20 October

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How Prescription Drugs Can Lead to a DUI

Posted by HSF

in DUI

Medicine doctor hand giving prescription list to patient closeup

Arrests for driving under the influence in Valdosta County have remained steady. What has changed is the substance behind the arrests. While most people consider alcohol to be a driving force in charges for driving under the influence, law enforcement officials say that prescription drugs have taken over as the leading cause for DUI arrests. People sometimes believe that because they are prescribed a medication by their doctor, they cannot be arrested for driving under the influence. This is not the case. Any substance that leads to the impaired ability to drive a vehicle responsibly and safely is against the law....

20 October

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Flying Tire Strikes Motorist

Posted by HSF

in In the News

Pickup Truck Wheels and Tires Closeup Photo

A woman traveling down Georgia 400 was hit by, not a another vehicle, but a flying tire that came from the opposite side of the roadway. The woman lost her life as a result of the incident. According to police who investigated the scene, the woman was traveling in the southbound lane of Georgia 400. A man driving a pickup truck in the northbound lane lost a wheel and tire. The wheel and tire flew over the median wall and into the woman's windshield. The woman died as a result of her injuries. The driver was the only person in the car...

19 October

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Child Victim of Hit-and-Run

Posted by HSF

in Wrongful Death

crosswalk on the road for safety when people walking cross the stree

A small child was walking to school on October 18 when she was struck by a car. That car failed to stop after striking the child, and police are searching for the car and its driver. The little girl died as a result of her injuries. According to reports, the 4-year-old was walking to school when a driver hit her and threw her into another vehicle. The injuries the girl sustained from the impact led to her untimely death. The incident occurred just prior to 7 a.m. on North Indian Creek Drive. The location where the child was struck was close...

18 October

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Can You Get a DUI On Private Property?

Posted by HSF

in DUI

You know that you can be arrested for driving under the influence if you are caught driving down a public road or highway. In fact, when most people think of DUI, they picture someone weaving in and out of a lane of traffic. We may even consider checkpoints and, in the worst cases, accidents. It's fair that people think of these things. After all, most DUIs do occur in these ways. Unfortunately, some people also believe that if they can make it home and into their own driveway, they can avoid being charged with driving under the influence. This can cause...

18 October

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A Look at Illegal Search and Seizure

Posted by HSF

in Criminal Defense

The Worth County Sheriff's Office made headlines recently. The department locked down the campus of Worth County High School without giving prior notice school officials. No one at the school knew what was going on. Over the course of the next four hours, officers conducted a drug sweep of the campus, searching all 900 students present. The search was ordered by Sheriff Jeff Hobby who, attorneys say, did not have a warrant. In the days following the raid, multiple students filed complaints of being inappropriately groped by deputies. What resulted was a federal civil suit on behalf of the students. In...

16 October

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When Do Prosecutors Have to Reveal the Evidence They’ve Discovered?

Posted by HSF

in Criminal Defense

Criminal waiting for courts ruling in the court room

To be able to convict someone of a crime, a prosecutor must gather evidence that shows the person committed that crime and convince a judge and jury of the fact. There are a variety of types of evidence used in a criminal trial. In order for a trial to be considered fair, the defendant and their attorney must know what evidence will be used against them so they have a chance to refute it. The process of finding out about a prosecutor's case is called discovery. Through the process of discovery, a defendant can: Obtain copies of any police reports Obtain copies...

13 October

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Dad On Probation Can’t Donate Kidney

Posted by HSF

in Medical Malpractice

Health Care teddy bear Heart stethoscope with filter effect retro vintage style

It sounds like a case of medical malpractice but, in truth, it isn't. Rules are rules, they say, and in this case, the rules could end up costing a toddler his life. According to reports, a child was born in Atlanta without kidneys. After a search for a donor, the boy's father was found to be a perfect match. Everything was set and the transplant was scheduled --- until the boy's father was arrested for a probation violation, that is. Last month, the boy's father was arrested for violating his probation when he was caught with a firearm. The man was incarcerated...

10 October

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Drivers and Dashboard Distraction Study Released

Posted by HSF

in Distracted Driving

blank navigation screen on dashboard inside a car

Perhaps unsurprisingly, a recent study has found that complicated screens on dashboards are proving to be a distraction. The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety has found that technology in today's vehicles could be putting people at higher risk for traffic collisions. The study was released early this month and looked at InVehicle Information Systems. The study attempted to determine just how complicated these screens are to operate and how distracting they prove to be. The study found that no matter the make and model of the vehicle, all in-dash information systems prove to be distracting for drivers. While some are more...

10 October

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Marijuana Has Been “Decriminalized” in Atlanta. What’s That Really Mean?

Posted by HSF

in Drug Crimes

Until just last week, those in possession of small amounts of marijuana in Atlanta faced jail time. Even less than an ounce could land you behind bars. Thanks to a new city ordinance, any person in Atlanta that is caught with less than a single ounce of marijuana won't be facing any time in the clink. In short, possession of small amounts of weed has been decriminalized. Mayoral candidate Kwanza Hall wrote the ordinance and introduced it to the city in March. After its passing, Hall said, "This is a moment of history for Atlanta. We have made positive progress." While...

09 October

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The Future Is Here with “Predictive Policing”

Posted by HSF

in Criminal Defense

When you think of police responding to a crime, you think of just that: police responding. In a typical scenario, a crime is committed, the police department or 911 is called, and officers are sent to the scene. But what if police officers could start “responding” to crimes before they occurred? Predictive policing offers just that. It's a high-tech approach to law enforcement that uses data to forecast possible criminal activity. While the term “predictive policing” may make you think of movies like Minority Report, it works a bit differently in the real world. Experts say that it is a bit...

How Prescription Drugs Can Lead to a DUI

Flying Tire Strikes Motorist

Child Victim of Hit-and-Run

Can You Get a DUI On Private Property?

A Look at Illegal Search and Seizure

When Do Prosecutors Have to Reveal the Evidence They’ve Discovered?

Dad On Probation Can’t Donate Kidney

Drivers and Dashboard Distraction Study Released

Marijuana Has Been “Decriminalized” in Atlanta. What’s That Really Mean?

The Future Is Here with “Predictive Policing”

The Levels of Intoxication

The Best Ways to Prevent Holiday Package Thefts

Does Uber Really Reduce DUI Rates?

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