Valdosta Georgia Criminal Defense Blog

Students have a lot to lose from a DUI during graduation season

On behalf of Stephen G. Adkins, Attorney at Law on Monday, April 29, 2019.

May might be one of the most important months for many Georgia college students. All the hard work they’ve put in for years is about to pay off as they are only weeks away from putting on their caps and gowns. It’s only a matter of time before a diploma is in their hands.

May is a very celebratory month, but those celebrations can go astray very quickly. Many college campuses often feature large parties for students finally wrapping up their degrees which typically feature an abundance of alcohol. Even though high school students are usually warned more about drinking at parties around this time of year, university students should be just as fearful about a DUI charge as they have a lot more to lose.

How accurate are field sobriety tests?

On behalf of Stephen G. Adkins, Attorney at Law on Tuesday, April 23, 2019.

On your way home from an evening out with friends, you suddenly see flashing red and blue lights behind you. Nervous, you pull over as the police officer approaches your vehicle. You are asked to step out of your vehicle and perform several roadside tests. You wonder whether you have a choice and how accurate these tests will be.

Field sobriety tests have long been disputed for how accurately they can determine a driver’s level of intoxication. As part of the traffic stop for suspected drunk drivers, Georgia drivers may find themselves debating whether to comply with the requests of the officer to participate in roadside tests.

5 Hidden costs of a DUI

On behalf of Stephen G. Adkins, Attorney at Law on Thursday, February 7, 2019.

Most people who choose to drive after drinking have the feeling that they might not be quite sober enough to have full control of their actions behind the wheel. Yet, alcohol tends to reduce our ability to assess risks.

Before you go out for drinks, it’s important to have a firm understanding of what you’ll put at risk if you choose to drive drunk later on.

5 Tips for hosting a DUI-free super bowl party

On behalf of Stephen G. Adkins, Attorney at Law on Monday, January 14, 2019.

Game day is almost here! If you’re in charge of the super bowl party this year, doing these five things can help make sure your guests have a great time — without getting a DUI on the way home.

The effect of a DUI can have on your future

On behalf of Stephen G. Adkins, Attorney at Law on Monday, December 3, 2018.

If you have received a DUI conviction for the first time, your immediate instinct may be to pay the fines and accept all the penalties as quickly as you can. A DUI arrest can be embarrassing and stressful, your main goal may be putting the whole incident behind you. Unfortunately, when it comes to a DUI arrest, the process of dealing with its ramifications can go on quite some time.

Following your DUI, you may have to spend time in jail and even attend DUI classes. But these are just short-term consequences you will have to face. Even for a first-time DUI misdemeanor conviction, here are things you may encounter because of your DUI.

Do you have to tell your boss about a DUI?

On behalf of Stephen G. Adkins, Attorney at Law on Friday, November 2, 2018.

You probably know that getting arrested for a DUI affects your life in many ways. There are various, serious consequences for drinking under the influence and unfortunately, these are not only legal consequences. Getting a DUI can spill over and affect your personal and professional life, too.

One part you might not have considered is how it could affect your work. A DUI will show up on your record if a potential employer runs a background check, but can it affect your current job, too? Should you tell your employer if you get arrested for a DUI?

Drug convictions on your record may affect more than employment

On behalf of Stephen G. Adkins, Attorney at Law on Friday, October 5, 2018.

Many individuals know that a potential employer can obtain access to your criminal record through a background check before hiring you. These employers simply want to ensure that a possible employee has a record that would indicate their honest intention of applying for a job, and it also works as a character reference when looking at past drug convictions.

Yet many individuals do not know that in Georgia, other entities aside from potential employers can gain access to your criminal background history. It is essential to contact an attorney immediately upon receiving an alleged drug charge, as your future could prove affected by more than missing out on a job opportunity.

What mouth products can affect the breathalyzer test?

On behalf of Stephen G. Adkins, Attorney at Law on Wednesday, September 5, 2018.

Alcohol can appear in everyday products you use to get yourself ready in the morning or to prepare for a night out. You certainly will not feel drunk while using them, but in front of the police, they can make you look drunk.

There are many ways a breathalyzer test can go wrong and make you look like you are over the legal alcohol limit. Even if the police keep the device clean, they may not account for what has been in your mouth for the last hour and will arrest you for thinking you were driving while intoxicated. Before you head out into the streets of Valdosta, it is important to know what products could have negative effects on a breathalyzer that make you look guilty.

Refusing the breathalyzer in Georgia

On behalf of Stephen G. Adkins, Attorney at Law on Monday, August 20, 2018.

During your drive home late at night in Valdosta, you find yourself pulled over by the cops. They inform you that they suspect you of driving under the influence (DUI). After a bit, they will likely ask you to take a breathalyzer test to confirm your blood alcohol content (BAC), which determines if you are driving above the legal limit.

If the test determines your BAC to be too high, you could be facing numerous consequences in your personal and professional life. Once the prosecution gets those numbers, they have ammo for their argument from something that may not be completely accurate. You have the right to refuse a breathalyzer test in Georgia to potentially avoid penalties that damage your career, but you should know the extent of your ability to avoid the test and what can happen as a result.

DUI sentences for repeat offenders

On behalf of Stephen G. Adkins, Attorney at Law on Tuesday, July 10, 2018.

In Georgia, you may be charged with a DUI if an officer has determined you are under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs through a field sobriety test or a chemical (blood or breath) test.

The state’s "implied consent" law imposes penalties for drivers who refuse to submit to testing when an officer has reasonable suspicion that the driver is under the influence.