What Is Probable Cause and How Does It Relate to a Criminal Drunk Driving Accident in Georgia?

If you or a loved one is a Georgia drunk driving accident victim, then you are most likely trying to understand the legal system regarding drunk driving accidents in Georgia, and why so many occur.

Police officers in Georgia can pull over a car only when they have probable cause. This means that an officer has to witness a driver behaving erratically, weaving, swerving, drifting within his own lane, driving with the headlights off at night, using the wrong turn signals, driving too slowly, following too closely, and almost hitting an obstacle or another car, or braking too frequently. When a police officer pulls over a driver after witnessing one or multiple traffic infractions like the ones mentioned here, then he has probable cause to question the driver.

Upon questioning, if the officer smells alcohol on the driver’s breath, sees an open container, or hears the driver slur his speech, then he has probable cause to test the driver with a field sobriety test. If that driver fails the field sobriety test, then the officer can take the driver to the police station for further testing. 

If you or a loved one was injured by an intoxicated driver and is a victim of a Georgia drunk driving accident, please call a caring and experienced Atlanta DUI victim attorney at Shane Smith Law at (980) 246-2656. We can help determine what financial compensation you may qualify for and help protect your interests in a free, no-obligation consultation.

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