Getting arrested for a DUI (Driving Under the Influence) can have severe consequences beyond legal penalties. One of the most significant challenges people face after a DUI arrest is the publication of their mugshot on various online platforms. 

In recent years, posting mugshots online has become increasingly common. Law enforcement agencies and private websites have made it a routine to post arrest photos of individuals who have been booked into jail. Fortunately, these days we don’t see as many law enforcement photos online, but private publications can access them by way of an open records request. Most mugshots available online are associated with these types of private companies.

This can be problematic for individuals who may have been arrested for a minor offense or whose charges were ultimately dropped. In such cases, the mugshot may still be available online, creating significant issues for the individual’s personal and professional life.

The Embarrassment of Online Mugshots

A DUI arrest is already a humiliating experience for anyone. However, the embarrassment is compounded when your mugshot is plastered all over the internet. Online mugshots are accessible to anyone with an internet connection, and it’s impossible to control who sees them. These photographs can make you feel exposed and vulnerable, leaving you feeling your reputation is ruined forever. If your case has been resolved in your favor, you may be able to petition to have the photo removed.

In-Person Jail Mail: Expect Unwanted Attention

Not all reputational damage happens online. After a DUI arrest, you can also expect to receive jail mail at the address on your driver’s license, meaning that everyone living at that address with you will also be aware of your arrest. It can be an uncomfortable experience for you and your family, making the situation even more distressing.

Don’t Talk About Your Case Online

Finally, it should go without saying that one should avoid posting anything about your case or commenting online regarding the charge or the agency. Until your case is closed and your lawyer gives you the green light, you should not be discussing your case on or offline.

The EHG Legal Team is obsessed with softening the blow to your reputation online and in life. We have spent nearly two decades helping professionals, students, parents, truck drivers, nurses, teachers, lawyers, contractors, plumbers, and elected officials protect the future they have worked so hard to build. We look forward to helping you return to normal as quickly as possible.

It’s a situation that no one ever wants to be in – a car accident. Unfortunately for residents and drivers, this intersection has become a hot spot for traffic accidents. Over the years, many residents have expressed their concerns about the dangerous intersection and the need for immediate action.

Citing issues such as poor visibility, confusing traffic patterns, and a lack of proper signage, many have called for the county to take action to improve safety at the intersection, such as adding more street lights, improving road markings, and increasing police presence.

The Causes of Accidents at Ponce De Leon and Artwood Road

Several factors contribute to the high incidence of traffic accidents at this intersection. One of the most significant is the heavy traffic volume. Ponce De Leon and Artwood Road are both major thoroughfares in Atlanta, and they intersect in a heavily populated area. As a result, there are always numerous cars, trucks, and buses jockeying for position, which increases the risk of collisions.

Another contributing factor is the layout of the intersection. It’s a complex intersection with multiple lanes, a blind turn, a stoplight, and a crosswalk, making it difficult to navigate. Bad weather makes it all the more dangerous. Many drivers become confused, which leads to mistakes and collisions.

Finally, speed is also a major factor in accidents at this intersection. Drivers often exceed the posted speed limit, reducing their reaction time and increasing any collision’s severity.

Specifically, residents have complained about the following:

• Artwood needs to be widened to accommodate simultaneous left and right turns onto Ponce. Drivers currently make an unofficial lane, which is dangerous and could lead to accidents.
• The traffic light at the intersection is not sufficient for safe turning onto Artwood. Drivers traveling east on Ponce have poor visibility and need a leading green arrow to turn left safely onto Artwood.
• Drivers often speed on Ponce, and there is a curve west of the intersection. Although there are signs, the light can still be a surprise. Rumble strips could alert drivers, and the DOT should replace the curve signs that were removed during construction.
• The historic railroad bridge over Ponce just past the Artwood intersection is problematic. The signage for its low clearance is not sufficient, and large trucks often divert onto Artwood, leading to accidents.
• The lights at Artwood and Scott/Ponce fork are not coordinated, leading to frustrating and dangerous situations for drivers during heavy traffic.
• Georgia Power should have a record of how often the intersection’s power poles have been damaged or taken out due to accidents.

The Consequences of Accidents at Ponce De Leon and Artwood Road

The consequences of an accident at this intersection can be severe. Injuries can range from minor to life-threatening, and property damage can be extensive. Moreover, the financial costs associated with an accident can be staggering. Medical bills, car repairs, and lost wages can quickly add up, leaving victims struggling to recover physically and financially.

In response to these concerns, the county has initiated several measures to improve safety at the intersection. One such measure includes the installation of a pedestrian island to help reduce the risk of pedestrian accidents.

Despite these efforts, accidents continue to occur, causing frustration and concern among residents. Some have even taken to social media to express their displeasure, sharing photos and videos of accidents as they happen.

Don’t plead guilty in traffic court without first understanding how your insurance rates will be be impacted.

Driving is an essential part of life for many people in Georgia, but it comes with certain responsibilities. One of these is obeying traffic laws and regulations, and unfortunately, many drivers find themselves facing charges for a variety of traffic offenses. If you are one of these people, you may be tempted to plead guilty to get the whole ordeal over with quickly. However, this may not be the best course of action, especially if you’re concerned about insurance costs.

As you may know, the state of Georgia operates on a point system for traffic violations and most citations are reported to DDS.ga.gov. Each time you are found guilty of a reportable traffic offense, a certain number of points is added to your driving record. The more points you accumulate, the greater the likelihood that your insurance premiums will increase. If you accumulate enough points, your insurance company may even refuse to insure you altogether. This is why it’s so important to invest whenever possible in maintaining a clean record. 

For example, a single traffic ticket can increase your auto insurance premiums by an average of 22 percent, according to an analysis by Insurance.com. Reckless driving, DUI, driving without a license, and hit + run are among the most expensive offenses, with first-time offenders facing an average increase of 16 to 22 percent. Even less serious offenses like speeding can increase your insurance premiums by an average of 11 to 15 percent. These increases can last for several years, depending on your driving record and the insurance company’s policies.

By pleading guilty to a traffic offense, you are essentially admitting fault and allowing points to be added to your driving record. This can have a long-term impact on your insurance costs, which can end up costing you hundreds or even thousands of dollars over time. In some cases, it may be possible to have the charges reduced or dismissed altogether, which can help minimize the impact on your driving record and insurance premiums.

If you’re facing traffic charges in Georgia, it’s important to consult with legal counsel as soon as possible. An experienced traffic attorney can review the details of your case and help you understand your options. Depending on the circumstances, it may be possible to negotiate a plea bargain or fight the charges in court. Even if you end up being found guilty, an attorney may be able to help you minimize the impact on your driving record and insurance costs.

In addition to legal counsel, there are other steps you can take to minimize the impact of traffic offenses on your insurance costs. For example, some insurance companies offer safe driving courses or other discounts for drivers who take proactive steps to improve their driving skills. 

If you do find yourself facing traffic charges, it’s important to take the situation seriously and seek legal counsel before making any decisions that could impact your driving record and insurance costs.

The first phase of DUI detection is vehicle in motion, where the officer makes DUI-related observations before initiating a traffic stop. In many DUI cases, the officer pulls a driver over for Failure to Maintain Lane, but in the video, you see that they used their turn signals appropriately, interacted with other traffic well, and they moved over or changed lanes without issues. Those are all things your defense team should be documenting and taking note of.

The officers are trained to look for specific impaired driving “cues.” The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) sponsored research to identify the most common and reliable initial indicators of DWI. There were 24 cues that were identified as being associated with a high probability that the driver exhibiting the cue is impaired.

They include:

Problems Maintaining Proper Lane Position

• Weaving
• Weaving across lane line
• Drifting
• Straddling a lane line
• Swerving
• Almost striking an object or a vehicle
• Turning with a wide radius

Speed and Braking Problems

• Stopping problems
• Unnecessary acceleration or deceleration
• Varying speed
• 10 mph or more under the speed limit

Vigilance Problems

• Driving without headlights at night
• Failure to signal or inconsistent with action
• Driving in opposing lanes or wrong way on one way
• Slow response to traffic signals
• Slow or failure to respond to an officer’s signals
• Stopping in lane for no apparent reason

Judgment problems

• Following too closely
• Improper or unsafe lane change
• Illegal or improper turn
• Driving on other than designated roadway
• Stopping inappropriately in response to officer
• Inappropriate or unusual behavior
• Appearing to be impaired

Important Terminology

Reasonable Articulable Suspicion – the amount of evidence required to initiate a traffic stop is much lower than the probable cause required for an arrest.

• A particularized and objective basis for suspecting that a citizen is involved in criminal activity. This suspicion need not meet the higher standard of probable cause, but it must only be more than mere caprice or a hunch.

Probable Cause – the legal standard of evidence that is required to support an arrest as opposed to what is required to initiate a traffic stop. In Georgia, the officer must have knowledge or reasonably trustworthy information that someone was in control of a moving vehicle, while under the influence to a degree that renders her incapable of driving safely.

DUI Less Safe – the legal standard that applies to all DUI cases, regardless of whether the test result was over or under the legal limit.

• DUI in Georgia = a Less Safe Driver
• “A driver or operator of a motor vehicle is under the influence of alcohol when the person is affected by alcohol to the extent that it is less safe for the person to drive than it would be if the person were not affected by alcohol. A driver who is less safe is less efficient, less skillful, less coherent, less able, less qualified, and less proficient.”

Proof Beyond a Reasonable Doubt – standard of proof required to convict someone of DUI at trial.

• A reasonable doubt is defined by the courts as “a doubt of a fair-minded, impartial juror honestly seeking the truth. It is a doubt based upon common sense and reason. It does not mean a vague or arbitrary doubt, but it is a doubt for which a reason can be given arising from a consideration of the evidence or lack of evidence, a conflict in the evidence, or any combination of these.”