examination.

You will need to be prepared to challenge the credibility and the underlying facts of any witness who takes the stand against you and claims that the child made statements to them about the sexual contact or physical abuse. Do not waive the child’s presence at trial. Make the child testify.

In cases of child molestation, there is rarely physical evidence. The entire case comes down to credibility. It is the defendant’s credibility vs. the child’s and the child’s witness’s credibility. Do not forfeit the right to a thorough cross-examination of the child and their witnesses.

These child hearsay witnesses can include testimony of physicians, investigators, parents, other family members, forensic interviewers and any other person who spoke to the child about the allegations.

You must be prepared to challenge each of these statements.

Child Molestation and Cruelty to Children carry severe penalties in Georgia. Do not make statements to the police about the allegations. You must hire a qualified attorney and be prepared to vigorously fight your case at trial.

Please call us at 404-581-0999 if you are charged with any crime involving a child in Georgia.

Is Weed Legal in Atlanta?

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The simple answer is, no. Some cities in Georgia, including Atlanta, have decriminalized the possession of less than an ounce of weed. However, it is still very much illegal in the state of Georgia. So, what does that mean? It means that police officers and prosecutors have a choice; they can charge you with a city ordinance violation OR a violation of state law. The difference is the penalty. In Atlanta, the city ordinance violation for possession of weed less than one ounce is a $75 fine. The state law violation is a misdemeanor with a penalty of up to 12 months to serve and a $1,000 fine.

Any drug charge can have serious consequences, even simple weed charge. For example, it can affect your job, housing, or driving privileges. If you or a loved one has been charged with a drug offense it is important to have a knowledgeable advocate on your side. Call for a free consultation today.

License Consequences for DUI Convictions in Gwinnett Recorder’s Court

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By: Attorney Erin Dohnalek

In Georgia, an individual may be charged with DUI under the following circumstances:

  • If he/she was in actual physical control of a moving vehicle while he/she was under the influence of alcohol to an extent that it was less safe for them to drive.
  • If he/she was in actual physical control of a moving vehicle while he/she was under the influence of any drug to an extent that it was less safe for them to drive.
  • If he/she was in actual physical control of a moving vehicle while he/she was under the influence of a combination of any two or more controlled substances, which does include alcohol, to an extent that it was less safe for them to drive.
  • If he/she was in actual physical control of a moving vehicle while his/her alcohol concentration was .08 grams or more, or at any time within three hours after such driving ended.
  • If he/she was in actual physical control of a moving vehicle while there was any amount of marijuana or a controlled substance, as defined by O.C.G.A § 16-13-21, present in his/her blood or urine.

If an accused is convicted of DUI in Gwinnett Recorder’s Court, pursuant to O.C.G.A § 40-6-391, his/her license will be suspended. This is a mandatory suspension required by the Department of Driver’s Services. The length of the suspension is decided by how many prior DUI convictions he/she has had in the last five years. Those suspensions are as follows:

  • If the accused has not had a prior DUI conviction in the last five years:
    • The suspension will be for a period of 120 days.
    • During that suspension, the accused will be eligible for a limited permit to drive if he/she is a resident of Georgia, and he/she has not had a prior DUI conviction in the last five years.
    • After the 120-day license suspension, the accused will be eligible to get their permanent license back if he/she has completed a Risk Reduction Course, otherwise known as DUI school, and has paid a $210 reinstatement fee.
  • If this is the second DUI conviction in the last five years for the accused:
    • The suspension will be for a period of 18 months.
    • For the first 4 months of the suspension, there will be a hard suspension with no eligibility for a limited permit. This means for the first 4 months, he/she will not be able to drive.
    • After the first 4 months, he/she may be issued a limited permit if he/she installs an ignition interlock in their vehicle.
    • After the full 18 months, the accused will be able to reinstate their permanent license if he/she has completed a substance abuse evaluation plus recommended treatment and has shown proof of that completion to the Department of Driver’s Services.
  • The most serious license suspension happens to drivers who have been convicted of a third DUI in the last five years.
    • If that occurs, the driver will be considered a Habitual Violator.
    • This will require a 5-year license suspension, and there is no eligibility for a limited permit.
    • Only after two years can an accused be eligible for a probationary license to drive.
    • It is very important that the accused not drive if he/she is a Habitual Violator, as he/she could be arrested for a felony, if caught driving, that carries at least one year in jail.

Contact Us

Due to the severity of the license suspension consequences of a DUI conviction, it is of vital importance to speak with an experienced criminal defense attorney about your case. At the Law Offices of W. Scott Smith, our lawyers are trained to know every aspect of defending a DUI, we understand the defenses to the charge, we take pride in advocating for our clients’ constitutional rights, and we detail all options for our clients when defending their case. If you or a loved one has been charged with DUI in Gwinnett County, and you are worried about the license consequences associated with a conviction, please call our office today at 404-581-0999 for a free consultation.

Help! I Failed to Appear in Duluth Municipal Court!

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If you missed court in Duluth Municipal Court, you are likely in FTA status. This means that you failed to appear for your court date, and it is probable that your driver’s license has been suspended. The tricky thing about FTAs is that you likely don’t even know that you missed court until you are pulled over and an officer tells you that your license is suspended.

The court will not lift your FTA suspension until you deal with the underlying traffic charge. This could mean just paying a fine, but it may also require an in-court appearance. An experienced lawyer can help you navigate the process quickly and effectively and get you on the road to reinstating your license.

The lawyers at W. Scott Smith are experienced at helping clients resolve FTAs and guiding clients in the best way to resolve the underlying traffic charge. Call us today at 404-581-0999 for a free consultation on how to move forward, resolve the FTA, and have your driver’s license reinstated.

Cobb County Sexual Battery Attorney

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Georgia law makes it illegal to intentionally make physical contact with the intimate parts of the body of another without their consent under O.C.G.A. 16-6-22.1(b). It defines intimate parts as the genital area, but also inner thighs, buttocks, and breasts of a female.  Skin to skin contact is not required, and physical contact through clothing is sufficient.

Sexual Battery is typically a high and aggravated misdemeanor. High and aggravated misdemeanors have harsher sentencing than standard misdemeanors, including a fine of up to $5,000. If sentenced to custodial time on a high and aggravated misdemeanor, it is typical to not be eligible to earn good time credit or be eligible for earlier release. If convicted of sexual battery against a child under 16, it is a felony offense carrying punishment of one to five years imprisonment. Similarly, when convicted of Sexual battery for the second time, Georgia will treat it as a felony offense. Both misdemeanors and felonies appear on criminal histories.

If the case is prosecuted as a misdemeanor, it will be handled in the Cobb County State Court. If it is prosecuted as a felony, it will take place in the Cobb County Superior Court. There are defenses to Sexual Battery in Cobb County and throughout Georgia. First of all, a defense would be if the incident did not occur.  Additionally, having the other party’s consent is a valid defense. The law requires actual proof of the victim’s lack of consent in order to be convicted of sexual battery.

If you or a loved one has been charged with Sexual Battery in Cobb County or anywhere in Georgia, call the Law Office of W. Scott Smith for a FREE CONSULTATION at 404-581-0999.