Posted by duijim in on August 14, 2024
An Atlanta DUI lawyer can provide invaluable protection, helping protect both your rights and future.
Georgia law mandates that drivers and passengers wear seat belts when operating or riding in vehicles with an open bed, including pickup trucks.
If you are driving in a passing lane and see an emergency vehicle approaching from behind, give way to allow its driver to pass.
1. Speeding is a Criminal Offense
Speeding in Georgia is not illegal, but reckless driving is. Reckless driving refers to driving without regard for other people’s property or lives and if an officer detects this type of conduct while behind the wheel they can arrest you for criminal charges – even if your speeding does not endanger anyone’s lives directly.
Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs is another criminal offense in Atlanta. Police can use breathalyzer tests to ascertain blood alcohol content levels; urine or blood tests may be administered if drug related DUI charges arise. Drivers in Georgia implicitly consented to such chemical tests when they obtained their license, so any refusal can lead to immediate license suspension and legal consequences depending on a number of factors such as prior convictions, blood alcohol content levels, aggravating circumstances etc.
Georgia considers first-time DUI cases to be misdemeanors, with penalties that include fines, driver’s license suspension, community service hours, mandatory alcohol education programs and probation as possible outcomes. A fourth DUI within 10 years may be considered a felony offense and result in significant fines, jail time, clinical evaluation and possible lifetime driving revocation as punishments; those convicted often must install ignition interlock devices into their vehicles after conviction.
2. Speeding is a Violation of the Law
Law dictates that drivers must observe posted speed limits. Any time a driver exceeds this limit, he or she places themselves and others at risk of accidents. Atlanta considers speeding to be a traffic offense which could incur fines and penalties.
Speeding violations are typically misdemeanor crimes in most jurisdictions; however, their penalties vary greatly by county and judge. Some may impose fines of up to $1,500 while others require probation or even jail time; sometimes judges opt not to set bond.
As soon as an officer stops a driver for speeding, they may also suspect them of being under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Therefore, officers often conduct field sobriety tests like walk-and-turn or one-leg stand. Furthermore, police use observations such as slurred speech or smell of alcohol to establish probable cause for a DUI arrest.
Most traffic offenses, including speeding tickets, incur points against your driving record. If you accrue 15 points within two years, Georgia law will automatically suspend your license. While you can avoid points by pleading guilty and paying the fine instead of facing points against your license record, doing so still impacts your insurance rates and can have serious repercussions on future endeavors.
3. Speeding is a Dangerous Combination
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that speeding is involved in over 30 percent of fatal traffic crashes. Speeding is a serious risk factor and may contribute to impaired decision-making, greater crash severity, and extended stopping distances.
No matter who may be speeding, someone might still be. Many drivers admit to breaking the speed limit at some point when in a rush – whether to get to work on time or pick up their children from practice – but speeding increases risk and puts lives in jeopardy.
Speeding can also lead to aggressive driving, increasing your risk of being pulled over and facing fines or penalties that could have an adverse effect on both your finances and driving record.
Speeding is a serious problem that affects us all, and being caught driving under the influence can carry severe penalties, including jail time. To minimize these penalties and help secure a more favorable outcome in Georgia for your first offense DUI charge, contact an experienced Georgia First Offense DUI lawyer as soon as possible to schedule a consultation – this way, you will learn more about its possible effects and what options there may be available to defend yourself successfully in court.
4. Speeding is a Criminal Offense in Georgia
Georgia traffic violations can have far-reaching repercussions for your finances, driving privileges, and career – so hiring an experienced Atlanta DUI lawyer as soon as possible to defend your rights and ensure the best possible result in your case is essential to protecting them and ensure positive outcomes for yourself and others.
Most people don’t consider speeding tickets a serious offense; however, in many states this offense is treated as criminally serious. Misdemeanor traffic violations come with penalties such as fines (with mandatory add-on fees for super speeders), probationary periods and defensive driving courses as well as jail time if exceeding 15 mph over the speed limit.
If you’re pulled over for speeding in Georgia and an officer observes you to be under the influence of alcohol or drugs, they could potentially charge you with DUI-drugs offense based on state law which defines DUI as operating a vehicle while under the influence of intoxicating substances.
Substances that alter mental alertness can have disastrous results on driving ability and endanger the lives of others. Common examples are alcohol and illegal drugs; alcohol particularly has the ability to slow brain function down considerably while driving and make thinking and reacting faster difficult, therefore making having a designated driver imperative if planning any amount of alcohol consumption.