Georgia Criminal Defense Lawyer Blog

Yes, a Georgia DUI Charge Can Arrive Days After You Drive Can you be charged with DUI days later in Georgia? Yes. Georgia law does not require an arrest at the roadside for a DUI case to go forward. A charge can be filed after the driving is over, once the investigation is finished. Georgia's…

What a Statute of Limitations Means in a Criminal Case A statute of limitations is the deadline the State has to formally bring criminal charges. The clock runs from when the offense is alleged to have happened, not from when someone reports it and not from when an arrest occurs. People searching for the sex…

What It Means When a Georgia DUI Court Date Gets Reset When your DUI court date keeps getting pushed back, the case has been continued and moved to a later calendar. In most instances that reflects scheduling and case-preparation realities, not the strength of the charge against you. A Georgia criminal case does not move…

How long do restraining orders last in Georgia depends on which stage the case has reached. An ex parte temporary order lasts only until the court hearing, and that hearing is set within 30 days of the filing of the petition. A final family violence protective order may last up to one year. The court…

What Is Legal Restitution in Georgia? A sentencing court may order a defendant to pay a victim restitution. This money compensates the victim for a loss caused by the offense. Restitution is part of the criminal sentence itself, not a separate lawsuit filed by the victim. Three ideas get confused here, and the difference matters.…

What Counts as a Felony in Georgia? In Georgia, a felony is an offense. It is punishable by imprisonment for more than 12 months. It can include life imprisonment. A misdemeanor is capped at 12 months. Most readers want to know which charges cross that line. The possible sentence decides it. Georgia uses three tiers.…

What Is the Fine for Texting While Driving in Georgia? The fine for texting while driving in Georgia generally starts at $50 and one point on your license for a first conviction. A second conviction within 24 months generally brings a $100 fine and two points. A third or later conviction in that same 24-month…

What People Really Mean by Drug Law Loopholes There is no secret list of drug law loopholes that makes a Georgia drug charge disappear. Georgia drug prosecutions do fail on a regular basis, but they fail on constitutional and evidentiary grounds that non-lawyers describe as loopholes. A loophole implies a drafting error in the statute.…

What Georgia Law Actually Requires Before a Judge Signs an Order Clients often ask a blunt question: can you get a restraining order for no reason in Georgia? No. A Georgia court cannot lawfully issue a protective order without a stated, qualifying reason. The petitioner must swear to specific conduct that fits a category the…

Why What You Wear in Traffic Court Matters In Georgia traffic court, business casual is the safe default. That means a collared shirt and slacks, or a blouse with a skirt or slacks, plus closed-toe shoes. Clothing is not evidence. It does not change the law or the facts of your traffic stop. Even so,…