People who are being interrogated by police officers have specific rights they need to know about. Some of these have been codified via the Bill of Rights in the United States Constitution. For example, the Fifth Amendment confirms that Americans are protected from...
More Than An Attorney
William Long Whitesell is a long-term counselor, adviser and active member of the community.
Contact Us »
Valdosta Legal Blog
What should you know about drunk driving stops?
Police officers who patrol have a duty to try to keep the roads as safe as they can. Part of that duty means trying to determine when a driver is too impaired to operate a vehicle. They conduct traffic stops to help them accomplish this goal. Traffic stops can only be...
What does a per se limit for alcohol mean for Georgia drivers?
There are multiple different ways that a driver in Georgia could end up arrested for a driving under the influence (DUI) offense. Some people get arrested at the scene of a crash when they fail a breath test or admit to drinking earlier in the day. Others may get...
3 changes that may increase your risk of a DUI charge
Many people arrested for driving under the influence (DUI) offenses believe that they are capable of safely driving until a police officer decides that is not the case. People who frequently consume alcohol may develop a tolerance and may forget that simply being over...
Despite changes elsewhere, Georgia still has strict drug laws
From what you see on social media and on television shows, you might think that social attitudes about drugs have completely changed in recent decades. People talk openly about using substances that remain prohibited at a federal level on social media. Television...
Why your Georgia DUI could cost far more than you anticipate
Motorists accused of driving under the influence (DUI) offenses face penalties that include jail time, large fines and the loss of their driving privileges. It's common for people facing those consequences to assume incorrectly that it will be cheaper for them to just...
What many Georgia drivers don’t realize about drugged driving
Although it does not affect someone in the same way that alcohol does, marijuana or cannabis does affect cognition and therefore ability to safely drive. Concerns about drugged driving have influenced policy in many states as lawmakers or voters legalized medical and...
Can the police arrest you for having a spouse’s medication?
You share just about everything with your spouse, from your personal property to your daily schedule. The two of you also share household responsibilities. In theory, you may sometimes perform certain tasks on behalf of your spouse, and you have the legal authority to...
Will a DUI impact your right to financial aid?
As a senior in college, you’re old enough to go out and drink with friends and colleagues. You’re celebrating being so close to the end of your schooling, and you’re getting ready to start your career. What you may not have thought would ever happen was that you’d end...
Can you be blamed for someone else’s drug use?
You and your friends spend a lot of time together. You ride in each other’s vehicles, share jackets and even swap clothing once in a while. You were carrying a bag for your friend at a local event when a police officer approached your group with their K-9. The dog, a...