Some of the most common criminal charges in Atlanta are driving under the influence, possession of marijuana, possession of prescription medications, and domestic violence battery. These four areas of charges can really happen to anyone. If you’re a social drinker, if you occasionally consume marijuana, if you have prescription medications, or if you’re in a relationship, even if you have no intent to break the law, these things can sometimes happen and these charges can occur. It is good to consult with an Atlanta criminal lawyer if faced with any of these common criminal charges.
Due to the Georgia governor’s zero tolerance policy, DUI charges are a common criminal charge in Atlanta. Many people are arrested after consuming very small amounts of alcohol. For example, someone might be arrested after having one beer at a sporting event and then being pulled over for a traffic offense after leaving the stadium. The officer may smell alcohol and the driver may exercises their right to remain silent, resulting in them going off to jail. This happens somewhat frequently.
In the Atlanta area, marijuana use is a common criminal charge as well. Although there is some limited legal use of cannabis oil for people suffering from eight categories of diseases, there is no provision in Georgia for the lawful possession of raw marijuana. You can’t even buy the cannabis oil in Georgia nor can you transport it from another state across state lines. There is actually no legal mechanism for a person who is prescribed cannabis oil to lawfully get it in Georgia. Many people who come from other states where marijuana is now legal or marijuana is not strictly prosecuted believe that the same must apply in Georgia and are surprised to learn that you can still be arrested for marijuana in Georgia. Consulting with an Atlanta lawyer can help clear up the confusion surrounding these laws.
Prescription pills present a similar issue. Prescription pills can be very easy to get from a doctor. If you complain of anxiety, a doctor might prescribe you Xanax. If you have pain, then they may prescribe Hydrocodone or other such things. Many people have someone in their family who’s been on one of these medications. Quite often, that’s how it happens: a family member gives a pill or two to another family member who’s suffering from anxiety or suffering from pain, and those pills are found in the car when the police pull the person over for some traffic offense, and that person is then arrested for felony possession.
Domestic violence battery is a very strictly enforced charge by the police in the Atlanta area, and is another common criminal charge. Many times a married couple will have a bad argument and someone will overhear the argument and will call the police. The police will question the couple separately and they will ask is if either one was in any way touched by the other person – pushed or slapped, for example. If there was contact, even if it leaves no mark, it can be enough for the police to arrest the person for domestic violence battery.
Domestic violence battery – although it’s only a misdemeanor – is a very nasty charge. A person convicted in Georgia of the misdemeanor offense of domestic violence battery, under federal law, will lose their gun rights. These charges are much more serious than people may think.
If a person has been charged with DUI, possession of marijuana, possession of prescription medications, or domestic violence battery, it is strongly encouraged that they consult with an Atlanta criminal defense attorney in their area.
The value an attorney can provide in a case is proportional to how much assistance they give the person. If a person has been charged with one of these serious offenses, They should meet with a defense attorney in their area and discuss what the options are. They should even ask their attorney what would happen if the person decides not to use a lawyer.
Consulting with an attorney is important, but sometimes if a charge is something very minor an attorney might suggest simply paying the fine. A defense attorney who is dedicated to his clients and dedicated to practicing law will honestly tell a person whether or not they need to hire a lawyer.
Oftentimes, though, it is a huge mistake for a person to proceed without a lawyer. There can be many, many hidden consequences of moving forward without an attorney. For example, a domestic violence battery does not typically include much jail time and for the first offense people usually don’t go to jail, but it’s a good idea to have a lawyer, as the person may lose gun rights under federal law for life. The value the attorney can bring is often hard for the accused person to determine, but the best possible way to figure that out is to meet face-to-face with an attorney and ask him or her about the pros and cons of hiring the attorney and what the attorney thinks that he or she can do for them.
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