Georgia DUI Checkpoint Leads to Driving Under the Influence of Drugs Arrests

State troopers from the Georgia State Patrol’s Colquitt post and Sheriff’s deputies set up a DUI checkpoint at the intersection of Georgia 262 North and Georgia 97 North near the Vada community.

According to GSP Cpl. Kyle Duke, two vehicles, a passenger car and a SUV, started to approach officers before turning around.  This action caused suspicion and the two vehicles were stopped.  As a state trooper searched the SUV, he found several small plastic bags filled with suspected marijuana.  The SUV’s driver, Violet Argo, 40, of Douglasville, Georgia, was arrested for possession of marijuana with the intent to distribute and also for driving under the influence of drugs.  Her passenger, Ricky Lee Maxwell, 45, of Atlanta, Georgia, was charged with misdemeanor possession of marijuana.

Belinda Suzette Stewart, 47, of Brainbridge, was charged with misdemeanor possession of marijuana, driving under the influence of drugs in Georgia and having an expired vehicle tag.

Captain Chip Nix of the Sheriff’s Office went to a house on Swindell Road in connection with the same incident.  Nix conducted a probable-cause search and found additional marijuana, which resulted in another man’s arrest for misdemeanor possession of marijuana.

According to Decatur County Jail records and the Georgia State Patrol, there have been a slightly higher than usual number of drug-related arrests made by local law enforcement over the past two weeks.

A conviction for driving under the influence of drugs in Georgia can carry significant consequences, including a loss of license, higher insurance rates, mandatory ignition interlock, travel limitations, and possibly jail time.

 

Man Facing DUI Charge in Virginia After Hitting School Bus

A 41-year-old man from Halifax was recently charged with DUI (driving under the influence), after he hit a Halifax County school bus.  He has also been charged with hit-and-run.

Virginia State Trooper K.R. Martin charged Glenn H. Spell of Chatham Road following the accident.  Spell sideswiped a school bus operated by Willie Francis Jr., 43, of South Boston.  The bus only sustained minor damages, including a black streak along the side of the vehicle.  However, Spell did not stop after hitting the school bus, but later returned to the scene of the crash on Thompson Store Road where he had struck the bus at 4:40 AM.

There was no significant damage and no one was hurt in the accident, but school transportation officials still responded to the call from the bus driver.  When the school transportation officials arrived to the accident scene, Spell had already returned, but left again when state police were called.  Spell was later identified as the driver and was charged with DUI and hit-and-run.

In Virginia, the consequences for DUI are severe.  A first time DUI offense can result in a court fine of up to $2,500 and a jail sentence.  A DUI conviction will go on your criminal record and could affect your insurance premium, future employment and your family’s wellbeing.  Virginia courts hear so many DUI cases, that they frequently encourage DUI defendants to quickly admit to guilt.  If you are facing a DUI charge in Virginia, contact an experienced DUI attorney immediately.

Georgia DUI Checkpoint Leads to Driving Under the Influence of Drugs Arrests

State troopers from the Georgia State Patrol’s Colquitt post and Sheriff’s deputies set up a DUI checkpoint at the intersection of Georgia 262 North and Georgia 97 North near the Vada community.

According to GSP Cpl. Kyle Duke, two vehicles, a passenger car and a SUV, started to approach officers before turning around.  This action caused suspicion and the two vehicles were stopped.  As a state trooper searched the SUV, he found several small plastic bags filled with suspected marijuana.  The SUV’s driver, Violet Argo, 40, of Douglasville, Georgia, was arrested for possession of marijuana with the intent to distribute and also for driving under the influence of drugs.  Her passenger, Ricky Lee Maxwell, 45, of Atlanta, Georgia, was charged with misdemeanor possession of marijuana.

Belinda Suzette Stewart, 47, of Brainbridge, was charged with misdemeanor possession of marijuana, driving under the influence of drugs in Georgia and having an expired vehicle tag.

Captain Chip Nix of the Sheriff’s Office went to a house on Swindell Road in connection with the same incident.  Nix conducted a probable-cause search and found additional marijuana, which resulted in another man’s arrest for misdemeanor possession of marijuana.

According to Decatur County Jail records and the Georgia State Patrol, there have been a slightly higher than usual number of drug-related arrests made by local law enforcement over the past two weeks.

A conviction for driving under the influence of drugs in Georgia can carry significant consequences, including a loss of license, higher insurance rates, mandatory ignition interlock, travel limitations, and possibly jail time.

 

Man Facing DUI Charge in Virginia After Hitting School Bus

A 41-year-old man from Halifax was recently charged with DUI (driving under the influence), after he hit a Halifax County school bus.  He has also been charged with hit-and-run.

Virginia State Trooper K.R. Martin charged Glenn H. Spell of Chatham Road following the accident.  Spell sideswiped a school bus operated by Willie Francis Jr., 43, of South Boston.  The bus only sustained minor damages, including a black streak along the side of the vehicle.  However, Spell did not stop after hitting the school bus, but later returned to the scene of the crash on Thompson Store Road where he had struck the bus at 4:40 AM.

There was no significant damage and no one was hurt in the accident, but school transportation officials still responded to the call from the bus driver.  When the school transportation officials arrived to the accident scene, Spell had already returned, but left again when state police were called.  Spell was later identified as the driver and was charged with DUI and hit-and-run.

In Virginia, the consequences for DUI are severe.  A first time DUI offense can result in a court fine of up to $2,500 and a jail sentence.  A DUI conviction will go on your criminal record and could affect your insurance premium, future employment and your family’s wellbeing.  Virginia courts hear so many DUI cases, that they frequently encourage DUI defendants to quickly admit to guilt.  If you are facing a DUI charge in Virginia, contact an experienced DUI attorney immediately.

Former Phoenix Suns Star Charles Barkley Apologizes for DUI Arrest

On a NBA telecast on TNT, Charles Barkley, a former Phoenix Suns star, apologized for his DUI arrest in Arizona.  Barkley said that he will never get behind the wheel when he’s drunk and encouraged other people to do the same.

Barkley went on to say in the on-air apology that he embarrassed everyone in his life and was sorry for doing that.  He said that many people stopped him on the street and told him that even though he messed up, he should keep moving forward with his life.  Barkley also said that he appreciates his bosses at TNT, as they offered support during his situation.  Following the arrest, Barkley had taken a leave of absence as a NBA commentator with TNT Sports.

Barkley was arrested on December 31, 2008 after he was pulled over in Old Town Scottsdale.  At the time of the arrest, he was driving his wife’s SUV and had a blood-alcohol content of .149 percent, which is nearly twice the legal limit of .08 percent under Arizona law.  He was arrested, cited and released on suspicion of two counts of misdemeanor DUI in Arizona.

According to a police report, Barkley informed police that he had driven 30 seconds and was in a hurry to pick up a woman.  He was stopped by an officer after he was spotted rolling through a stop sign at 75th Street and Sixth Avenue.

Barkley admitted to drinking vodka with some friends at the Dirty Pretty bar.  He did not perform well during the field sobriety test and would not take a portable breathalyzer test, but did agree to a blood test.

Barkley was sentenced with 10 days in jail and a fine of $2,000 by a Scottsdale, Arizona judge.  If he completes a court-approved alcohol program, his jail sentence will be reduced to 5 days.

Former Phoenix Suns Star Charles Barkley Apologizes for DUI Arrest

On a NBA telecast on TNT, Charles Barkley, a former Phoenix Suns star, apologized for his DUI arrest in Arizona.  Barkley said that he will never get behind the wheel when he’s drunk and encouraged other people to do the same.

Barkley went on to say in the on-air apology that he embarrassed everyone in his life and was sorry for doing that.  He said that many people stopped him on the street and told him that even though he messed up, he should keep moving forward with his life.  Barkley also said that he appreciates his bosses at TNT, as they offered support during his situation.  Following the arrest, Barkley had taken a leave of absence as a NBA commentator with TNT Sports.

Barkley was arrested on December 31, 2008 after he was pulled over in Old Town Scottsdale.  At the time of the arrest, he was driving his wife’s SUV and had a blood-alcohol content of .149 percent, which is nearly twice the legal limit of .08 percent under Arizona law.  He was arrested, cited and released on suspicion of two counts of misdemeanor DUI in Arizona.

According to a police report, Barkley informed police that he had driven 30 seconds and was in a hurry to pick up a woman.  He was stopped by an officer after he was spotted rolling through a stop sign at 75th Street and Sixth Avenue.

Barkley admitted to drinking vodka with some friends at the Dirty Pretty bar.  He did not perform well during the field sobriety test and would not take a portable breathalyzer test, but did agree to a blood test.

Barkley was sentenced with 10 days in jail and a fine of $2,000 by a Scottsdale, Arizona judge.  If he completes a court-approved alcohol program, his jail sentence will be reduced to 5 days.

When is DUI a Felony Offense in Virginia?

If you have been arrested for DUI in Virginia, chances are you will be charged with a misdemeanor, not a felony.  Even though both are considered criminal charges, a misdemeanor carries a lesser punishment.

A DUI conviction that is classified as a misdemeanor in Virginia may still carry a short jail sentence and fine, but the punishment is far less severe than a felony offense. If your DUI conviction is tried as a felony, you could be facing a state prison term of more than a year, in addition to a fine, license revocation and other consequences.

Every state is different in regards to how DUI convictions are classified.  In Virginia, a DUI offense is a misdemeanor unless it is the third offense within ten years.  A third DUI offense will be prosecuted as a Class 6 felony.  A fourth DUI offense will require mandatory time in jail of one year.

The Commonwealth of Virginia is particularly tough on convicted drunk drivers.  The section of the Virginia Code that addresses DUI is over 40 pages in length.  Even a first time DUI offense in Virginia can result in jail time, a fine of up to $2,500, a license revocation of one year and mandatory attendance of a DUI educational program provided by the Virginia Alcohol Safety Action Program (VASAP).  If you are given a sentence enhancement, you could be facing an even worse punishment.

The article, When is DUI a Felony Offense, has more information regarding when DUI is charged as a felony versus a misdemeanor.

STOP DWI Coordinator Named in Madison County, New York

Stephen Goodfriend was appointed as the new coordinator for Madison County’s STOP DWI program.

STOP DWI, which stands for Special Traffic Options Program for Driving While Intoxicated (D.W.I.), was developed by New York State government on July 31, 1981. According to Madison County’s website, “this law became effective on November 28, 1981 and provided for the return of fine monies for drinking and driving violations to the counties in which they occurred, provided that those counties established a ‘STOP-DWI’ program.” The mission of the STOP-DWI program is to "provide a plan for coordination of county, town, city, and village efforts to reduce alcohol-related traffic injuries and fatalities."

As the STOP DWI coordinator for Madison County, Goodfriend is charged with the tasks of analyzing DWI statistics and assisting local law enforcement with DWI-related issues, which may include training sessions or purchasing new breathalyzers.  In addition, he is involved in local education, including Students Against Destructive Decisions programs and the Victims’ Impact Panel.

Madison County’s STOP DWI Program also helps fund a DWI patrol, helps fund an Assistant District Attorney who prosecutes misdemeanor DWI arrests in Madison County, provides funds for community awareness and education presentations and assists with the purchase, repair and caliberation of equipment used in DWI enforcement.

Approximately $145,000 to $170,000 in DWI arrest-related fines collected in Madison County goes back into STOP DWI initiatives, which Goodfriend said is something unique to New York.

Goodfriend said that DWI arrest in Madison County is typically hard for an officer to make.

When is DUI a Felony Offense in Virginia?

If you have been arrested for DUI in Virginia, chances are you will be charged with a misdemeanor, not a felony.  Even though both are considered criminal charges, a misdemeanor carries a lesser punishment.

A DUI conviction that is classified as a misdemeanor in Virginia may still carry a short jail sentence and fine, but the punishment is far less severe than a felony offense. If your DUI conviction is tried as a felony, you could be facing a state prison term of more than a year, in addition to a fine, license revocation and other consequences.

Every state is different in regards to how DUI convictions are classified.  In Virginia, a DUI offense is a misdemeanor unless it is the third offense within ten years.  A third DUI offense will be prosecuted as a Class 6 felony.  A fourth DUI offense will require mandatory time in jail of one year.

The Commonwealth of Virginia is particularly tough on convicted drunk drivers.  The section of the Virginia Code that addresses DUI is over 40 pages in length.  Even a first time DUI offense in Virginia can result in jail time, a fine of up to $2,500, a license revocation of one year and mandatory attendance of a DUI educational program provided by the Virginia Alcohol Safety Action Program (VASAP).  If you are given a sentence enhancement, you could be facing an even worse punishment.

The article, When is DUI a Felony Offense, has more information regarding when DUI is charged as a felony versus a misdemeanor.

STOP DWI Coordinator Named in Madison County, New York

Stephen Goodfriend was appointed as the new coordinator for Madison County’s STOP DWI program.

STOP DWI, which stands for Special Traffic Options Program for Driving While Intoxicated (D.W.I.), was developed by New York State government on July 31, 1981. According to Madison County’s website, “this law became effective on November 28, 1981 and provided for the return of fine monies for drinking and driving violations to the counties in which they occurred, provided that those counties established a ‘STOP-DWI’ program.” The mission of the STOP-DWI program is to "provide a plan for coordination of county, town, city, and village efforts to reduce alcohol-related traffic injuries and fatalities."

As the STOP DWI coordinator for Madison County, Goodfriend is charged with the tasks of analyzing DWI statistics and assisting local law enforcement with DWI-related issues, which may include training sessions or purchasing new breathalyzers.  In addition, he is involved in local education, including Students Against Destructive Decisions programs and the Victims’ Impact Panel.

Madison County’s STOP DWI Program also helps fund a DWI patrol, helps fund an Assistant District Attorney who prosecutes misdemeanor DWI arrests in Madison County, provides funds for community awareness and education presentations and assists with the purchase, repair and caliberation of equipment used in DWI enforcement.

Approximately $145,000 to $170,000 in DWI arrest-related fines collected in Madison County goes back into STOP DWI initiatives, which Goodfriend said is something unique to New York.

Goodfriend said that DWI arrest in Madison County is typically hard for an officer to make.

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