Keep your old car?

I read the news here in Gwinnett County, Georgia, and elsewhere, looking out for the next great wave of technology that purports to make our lives easier but perhaps compromises our privacy instead. One of the new technologies I’m most worried about is something that Mother’s Against Drunk Driving is most excited about: cars that investigate their drivers. MADD spend millions of dollars each year to convince the government to accept such an invasion of our privacy and violation of our rights. And now a technology that can do just that is just about complete. The National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration has awarded a company 2.25 million to work on a technology that will instantly take a driver’s BAC level when the driver touches the ignition.

How does it work? By using infrared sensors placed on door handles, ignition switches, or other places a driver might touch. Supposedly the sensors should be able to produce “accurate” results in seconds. I have no idea how such a technology will hold up in court, but I guarantee that DUI lawyers across the nation will look at the finalized device, it’s components, it’s software coding, it’s installation, it’s method of calculating the BAC and anything else we can think of to make sure no one’s basic rights are violated and that no innocent people are falsely convicted.

Related Articles

• NHTSA Awards Takata-TruTouch $2.25M to Advance World's First Touch-based In-Vehicle Alcohol Detection Device

• How far will it go (clarktowne.com)

• Car Ignition ‘Interlocks’ Thwart Alcohol-Impaired Drivers 

• New Drunk Driving Detection System May Be Coming To All Cars 

Atlanta DUI Lawyers Clark & Towne

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Need to find a place in Fulton or Gwinnett Counties where you can do your community service?

If you have community service hours to do in Gwinnett or Fulton Counties, here is an organization who really values you. They were kind enough to send us a thank you; we'll be sure to keep sending our Atlanta and Gwinnett DUI clients who must peform court-ordered service their way.

Here is the wonderful letter they sent us.

Ms. Towne

I wanted to let you know that today we got a volunteer application from a probationer that was referred to us via your website and I wanted to say THANK YOU for helping send those needing to complete community service our way.  I saw our listing on your website and wanted to let you know how grateful we all are that you are helping us recruit those needing to complete community service requirements.  This is key to SafeRide being able to further its mission.

Our organization relies heavily on volunteers as you can imagine.  In fact, 99% of our volunteer force are those needing to complete court appointed community service.  We utilize these volunteers to help us proactively stop impaired driving before it can happen. 

These volunteers will drive, in their own vehicle, SafeRide drivers to customers locations.  The SafeRide driver will then drive the customer in the customer's car and the volunteer will follow behind as the chase car to retrieve the SafeRide driver once the ride is complete.  Without this function we cannot survive.

These volunteers help save lives every day even though they may be volunteering their time because they have to.  These volunteers give SafeRide the ability to provide service free of charge to those in need and also help us keep our rates as low as we possibly can for those that can afford to pay for services.  Without these volunteers we could not offer to take people home for free and these people would likely end up driving home themselves.  Not good!

We also have many opportunities available to those volunteers that can not drive.  On a Friday and Saturday night, for example, we always need at least 3 volunteers to answer or service line.  Those phones ring off the hook and without these volunteers we cannot get to all of those in need.  Your efforts to help us go a LONG WAY to helping save lives.

Thank you again Ms. Towne.  We are extremely grateful to have your help!  And should you ever need us, we are just a phone call away.  We are here when you need us most!

Warmest Regards,

David

David Thompson

CFO / COO

SafeRide America

5825 Glenridge Drive 
Bldg. 3, Suite 101 
Atlanta, GA 30328

404.888.0887

saferideamerica.org

related articles:

Atlanta area community service opportunities

How community service works

Community service can be fun

Atlanta DUI Lawyers Clark & Towne

We're on the big three social networking sites and now You Tube too! 
Clark & Towne on Twitter: twitter.com/jessicatowne
Clark & Towne on Facebook: companies.to/clarktowne/
Jessica Towne on LinkedIn:  www.linkedin.com/in/clarktowne
Clark & Towne on You Tube: http://www.youtube.com/user/ClarkTowneAttorneys

What is a "look-back" period in Georgia DDS lingo?

This is the period of time Georgia Department of Driver Services “look-back” on a person's driving record when determining how long to suspend or revoke a driver’s license. (Don't panic: a driver usually qualifies for a work permit during the suspension period.)

Remember, driving in Gwinnett County and metro Atlanta is a privilege, not a right, and the Georgia DDS has the authority to rescind, cancel, suspend and revoke a driver’s license for certain criminal and civil behavior.

Before 1998, the “look-back” period used to be five years. This means that Georgia DDS would examine the driving infractions and civil problems of a driver for five years to determine how long a driver’s suspension period would last. As of July 1, 2008, the look-back is now ten years.

if you are a driver who....

• suffers a suspension due to nonpayment of child support or nonpayment of a civil award  and who continues to drive will face harsher consequences
• allows insurance to lapse and continue to drive while uninsured suffer increasingly lengthy suspensions. (drivers can avoid a suspension by operation of law by pleading nolo contendere, once every TEN years) 
• is convicted of DUI, Hit and Run, Fleeing and Eluding an Officer, Racing, any felony in which a motor vehicle is used, most drug violations even if a motor vehicle is not used, Vehicular Homicide and Serious Injury by DUI or Reckless Driving must keep a clean driving record for TEN years following a conviction, or face longer and more severe suspension and revocation times
• is under 21 at the time of an initial suspension must watch out for points accumulation more vigilantly.
  

As the Crosby, Stills & Nash song goes, teach your children well.

how can i tell how long my Georgia suspension will be?

The friendly folks at Georgia DDS are in a better position than most of us at determining the length and type of license suspension. If you send your lawyer to talk to them, he or she will have to provide your signed authorization to DDS.

related articles:

Driving on a suspended license

How does Georgia DDS suspend a license?

I didn't get my Atlanta license back! Help!

How do I get my Georgia license back?

How to keep points off your license

What's the big deal about driving on a suspended license?

How to lose your driver's license before you are 21

Atlanta DUI Lawyers Clark & Towne

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There are a ton of projects listed on the Great Days of Service website

Which will you choose?

Non-profits from across Gwinnett County are registering their needs for September 30 and October 1. Register to volunteer your services on the website so that the organization will know who is showing up to help. Many of the projects require simple services that just about anyone can provide, such as cleaning & Sorting items to donated to an agency, landscape help to spruce up gardens, parks, public pathways, and seniors’ homes. If you are in any way handy, why not use your carpentry skills? Many schools and agencies need a new bench or a window repaired – anyone handy with a saw and nails would be a real help. And while we are there, let’s place a fresh coat of paint on anything that needs it.

If you prefer something a little less physical, there is a real need for people to use their cars to transport donated items. Or you could read to children, or visit with seniors. For those who’d love to help but don’t have the time, Great Days of Service is a fabulous time to donate food to any of the food banks located in the county.

Specific projects are listed on Hands on Atlanta for Sept. 30 & Oct 1. See you there!

Atlanta DUI Lawyers Clark & Towne

We're on the big three social networking sites and now You Tube too! 
Twitter: twitter.com/jessicatowne
Facebook: companies.to/clarktowne/
LinkedIn:  www.linkedin.com/in/clarktowne
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