267 Georgia DUI Arrests Made in “Take Back Our Highways” Program
In a report issued by the Georgia Department of Public Safety on August 7, 2009, it was announced that after a week-long concentrated patrol, Georgia State Troopers arrested 267 people for DUI in Georgia. Four other Southeastern states, Alabama, Florida, Tennessee, and Mississippi, participated in the “Take Back Our Highways Program.” During the seven-day-period from Saturday, July 25 to Friday, July 31, 2009, Georgia State Troopers also apprehended 44 wanted persons, recovered 7 stolen vehicles, arrested 127 people for driving on a suspended or revoked license, and gave out 2,162 speeding citations, 828 seat belt citations, 148 child restraint citations, and 64 citations to uninsured motorists.
It is an understatement to say that law enforcement was busy during the program’s seven-day period, and it raises the question of the possibility of overzealous ticketing.
The “Take Back Our Highways” program was created by the Alabama Department of Public Safety to raise driver awareness both through enforcement of traffic laws and with driver education outreach explaining that risky driving behaviors create many dangers. One Colonel said, “The bottom line is preventing traffic crashes and saving lives.”
Considering the unusually large amount of tickets that were issued and arrests that were made over the last few weeks due to the “Take Back Our Highways” program, many Georgians are likely to find themselves in a challenging spot and many are probably unaware of their rights.
If you’ve been arrested or charged with driving under the influence, you only have 10 business days from the date of your arrest to request an administrative hearing before the Georgia Department of Motor Vehicle Safety. Time is of the essence, and every available moment needs to be used to help build the strongest possible defense in your DUI case.
Skilled Atlanta DUI defense lawyers have the knowledge and resources to protect your rights and provide you with the most effective defense possible. Laws and penalties surrounding DUIs are very complex. Attorneys have years of experience in criminal and DUI defense and are prepared to examine every detail of your case.