On behalf of Matt Karzen, L.L.C. posted in Drunk Driving on Wednesday, February 22, 2012
If you have checked in with this blog a few times over the past few months, you have likely come across a story or two about DUI checkpoints. DUI checkpoints are actually quite controversial here in Athens and elsewhere. Although some people see them as a good way to catch drunk drivers, others disagree and claim that they are a waste of police resources and represent an unwarranted intrusion on the rights of innocent people.
In a recent editorial, the managing director of the American Beverage Institute laid out her claim that DUI checkpoints are ineffective.
On behalf of Matt Karzen, L.L.C. posted in Misdemeanors on Thursday, February 16, 2012
It's safe to assume that the mothers of most University of Georgia students told them to always wear their seatbelts. Naturally, mothers say that because they want their children to be safe in the event that they are involved in a car accident. But for one man, not wearing his seatbelt got him into trouble for an entirely different reason.
The UGA student was arrested in Athens recently after a police officer noticed him not wearing a seatbelt and later discovered that he had a fake I.D.
On behalf of Matt Karzen, L.L.C. posted in Drug Charges on Tuesday, February 14, 2012
What may have been a "wake and bake" session for a University of Georgia student went terribly awry Sunday afterthe 18-year-old man was arrested and later charged with drug and alcohol offenses.
University of Georgia police were called to the man's dormitory room in Creswell Hall after a resident advisor noticed the smell of marijuana wafting through the dormitory. Police were able to trace the smell of burning pot to the man's room.
On behalf of Matt Karzen, L.L.C. posted in Drunk Driving on Wednesday, February 8, 2012
A former standout player for the University of Georgia football team was recently arrested on suspicion of drunk driving. Knowshon Moreno, who now plays for the Denver Broncos, was arrested in the Mile-High City last Wednesday. He has now been charged with DUI.
Police say the 24-year-old was driving his Bentley around 70 mph in a construction zone where the posted speed limit was 45. An office observed him driving recklessly and pulled him over.
On behalf of Matt Karzen, L.L.C. posted in Drug Charges on Monday, February 6, 2012
There's quite a scandal brewing in the University of Georgia's College of Pharmacy. Or is there?
According to an e-mail circulated back in November, issues ranging from cheating on coursework to sharing controlled substances are causing school officials considerably anxiety.
Cheating is bad, of course, but it isn't quite as serious as the sharing of controlled substances. That kind of conduct, of course, would probably amount to a drug crime. Out of concern that there was misbehavior going on, school officials set up a locker to serve as sort of an anonymous comment box where students can report misconduct without identifying themselves.
On behalf of Matt Karzen, L.L.C. posted in Criminal Defense on Wednesday, February 1, 2012
In our last post, we told you about a University of Georgia student who is likely to get in a lot of trouble over possessing a little pot. Unfortunately, it's likely a similar story with his UGA classmate who was arrested after trying to gain entry to an Athens bar with a fake I.D. He, too, is likely to face serious consequences after getting caught in what he likely thought was only a small transgression.
The 19-year-old student's trouble started as he was standing in line outside Bourbon Street Bar last Friday night. He was standing in line when a police officer noticed him because he was swaying as he stood, evidently indicating that he might be intoxicated.
On behalf of Matt Karzen, L.L.C. posted in Drug Charges on Monday, January 30, 2012
How much trouble do you think you could get into for being caught with less than an ounce of marijuana? As one man learned after he was arrested in Athens recently, the answer is: quite a lot.
According to the Athens-Clarke County Police Department, a 20-year-old University of Georgia student was observed failing to yield to pedestrians in a crosswalk. An officer pulled the man over and as the two were talking, the officer smelled what he described as "the odor of green marijuana."
On behalf of Matt Karzen, L.L.C. posted in Criminal Defense on Wednesday, January 25, 2012
A University of Georgia football player was arrested in Athens Saturday morning after his girlfriend alleged that he had committed domestic violence against her. She claims she was the victim of battery when Sanders Commings, who is a cornerback for Georgia, lost his temper during an argument.
The incident happened early Saturday morning, but other than that, details are sketchy. Apparently, a woman pulled up in front of a police car and reported that her passenger had been the victim of domestic violence. The passenger was Commings' girlfriend. The girlfriend did not have any visible injuries and said she did not need medical attention, but police said they had enough evidence to issue an arrest warrant for Commings.
On behalf of Matt Karzen, L.L.C. posted in Drunk Driving on Monday, January 23, 2012
It would be fair of people in Athens to presume that the breath tests uses to assess whether a given driver is intoxicated are accurate and reliable. It would be fair -- but it may be wrong.
The fact is, these drunk driving tests are notoriously unreliable. Criminal defense attorneys around the country have made some headway in arguing against these unreliable devices, but of course, they are still used all over.
On behalf of Matt Karzen, L.L.C. posted in Drunk Driving on Thursday, January 19, 2012
On this blog, we have written several times about the Athens-Clarke Police Department setting up roadside checkpoints. But why do these checkpoints get set up in the first place, and what are the officers looking for?
A lieutenant with the Athens police recently said these checkpoints are established to make sure that drivers in and around Athens have valid drivers' licenses, are not intoxicated and are keeping their vehicles in good working order, including maintaining safety equipment like traffic lights. DUI and safety belt use are the two biggest priorities, he said.
