Georgia Criminal Defense Lawyer Blog

What Are Home Defense Laws? Home defense laws are state statutes and common-law doctrines. They govern when a resident may use force – including deadly force – against an intruder. Home defense laws by state differ dramatically, and the rules where you live may look nothing like the rules one state over. Three core legal…

What Is a Following Too Close Ticket in Georgia? A following too close ticket is issued when a driver fails to keep a safe gap behind the vehicle ahead. In Georgia, the charge comes from the following distance statute. Georgia law requires drivers to "not follow another vehicle more closely than is reasonable and prudent."…

Is There an Official Dress Code for Jury Duty? Most courts do not publish a strict uniform dress code for jury duty, but they do require attire that shows respect for the court. Your jury summons paperwork typically includes general guidance such as "business casual" or "neat and appropriate clothing." Beyond that, expectations can vary…

One standard beer typically registers on a breathalyzer for roughly 15 minutes to 2 hours. That is a general range, not a fixed rule. The detection window depends on your body weight, your food intake, and how quickly you consumed the drink. Alcohol reaches your breath about 15 minutes after the first sip. Your body…

The Coweta County DA is the elected prosecutor for the Coweta Judicial Circuit, and this office brings felony cases on behalf of the State of Georgia. Under Georgia law, the district attorney replaced the older office of solicitor-general, a change that took effect July 1, 1977, per the district attorney statute. The circuit covers five…

What Is Soliciting Prostitution? Legal Definition Soliciting prostitution means asking, offering, or agreeing to pay for a sex act. The offense targets the buyer. It does not require that any sex act take place. Georgia handles this a little differently than most people expect. There is no crime in the Georgia Code called "soliciting prostitution."…

How Georgia Classifies Speeding Over the Limit In Georgia, speeding penalties rise in tiers based on how many miles per hour a driver exceeds the posted limit. The state does not treat all speeding violations the same way. A driver going 10 mph over faces a very different outcome than one clocked at 30 over.…

Do You Need a License to Carry a Gun in Georgia? No. Georgia is a constitutional carry state, and has been for years. You do not need a license to carry a gun in Georgia. State law lets any "lawful weapons carrier" carry a handgun openly or concealed without a Weapons Carry License. A lawful…

What Does Making False Statements Mean in Georgia? Making false statements is a crime in Georgia, and prosecutors bring the charge far more often than most people realize. A person violates the statute by knowingly and willfully deceiving a state or local government department or agency. The deception may be a spoken lie or a…

What Is Swatting? Swatting is a false emergency call made to send armed police to another person's home. The caller often claims there is a hostage, a shooter, or a bomb. The purpose is to draw a large police response to that address. SWAT stands for Special Weapons and Tactics. Those are the specialized units…