If you have been arrested and charged with public intoxication in Georgia, your primary concern is to regain your freedom. At Ryan Swingle Law, we will offer quality defense for the charges and safeguard your rights.
A DUI isn’t the only alcohol-related charge you could face in Georgia. For example, drunken behavior and public intoxication charges can significantly impact your future. It can jeopardize your chances of getting a job and your ability to get into graduate school or affect the individuals or companies that might rent you an apartment.
The best way to get your public intoxication charge dismissed is by hiring an Athens, Georgia public intoxication attorney.
PUBLIC INTOXICATION IN GEORGIA
A wide variety of circumstances can lead to a public intoxication charge in Georgia. Under Georgia laws, public intoxication is also called “public drunkenness.” This occurs when an individual appears in a public place while intoxicated—in addition, appearing on private property while intoxicated and without an invitation can also be considered public intoxication.
The term “public place” refers to any area where people who are not your family members can see or hear your conduct, and “private property” encompasses any building or land surrounding a private residence. You can be arrested for public drunkenness if you pass out in your neighbor’s yard while intoxicated.
Some of the behaviors that constitute public drunkenness in Georgia include:
- Indecent condition or act: This encompasses obscene gestures, public nudity, public sexual acts, tagging, and public urination, which can be offensive to the people around you.
- Loudness or boisterous behavior: Laughter, singing out loud, fights, and loud conversations due to intoxication can get you into trouble.
- Profane or vulgar language: This includes an explicit description of sexual behavior and using curse words. If you would never hear it on broadcast radio or television, or it is something you cannot utter in front of someone you respect, it most certainly falls under this category.
Public intoxication is a misdemeanor offense. If convicted, you can serve up to one year in jail and face a fine of up to $1,000. The penalties for your public intoxication charge in Georgia depend on several factors, including your criminal history, the circumstances of your arrest, and your account with alcohol.
DEFENSE STRATEGIES FOR PUBLIC INTOXICATION
When you work with an Atlanta public intoxication defense attorney, there are several strategies you can use to defend your rights. These include:
- Disputing your place: Your lawyer can help show that you were not in a public place or were involuntarily in a public location before your arrest.
- Disputing your conduct: Your attorney can argue that your behavior was not indecent, loud, or boisterous.
- Disputing your level of intoxication: Proving that you were not intoxicated when you got arrested can help reduce penalties, mainly if the court found you guilty of disorderly conduct.
GET HELP FROM AN ATHENS PUBLIC INTOXICATION ATTORNEY
If you have been arrested and charged with public intoxication in Georgia, your primary concern is to regain your freedom. At Ryan Swingle Law, we will offer quality defense for the charges and safeguard your rights. Contact us today to schedule a confidential case evaluation.