Georgia

Sauls v. State, 293 Ga. 165 (2013)

After defendant was charged with driving under the influence (DUI), the State Court, Douglas County, W. O’Neal Dettmering, J., granted defendant’s motion to suppress evidence of his refusal to submit to State administered chemical testing following his arrest. State appealed. The Court of Appeals, 728 S.E.2d 241, reversed. Defendant petitioned for writ of certiorari, which was granted. The Supreme Court held that police officer’s failure to inform defendant that test refusal could be used against him in criminal proceeding rendered notice inadequate. Court of Appeals judgment reversed.

Williams v. State, 303 Ga.App. 407 (2010)

Defendant was convicted in the State Court, Troup County, of operating commercial vehicle without having been issued class A driver’s license. Defendant appealed. The Court of Appeals, Andrews, P.J., held that evidence was sufficient to support conviction. Affirmed.

Chancellor v. Dozier, 283 Ga. 259, 658 S.E.2d 592 (2008)

IMPLIED CONSENT Defendant complained that he was denied due process because the implied consent notice read to him failed to inform him that his refusal to submit to chemical testing would result in his lifetime disqualification from having a commercial driver’s license. Court held due process does not require that the arresting officer inform the driver of all the consequences of refusing to submit to testing because the officer had made it clear that refusing the test was not a safe harbor, free of adverse consequences.

Meyer v. State, 480 SE 2d 234 – Ga: Court of Appeals (1997)

Defendant sought to have his alcohol-related driving offense record sealed after successfully completing a deferred judgment. The Court of Appeals held that, despite the deferred judgment not being considered a conviction under Georgia law, the alcohol-related driving offenses exception applied, preventing the record from being sealed. The denial of sealing was affirmed.

Roberson v. State, 491 SE 2d 864 – Ga: Court of Appeals (1997)

Defendant was driving a tractor-trailer in Murray County when stopped for speeding. The officer detected an odor of alcohol, administered a preliminary test showing a .09 BAC, and arrested Defendant for DUI in a commercial motor vehicle. A subsequent Intoxilyzer test revealed a .08 BAC. Defendant was convicted in Murray County State Court. On appeal, the Georgia Court of Appeals, in Roberson v. State, 491 S.E.2d 864 (Ga. Ct. App. Sept. 8, 1997), held that the evidence was sufficient to support the commercial DUI conviction. Affirmed.