An Atlanta man faces several felonies after a weekend traffic stop in North Georgia led to the discovery of more than $20,000 worth of marijuana and THC wax, authorities said.
Photo: Google Images
A state trooper pulled over 51-year-old Donald Pickett along Ga. 15 in Tallulah Falls on Sunday as he drove from North Carolina to Atlanta, the Appalachian Regional Drug Enforcement Task Force said.
A search of his vehicle resulted in the seizure of five pounds of pot and 500 grams of THC wax, along with THC oil and gummies, authorities said. The marijuana was worth $6,000 and the THC products had a street value of approximately $15,000, according to police.
Pickett was booked into the Habersham County Jail on charges of driving under the influence, felony marijuana possession, possession of marijuana with the intent to distribute, two counts of possessing a Schedule 1 drug and possession of a Schedule 1 drug with the intent to distribute, authorities said.
Georgia State law also requires a clinical evaluation and the attendance of a DUI / Risk Reduction Program that’s certified/licensed by the Georgia Department of Driver’s Services before your driver’s license can be reinstated if you have been charged with any of the following:
DUI
Drug Possession
Other drug offenses
Under-age possession of drugs or alcohol
Before getting behind the wheel after having a few, consider the many reasons why you should not.
A North Georgia man is accused of driving under the influence during a crash that left his 5-year-old son dead.
According to investigators, a 2016 Toyota Prius driven by 34-year-old Gregory Thompson of Mount Airy crossed the center line and collided head-on with a Honda Accord that was traveling north.
The crash injured Thompson and killed his 5-year-old son, Maximus, who was riding in the back seat.
The driver of the Honda, 78-year-old Donald Preece of Clarkesville, was also injured in the wreck. Both he and Gregory Thompson were taken to Habersham Medical Center in Demorest, authorities said.
Thompson faces eight charges in the crash: homicide by vehicle, DUI, driving on the wrong side of the road, serious injury by vehicle, failure to maintain lane, failure to exercise due care, endangering a child under 14 while driving under the influence, and a safety restraint violation for a child younger than 8.
Our condolences go out to the family and friends of Maximus.
Georgia State law also requires clinical evaluation and the attendance of a DUI / Risk Reduction Program that’s certified/licensed by the Georgia Department of Driver’s Services before your driver’s license can be reinstated if you have been charged with any of the following:
The Governor’s Office of Highway Safety has announced that the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office is one of 21 law enforcement agencies in Georgia to receive a Highway Enforcement of Aggressive Traffic grant for the 2021 grant season.
Referred to as a H.E.A.T. grant, Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office’s award totals $108,444.60.
The goal of the H.E.A.T. program is to combat crashes, injuries and fatalities caused by impaired driving and speeding, while also increasing seatbelt use and educating the public about traffic safety and the dangers of DUI.
The Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office H.E.A.T Unit will use the grant from Governor’s Office of Highway Safety to develop and implement strategies to reduce local traffic crashes due to aggressive and dangerous driving behaviors.
Governor’s Office of Highway Safety H.E.A.T. grants are funded by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
“The loss of one life on our roads is one too many, and the fact almost all fatal traffic crashes can be prevented is one reason why we are awarding this grant,” Governor’s Office of Highway Safety Director Allen Poole said.
“The target of zero traffic deaths in our nation is achievable, and we will continue to help develop and implement educational messages and enforcement campaigns aimed at bringing our state one step closer to that goal.”
As law enforcement partners in the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over DUI and Click It or Ticket seatbelt campaigns, the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office will also conduct mobilizations throughout the year in coordination with Governor’s Office of Highway Safety’s year-round waves of high visibility patrols, concentrated patrols, and multi-jurisdictional sobriety checkpoints.
The grant will continue through September 2021.
Photo: Google Images
DUI Laws | What You Need to Know
The laws make it illegal for drivers of all ages to operate motor vehicles if they have BAC percentages of:
0.08% or higher, if they’re 21 years old or older operating regular passenger vehicles.
0.04% or higher, if they’re operating commercial vehicles.
0.02% or higher, if they’re younger than 21 years old.
Georgia State law also requires a clinical evaluation and the attendance of a DUI / Risk Reduction Program that’s certified/licensed by the Georgia Department of Driver’s Services before your driver’s license can be reinstated if you have been charged with any of the following:
DUI
Drug Possession
Other drug offenses
Under-age possession of drugs or alcohol
Before getting behind the wheel after having a few, consider the many reasons why you should not.
Amid a subsequent round of backlash over La Russa following how the organization was widely criticized for the curious decision to hire a 76-year-old who last managed an MLB team in 2011, the White Sox are presently preaching patience.
The latest DUI charge, which occurred in Arizona, is La Russa’s second run-in with the law over an alleged act of drunken driving. The first one occurring during spring training in 2007 when he was manager of St. Louis Cardinals. La Russa pleaded to misdemeanor DUI in that case.
The arrest affidavit indicates La Russa registered a blood alcohol level of 0.90, above the legal limit of 0.80, after blowing out a tire.
Additional damning details have emerged in recent days, including how the Hall of Famer played the “Do You Know Who I Am?” card.
Things certainly could not have gotten off to a more disastrous start for La Russa in Chicago.
DUI Laws | What You Need to Know
The laws make it illegal for drivers of all ages to operate motor vehicles if they have BAC percentages of:
0.08% or higher, if they’re 21 years old or older operating regular passenger vehicles.
0.04% or higher, if they’re operating commercial vehicles.
0.02% or higher, if they’re younger than 21 years old.
Georgia State law also requires a clinical evaluation and the attendance of a DUI / Risk Reduction Program that’s certified/licensed by the Georgia Department of Driver’s Services before your driver’s license can be reinstated if you have been charged with any of the following:
DUI
Drug Possession
Other drug offenses
Under-age possession of drugs or alcohol
Before getting behind the wheel after having a few, consider the many reasons why you should not.
Motorcycles are fun and fuel-efficient. That’s not news to anyone who’s ridden one. But neither is the fact that they’re also way more dangerous than a car.
Motorcyclists are 30 times more likely to die in a crash than people in a car, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). And nearly half of all motorcycle deaths are the result of single-vehicle crashes.
The numbers are even scarier for older riders, who are increasingly taking up or returning to motorcycling after many years. Because of slower reflexes, weaker eyesight, more brittle bones, and other disadvantages, riders over 60 years old are three times more likely to be hospitalized after a crash than younger ones.
Photo: Google Images
Make motorcycle riding safety your top priority!
Operating a motorcycle takes different skills than driving a car; however, the laws of the road apply to every driver just the same. A combination of consistent education, regard for traffic laws, and basic common sense can go a long way in helping reduce the number of fatalities involved in motorcycle accidents on a yearly basis.
It’s important to understand some basic motorcycle safety tips to make sure your next ride is a safe one.
Wear appropriate gear: Make sure to wear protective gear and clothing that will minimize the number of injuries in case of an accident or a skid. Wearing leather clothing, boots with nonskid soles, and gloves can protect your body from severe injuries. Consider attaching reflective tape to your clothing to make it easier for other drivers to see you.
Follow traffic rules: Obey the speed limit; the faster you go the longer it will take you to stop. Be aware of local traffic laws and rules of the road.
Ride Defensively: Don’t assume that a driver can see you, as nearly two-thirds of all motorcycle accidents are caused by a driver violating a rider’s right of way. You should always ride with your headlights on; stay out of a driver’s blind spot; signal well in advance of any change in direction, and watch for turning vehicles.
Keep your riding skills honed through education: Safe driving practices such as these that are taught in A-1’s Defensive Driving Class can be applied to be a safe driver in a car and on a motorcycle!
Preparing To Ride: To make sure that your motorcycle is in good working order, check the following:
Tires: Check for any cracks or bulges, or signs of wear in the treads (low tire pressure or any defects could cause a blowout)
Under the motorcycle: Look for signs of oil or gas leaks
Headlight, taillight and signals: Test for high and low beams (make sure that all lights are functioning)
Hydraulic and Coolant fluids: Level should be checked weekly
There is a lot of very useful and informative information in driving the class and it will apply whether you have been driving for years or you are a brand new driver.
The Georgia affiliate of Mothers Against Drunk Driving has received $156,624 from the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety (GOHS) for the 2021 grant year, according to a press release.
MADD Georgia will use the funds to continue to offer educational programs for prevention and awareness of impaired driving and underage drinking with its Power of Parents and Power of You(th) programs.
The grant provides much-needed funding to reduce the occurrence of drunk and drugged driving throughout the state by providing DUI prevention initiatives for law enforcement, military, educational, and community groups.
MADD will also utilize these resources to support GOHS campaigns such as Hands Across the Border, Click It or Ticket, and law enforcement recognition events, including MADD Georgia’s Annual Golden Shield Honors. MADD Georgia program staff serves as a team member on the state’s Impaired Driving and Young Adult Driving Task Forces.
The grant period for this award is through Sept. 30, 2021.
The Victim Impact Panel was designed to help DUI and drug offenders, caught driving under the influence, realize the impact their decisions have on the lives of those around them. It provides a glimpse into the lives of those affected by DUI accidents, the effects on the family and friends, and the lasting future effects victims live with every day.
Before getting behind the wheel after having a few, consider the many reasons why you should not.
A-1 is a Georgia-approved driving school offering Victim Impact Panels (VIP) courses at our 19 locations in Atlanta.
We offer the two-hour program for $55.00 per session with a certificate of completion.
