How Georgia Probation Tests for Alcohol What kind of drug test does probation use for alcohol? Not the standard five-panel or ten-panel drug screen. These panels look for drugs, not alcohol. Ethanol clears the body within hours, so they will not catch drinking. Georgia supervision officers use alcohol-specific methods instead. The alcohol test for probation…
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Typical Fine Amounts for a Disorderly Conduct Ticket in Georgia If you are asking how much is a disorderly conduct ticket in Georgia, the honest answer is that there is no fixed price. Georgia treats disorderly conduct as a misdemeanor criminal charge, not a payable traffic-style citation like a window tint ticket that you settle…
Continue reading ›What Is Aggravated Battery in Georgia? Aggravated battery in Georgia is a felony. The crime happens when a person maliciously causes bodily harm. The harm must fit one of three types. In the first, the victim loses a body member. In the second, a body member no longer works. In the third, the victim suffers…
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Georgia's Ban on Firearm Possession by Convicted Felons Can a convicted felon have a gun in Georgia? Generally, no. The controlling statute is OCGA § 16-11-131, Georgia's felon in possession of a firearm law. It makes it a felony for a person convicted of a felony to receive, possess, or transport any firearm. Each of…
Continue reading ›What Georgia Law Requires After You Hit a Parked Car In Georgia, the penalty for hit and run parked car cases is usually a misdemeanor. That means up to 12 months in jail, a fine of up to $1,000, and points on your license. Most first offenses with no injury resolve through probation and restitution…
Continue reading ›What Is a Revocation Hearing? A revocation hearing is a court proceeding. A judge decides whether a person on probation or parole broke the terms of supervision. If the judge finds a violation, that same judge sets the consequence from the bench that day. See our related guide: Violation of Probation Warrants in Georgia: What…
Continue reading ›What Is Obstruction of an Officer Under Georgia Law? In Georgia, obstruction means knowingly and willfully obstructing or hindering a law enforcement officer in the lawful discharge of official duties; resisting or opposing that officer with violence raises the same offense to a felony. The law covers many officials. Police officers, sheriff's deputies, and Georgia…
Continue reading ›Bail in Georgia is money or property pledged to guarantee that a defendant returns to court. Georgia bond amounts are set by a magistrate, state court, or superior court judge, depending on the charge. Bail is security for an appearance, not a fine. Officers book the person into the county jail and run a warrant…
Continue reading ›What Is Public Drunkenness in Georgia? Public drunkenness in Georgia is a criminal misdemeanor offense under Georgia law. A conviction carries up to 12 months in jail, fines up to $1,000, and a lasting criminal record. Public intoxication is a criminal offense – not a ticket, citation, or civil infraction. How serious is a public…
Continue reading ›What Is Domestic Violence Under Georgia Law? Under Georgia law, domestic violence is legally called "family violence." The term covers certain crimes between household or family members, as defined by family violence statutes. If you searched for the OCGA domestic violence code section, start with O.C.G.A. § 19-13-1. That statute defines which crimes count as…
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