RECENT COURT VICTORIES

Our client was pulled over by local police in a small town. They were driving with an expired tag. When the officer arrived at the driver's side window, he claimed that he smelled marijuana and alcohol all throughout the car and on the driver’s breath. Our client admitted to smoking, but mentioned that he had smoked almost 5 to 6 hours ago. The officer performed a DUI breath test. The client blew .000. He had not been drinking! The officer was wrong about smelling alcohol on the client’s breath. The officer then carried on with a search of the car with K9 assistance. No drugs. No alcohol. No bongs. Nothing was found. The officer went as far as even cutting the client’s seats. Still nothing was found. The officer later concocted a story that he saw what appeared to be marijuana residuals all throughout the car. Except nothing was ever collected. The officer then performed what was supposed to be standardized field sobriety tests. Some of those tests, according to the officer’s own reports, our client had passed. In addition, many of the tests that the officer used to invalidate our client were badly performed. Not only that, but the same officer, alleging that our client had alcohol on his breath (which he was wrong about), claiming that he saw what appeared to be weed (which he never collected), had a professional history of being fired from several high level law enforcement agencies for falsifying and planting evidence. This case was ultimately dismissed on all charges and client avoided having to proceed to trial.

Client had a valid Florida license at the time of the stop; the officer ticketed her b/c she didn’t get a GA license within 30 days of coming to GA, but she didn’t move here; was just visiting her mom. Her English wasn’t fantastic so it’s not so surprising that they got it wrong. Explained all that to the prosecutor (noting that she had come in from FL today) and they dropped it.

Client was observed driving in the middle lane for approximately 1 mile without his taillights and allegedly cut off the police officer. Upon talking to the client, he informed us that his taillights were in good working order and provided us with proof. Once presented to the solicitor, on top of other inconsistencies in the officers story, the State agreed to reduce the Reckless to a non-reportable traffic offense and dismiss the other charges.

Client, was observed driving by the Bryan County Sheriff's office before he crossed into Chatham County. The Sheriff's office called for backup from Chatham County Police. Chatham County located the vehicle and made the stop. Client received four citations, most notably Reckless Driving and Fleeing or Attempting to Elude. Upon review of the citations the attorney realized there were major defects with the documents. The judge on the case agreed and dismissed the Reckless Driving, the Fleeing to Elude, and the Following Too Close. The Failure to Use a Turn Signal was reduced by the court to a no points offense with a minor fine.

Client, was traveling to work from her home using the same route she used every day.  She made a right turn and bumped into a vehicle she did not see or expect to be there.  Client's cell phone was at her house just a five minute walk away, so she told the other driver she was going to her home to get her cell phone to call her daughter. She left the vehicle at the scene and walked the five minutes to her home.  When she came back the officer gave her two citations, one for hit and run the other for improper turn.  Attorney on the case spoke with the solicitor and the Hit and Run was dismissed and the client pled no contest to the Improper Turn.

Client was pulled over and charged with Reckless driving. He lives out of the State of Georgia. The client lost the citation so the attorney got the citation and reviewed it in court with the Judge. The Judge agreed the Reckless Driving citation was questionable as to a basis for the charge. She agreed to allow our client to plea to a non-reportable offense with a lowered fine and to allow this to be completed by paperwork.

39 year old client was pulled over for a brake light violation and no insurance.  Unbeknownst to the client, his insurance had lapsed. Officer claimed that he smelled an odor of alcohol coming from the client.  Client denied consuming any alcohol that day.  He submitted to field sobriety testing but refused to submit a blood sample and breathalyzer.  Despite two prior DUI convictions, the State agreed to amend the DUI to a reckless driving, and to amend the insurance violation to a non-reportable defective equipment.   Client gets to keep his license.

51-year-old client was questioned by an officer following an auto accident with another vehicle.  The other driver was deemed to be at fault, however, the client was questioned by the officer due to knowledge of client's drug history.  The officer claimed that he smelled "something sweet/meth"  on client's person, and did a search of the car.  No drugs were found.  Client was arrested and charged with a single count of DUI less safe.  He submitted to a blood test that came back positive for methamphetamine, among other drugs.  Considering that the client was not responsible for the auto accident and that drugs in one's system does not equate to an impaired/less safe driver per se, the prosecutor agreed that the client should not have been arrested and dismissed the charge.