Month: April 2022

A Gainesville man charged with DUI and other traffic charges was airlifted following a three-vehicle crash Thursday afternoon in Tallulah Falls that resulted in serious injuries.

The crash occurred on Ga. 15 just past Tallulah Falls dam. Both Rabun and Habersham Counties responded to the crash.

Edmanuel Leonardo Mendoza, 21, of Gainesville, was traveling south on Ga. 15 in the left lane in a silver 2013 Chevrolet Camaro. Mendoza failed to maintain his lane of travel and traveled into the turning lane and towards the northbound lanes of Ga. 15, striking a white 2013 Dodge Caravan, driven by a 17-year-old of College Park, Ga., with three-17-year-old passengers, that was traveling north on Ga. 15 in the left lane, in the right front with its front, according to Georgia State Patrol (GSP) Post 7-Toccoa.

After impact, the Camaro rotated clockwise and came to an uncontrolled final rest facing northwest in the turning lane of Ga. 15.

The Caravan rotated clockwise and a silver 2005 Chevy Tahoe, driven by Robert Guess, 71, of Demorest, with passenger Karen Guess, 70, of Demorest, and traveling south on Ga. 15 in the right lane, struck the Caravan in the right front quarter panel with its front. After impact, the Caravan came to an uncontrolled final rest facing west in the southbound lanes of Ga. 15.  The Tahoe came to an uncontrolled final rest facing south in the right lane of Ga. 15 southbound, GSP reported.

The 17-year-old driver and three 17-year-old passengers were transported to hospitals.

Mendoza is charged with DUI and other traffic charges, GSP reported.

Georgia drivers can be charged with DUI if their blood alcohol content (BAC) is .08 percent or higher.

The Georgia courts impose criminal penalties including:

• Fines
• Jail time;
• Public service.

The Department of Driver Services imposes administrative penalties including:

• Suspension or revocation of your license.

The higher your BAC, the more severe your penalties may be. Multiple convictions will also result in harsher sentences.

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:

1. DUI
2. Drug Possession
3. Other drug offenses
4. Under-age possession of drugs or alcohol

For more information about DUI School visit www.a1drivingschools.com or call (770) 962-9555!

Road test typically takes about 20 to 30 minutes. After you pass the test, there may be an additional wait time at the DMV to process your paperwork, take your picture, and issue a license once you pass.

Skip the DMV! We now offer onsite road testing at select A-1 Driving School locations.

A-1 Onsite Road Testing Qualifications

• 16 & 17-year-old students must have completed the classroom or online 30-hour Joshua’s Law course + 6 hours of driving lessons at A-1 Driving Schools.
• 18-year-old students do not have to have taken classes with us. Must have a valid Georgia Driver’s permit.

A 17-year-old struck by a DUI driver in Georgia was blamed for her own death by an officer who didn’t understand state laws pertaining to bicyclists.

Ignorance of the law by officials is just one of a laundry list of threats bike riders have to deal with on a daily basis.

Obianuju Osuegbu was on her way home when she was hit from behind on Highway 11 in Winder, Georgia back in August 2020, according to WSBTV-2, by driver Chrissy Rawlins. Rawlins was charged with DUI and endangering her own children, but not with Osuegbu’s death due to cops not making up Georgia laws pertaining to bicyclists and putting the blame on Osuegbu.

Rawlins wasn’t just intoxicated the night of the crash, she was rocking four illegal substances in her bloodstream, including methamphetamine and Valium.

Being a bicyclist is incredibly dangerous in America, and the law certainly does little to back up bike riders.

Deaths have been on the rise over the last decade. From a 2010 low of 618 deaths, the most recent data available from 2019 pegs deaths at an astonishing 846 deaths, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

How to keep bicyclists safe:

• Watch for vehicles coming out of or turning into driveways.
• Stop at corners of sidewalks and streets to look for anyone crossing before driving
• 3 Feet of Clearance: More than 20 states have passed laws requiring motorists to give bicycles on the road about 3 feet of space.

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 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:

1. DUI
2. Drug Possession
3. Other drug offenses
4. Under-age possession of drugs or alcohol

Before getting behind the wheel after having a few, consider the many reasons why you should not.

For more information about DUI School visit www.a1drivingschools.com or call (770) 962-9555!