Atlanta DUI, Hit-and-Run Criminal Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison
Gatha Dyer, 44, who has been convicted in a DUI and hit and run case that lead to the death of an 11 year old boy in 2013, has been sentenced to 15 years in prison. Dyer was convicted of hitting Patrick Williams and causing his death.
The incident occurred when Williams was walking down Boulder Park Drive, Southwest Atlanta, when he was hit by a speeding 1997 Mitsubishi Eclipse driven by Dyer. Dyer did not stop, but a witness was able to follow the car and record the license plate. Williams was airborne more than 50 feet before he landed on the windshield of the car and later hit the ground. Gatha has been convicted of DUI, reckless driving, and homicide by a vehicle.
Many people believe Dyer should be put down like the killer she is. These same people believe anyone like her does not deserve to soak up tax payer money.
DUI Laws in Atlanta
The DUI laws in Georgia are strict and have a minimum mandatory sentence that the judge has to follow upon conviction. Moreover, the judge has the power to increase the sentence at their discretion depending on the circumstances of the drunk driving accident. For instance a drunk driver who inures a child, causes death, or has had prior convictions can receive a much more severe sentence than one accused only of reckless driving and a first DUI offense.
Blood Alcohol Count
The law enforcement in Georgia uses multiple tools to prove drunk driving. One of them is the blood alcohol count. The state administered test is expected to determine the blood alcohol levels in a suspected person. Under the state rules, an adult with blood alcohol count of 0.08 is considered under the influence, while in the case of minors the permissible BAC is 0.02. For drivers of commercial vehicles the permitted blood alcohol level in Georgia is 0.04.
Suspension of Driving License
When a person is arrested on suspicion of drunk driving, the department of motor vehicles will automatically suspend the driving license within ten days unless they file an application against this. When you are arrested on a drunk driving charge, you need to immediately retain the services of an experienced drunk driving lawyer in Atlanta to ensure that all your legal rights are protected. The lawyer will help you post bond and be released on bail, apply to the DMV to ensure that you retain driving privileges until the conclusion of the trial, and also work to ensure that the prosecution presents only legally collected evidence in court.
Vehicular Homicide
When a drunk driver causes an accident that lead to the death of one or more persons they can be charged with vehicular homicide. If this charge is proved, then the penalty for the drunk driver increases. However, if you retain a competent drunk driving accident lawyer in Atlanta they will examine all the information related to the accident and the death and fight the charges against you if the evidence is not sufficient.
For instance, sometimes, the death of a person in the accident could be attributed to other causes such as an error on the part of another driver and so on. In other cases, the prosecution might be unable to prove the chain of custody of the blood sample essential to showing that the driver was drunk, or to prove that the evidence presented was collected without violating the legal rights of the defendant.
Hit-and-Run Charges
According to Georgia law, one of the primary responsibilities of a driver involved in an accident is to stop and render aid to an accident victim. However, many people who drink and drive and are involved in an accident drive on as they do not want to face a drunk driving charge. If they are identified, this will lead to the imposition of additional charges of hit and run as well. A hit and run conviction can compound the penalty imposed for drunk driving and only a competent drunk driving accident attorney in Atlanta such as www.bhinjured.com can work to minimize the consequences.
