Georgia Legal Rights. Free Case Evaluations

Communication between police and citizens involving no coercion or detention this does not require any suspicion that you are committing a crime. In other words, a policeman may approach you and speak with you. He may ask you for identification.
Level two encounters are brief seizures that must be supported by reasonable suspicion. An officer must have some reasonable belief that you are engaged in criminal activity.
Finally, the last level of police/ citizen encounters is an arrest. An arrest must be supported by probable cause.

The officer never read me my Miranda warnings:
Many people have learned that they have the right to remain silent and right to an attorney by watching television and the movies. Yes, it is true, we do have these rights. However, these rights only attach when we are arrested or placed in custody and given the chance to incriminate ourselves. Strangely enough, a blood, breath, or urine test is not considered self-incrimination. That is why people do not have the right to an attorney before a State test is given. A routine traffic stop does not rise to the level of custody such that people must be told of their rights. However, if the officer leads you to believe that the detention is going to be more than a brief detention, Miranda warnings may be required.

Do I have the right to a speedy trial?
Yes, all citizens are guaranteed the right to a speedy trial. In Georgia, we are even given the right to demand a trial that must be held within two terms of court from the date an accusation is filed. In other words, if charged with a crime, and a speedy trial demand is timely filed with the court clerk, the state has a set number of months to bring the case to trial or it will be dismissed. There is also a constitutional right to a speedy trial. However, there is No set time period that a case must be brought in order to qualify. A person must show a long delay that was the fault of the State and it has harmed the Defendant such that he could not get a fair trial.

Do I have to let the police search me?
NO! Police may only search a person, place, or thing if they have probable cause to believe that something illegal exists. However, there are numerous exceptions to this rule. For instance, a police officer can search you and anything within your grasp once you are lawfully arrested. An officer may frisk a person to see if they have weapons on them. An officer may search anything if he sees something in plain view and he has a legal right to be there. An officer may search a car if he smells burnt marijuana. THE EXCEPTIONS ARE GREATER THAN THE RULE. Initially, we had many rights to be secure from illegal searches. However, through the years, courts and whittled away at our rights so that law enforcement would have an easier time finding drugs and weapons.

Do I have to speak with police?
No! Many people feel that they can talk their way out of trouble. We believe that this is not going to happen. Anything you say to an officer is considered an admission and will be used against you at a trial. All spontaneous utterances will be used against you. Many of our clients utter the most ridiculous statements when dealing with police. One student was intoxicated and offered the officer $2000 to let him go. Another client told the officer he was facing 15 years in Alabama and this was his third DUI.

IF YOU ARE A SUSPECT IN A CRIME, LAW ENFORCEMENT IS NOT TRYING TO HELP YOU. The police are trying to gather as much evidence as they can to help them make a case. You have no legal obligation to speak with them. Please let an attorney speak to them on your behalf. Even if you are not guilty of anything, the most subtle questions will trip you up and make it seem like you did something wrong. You are not obligated to be a witness against yourself.

What is the Fifth?
In recent times, many people have pleaded the Fifth. This is a person invoking their legal right not to incriminate themselves.

What should I do if I have not been arrested but think a charge is soon to occur?
We get numerous calls from people who tell me that there is not a pending charge, but they did something wrong or people believe that they did something wrong and a charge may be forthcoming. First, it makes sense to hire a lawyer. He or she can analyze the facts and make a decision if a law has been broken.

For example, we got a call from a man who told us that he and his wife received a package of marijuana from a relative in Arizona. They had been contacted by the police and did not know what to do. Two of our partners handled the case by dealing with the police directly. This relieved a lot of pressure on our clients. We told the husband and wife to concentrate on their jobs and leave the legal dealings to us. We were able to speak to the police detectives directly and this avoided any greater charges on our clients. By being cooperative, we were able to work out a deal on a possession of drugs charge, rather than a more serious trafficking charge.

If a lawyer is not affordable or available, do not tell the police your story. This will generally make things worse. Unless you are so sure that you are squeaky clean and have nothing to hide, my advice is do not speak to police without asking for an appointed lawyer.

Do I have to allow the police to search my house or car?
No! The police have every legal right to ask for your permission to search your car or home. However, you have every legal right to refuse. Unless there is probable cause to search, the police have no business looking through your personal items.

WHAT TO DO IF STOPPED BY THE POLICE FOR DUI
What should I do if pulled over and am suspected of a DUI?

If over twenty one:

BE POLITE (The officer is the Judge and owns the side of the road.)
DO NOT SUBMIT TO ANY FIELD SOBRIETY TESTS, INCLUDING A HAND-HELD ALCO-SENSOR
UNLESS THERE WAS AN ACCIDENT INVOLVING AN INJURY SUBMIT TO THE REQUESTED CHEMICAL TEST (A REFUSAL TO SUBMIT MAY LEAD TO A LICENSE SUSPENSION WITHOUT A WORK PERMIT)
NEVER SPECIFY AN AMOUNT OF ALCOHOL THAT YOU HAVE CONSUMED
ALWAYS REQUEST AN INDEPENDENT TEST OF BOTH BLOOD AT A HOSPITAL AND BREATH AT A DIFFERENT POLICE DEPARTMENT

If under twenty-one:

BE POLITE (The officer is the Judge and owns the side of the road.)
DO NOT SUBMIT TO ANY FIELD SOBRIETY TESTS, INCLUDING A HAND-HELD ALCO-SENSOR
UNLESS ONE DRINK OR LESS HAS BEEN CONSUMED POLITELY REFUSE TO TAKE THE REQUESTED CHEMICAL TEST. (One drink may put you over the legal limit)
NEVER SPECIFY AN AMOUNT OF ALCOHOL THAT YOU HAVE CONSUMED (Any admission of drinking may lead to a separate charge for possession of alcohol through consumption)

If a commercial driver:

BE POLITE (The officer is the Judge and owns the side of the road.)
DO NOT SUBMIT TO ANY FIELD SOBRIETY TESTS, INCLUDING A HAND-HELD ALCO-SENSOR
UNLESS THERE WAS AN ACCIDENT INVOLVING AN INJURY SUBMIT TO THE REQUESTED CHEMICAL TEST (A REFUSAL TO SUBMIT MAY LEAD TO A LICENSE SUSPENSION WITHOUT A WORK PERMIT)
NEVER SPECIFY AN AMOUNT OF ALCOHOL THAT YOU HAVE CONSUMED
ALWAYS REQUEST AN INDEPENDENT TEST OF BOTH BLOOD AT A HOSPITAL AND BREATH AT A DIFFERENT POLICE DEPARTMENT

Phone Number: (404) 250-1113
Toll Free: 1-877-DUI-GEOR
(1-877-384-4367)
Fax Number: (404) 250-1494

Cities, Counties, and Zip codes that we service:

Atlanta, Roswell, Alpharetta, Doraville, Smyrna, Marietta, Lawrenceville, Decatur, Chamblee, Clarkston, Powder Springs, Woodstock, Canton, Cumming, Gainsville, Jonsboro, Fayetteville, Kennesaw, Suwanee, Duluth, Carrollton, Douglasville, College Park, Forest Park, Riverdale, Union City, Mcdonough, Lithonia, Stockbridge, Peachtree City, Sandy Springs, Villa Rica, Conyers, Watkinsville, Newnan, Tucker, Lithia Springs, Covington, Flowery Branch, Austell, Hapeville, Athens, Auburn, Dacula, Stone Mountain, Avondale Estates, Holly Springs, Bowdon, Palmetto, Berkley Lake, Pinelake, Norcross, Fairburn, Buford, Senoia, Tyrone, Locust Grove, Sugar Hill, Oakwood, Lake City, Acworth, Adairsville, Adel, Alma, Alto, Americus, Aragon, Ashburn, Auburn, Bainbridge, Ball Ground, Barnesville, Baxley, Blackshear, Blairsville, Blakely, Blue Ridge, Bogart, Bonaire, Bowdon, Bremen, Brooklet, Brunswick, Buchanan, Butler, Cairo, Calhoun, Camilla, Candler-mcafee, Canton, Carnesville, Carrollton, Cartersville, Cedartown, Chatsworth, Chickamauga, Clarkesville, Claxton, Clayton, Cleveland, Cochran, Colbert, College Park, Colquitt, Commerce, Conyers, Cordele, Cornelia, Covington, Cumming, Cuthbert, Dahlonega, Dallas, Dalton, Danielsville, Dearing, Donalsonville, Douglas, Douglasville, Dublin, Duluth, Dunwoody, Eastman, East Point, Eatonton, Elberton, Ellijay, Evans, Fayetteville, Fitzgerald, Flowery Branch, Folkston, Forest Park, Forsyth, Fort Benning, Fort Oglethorpe, Fort Valley, Gainesville, Glenn, Glennville, Gray, Greensboro, Griffin, Grovetown, Guyton, Hahira, Hampton, Harlem, Hartwell, Hawkinsville, Hazlehurst, Hephzibah, Hiawassee, Hinesville, Hiram, Hogansville, Hull, Jackson, Jasper, Jefferson, Jesup, Jonesboro, Kingsland, Lagrange, Lakeland, Lake Park, Lavonia, Lafayette, La Grange, Leesburg, Lilburn, Lincolnton, Lithia Springs, Lizella, Loganville, Louisville, Ludowici, Lyons, Mableton, Madison, Manchester, Martinez, Maysville, Mcdonough, Mc Caysville, Mc Donough, Mc Rae, Metter, Midland, Midway, Milledgeville, Millen, Monroe, Montezuma , Monticello, Morrow, Moultrie, Nashville, Newnan, North Atlanta, Oakwood, Ocilla, Oxford, Pelham, Pembroke, Perry, Pooler, Quitman, Redan, Reidsville, Richmond Hill, Rincon, Ringgold, Rising Fawn, Riverdale, Rockmart, Rocky Face, Rome, Rossville, Roswell, Royston, Saint Marys, Sandy Springs, Senoia, Sharpsburg, Silver Creek, Social Circle, Soperton, South Augusta, Statesboro, Stockbridge, St Marys, Summerville, Sylvester, Tallapoosa, Tate, Thomaston, Thomasville, Thomson, Tifton, Toccoa, Trenton, Trion, Tucker, Tunnel Hill, Twin City, Valdosta, Vidalia, Vienna, Villa Rica, Warner Robins, Warrenton, Washington, Waycross, Waynesboro, West Augusta, West Point, Winder, Winston, Woodbine, Wrens, Wrightsville

Counties we service: Ben Hill, Bibb, Bulloch, Camden, Carroll, Catoosa, Clarke, Clayton, Cobb, Columbia, Coweta, Dawson, DeKalb, Dougherty, Douglas, Elbert, Fannin, Fayette, Floyd, Forsyth, Fulton, Glynn, Gordon, Gwinnett, Habersham, Hall, Henry, Houston, Laurens, Lee, Lowndes, McDuffie, Monroe, Newton, Oconee, Paulding, Richmond, Rockdale, Spalding, Tift, Troup, Walker, Wilkinson,

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