News From Giannini Law Office
Dear Friends: I have been representing young people in the Gwinnett County Juvenile Court for over 18 years. I have watched it become an efficient and well-managed Court. When I first appeared in Gwinnett Juvenile Court years ago, it was cramped into small courtrooms on the main floor of the Gwinnett Justice and Administration Center. Children and their families appearing for Court had to wait in the same hallway as adult offenders and anyone else having business in the Courthouse. There were only two Judges who had to handle the entire case load. And, to make it all more unpleasant, one of the most infamously rude people I have ever met in any Court system served as a Bailiff and…Read More
Spring is in the air and summer is just around the corner. And with the milder weather more people will be heading out to walk, jog and enjoy the out of doors. Due to the lack of sidewalks in many areas, pedestrians are common on many Georgia roadways. Unfortunately, many drivers do not know how to properly respond when pedestrians are near the roadway. Even fewer know what Georgia law has to say about pedestrians, which is why we have created this article: "What Are Georgia's Pedestrian Laws?" Read on to learn more about Georgia’s laws and how to keep you, your passengers, and pedestrians safe on Georgia roadways. What Are Georgia's Pedestrian Laws? Learning more about Georgia's pedestrian laws…Read More
Between 2000 and 2009, the number of people using bicycles for their daily commute increased by 70 percent across the United States. While bicycling is a great way to save on fuel costs, get more fresh air and sunshine, be more physically active, and be more environmentally friendly, it can also be dangerous. To help our readers stay safe on Georgia roadways, the Giannini Law Office offers these tips for bicycle safety. Bicycle Safety Tips on Georgia Roadways Before your next bicycle outing, consider these safety tips to help you and others stay safe. Obey the Law: Bicyclists have the same rights and responsibilities as drivers, and they should obey the law when navigating Georgia roadways. Bicycles and automobiles should work…Read More
I often get questions about crime trends and statistics in Georgia. People want to know whether crime rates are going up or down, and also what the most common serious crimes being committed are. Just as in all other states, felonies are the most serious crimes in Georgia and are therefore accompanied by the strictest consequences. Let’s look at the five most common felony arrests in Georgia related to crimes against other people or property. According to statistics from the Georgia Bureau of Investigations (GBI), the five most common felony arrests in Georgia in 2016 were: Larceny - 18,944 arrests Burglary - 5,549 arrests Vehicle Theft - 2,371 arrests Assault - 1,823 arrests Robbery - 1,125 arrests A short definition…Read More
Auto accidents are unexpected and stressful events that can have a long-term impact on you and your family. In the immediate aftermath of an auto accident, most people are unsure of exactly what to do. The stress of the accident is emotional, and it is easy to get overwhelmed. We want our readers to feel prepared for unexpected events, so we offer this informative article titled, "What Should I do After an Auto Accident?" No one plans to be involved in an auto accident, but you can prepare for how to deal with an accident should it occur. Consider the following steps to stay safe and get the help you need: Move to Safety: If you can leave your vehicle and…Read More
Georgia’s Governor Nathan Deal signed House Bill 673 which will eliminate almost all handheld use of cellphones and other electronic devices while driving. Effective July 1, 2018 it will be illegal for a driver to hold a cellphone or similar device while driving. And, for the purposes of this law, driving includes being stopped at a traffic light or stop-sign. But, it will still be lawful to talk on a cellphone while using hands-free technology or an earpiece. Why this law was passed Distracted driving is one of the leading causes of fatal auto accidents in the United States. The most common distraction in these auto accidents is cell phones. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC),…Read More
Legalization of marijuana continues to be a hotly debated topic among lawmakers, parents, teachers, advocates, and the healthcare community. As more and more states have legalized some form of marijuana, attitudes about legalization have shifted. Here are a few surprising facts about the legalization of marijuana and the ongoing battle over legalization. Support for the legalization of marijuana has increased. According to researchers at Gallup and the General Social Survey, 53 percent of Americans believe that marijuana should be legal, while 44 percent believe it should be illegal. In 1969, when Gallup first introduced the topic in surveys, only 12 percent of Americans believed in legalization. Not everyone supports legalization, and some groups in support are surprising. The shift in…Read More
In 2015, there were more than 385,000 auto accidents on Georgia roadways, including 1,430 fatalities and 19,405 serious injuries. Since 2015, the Georgia Department of Transportation (DOT) and the Georgia Governor's Office of Highway Safety have been working diligently to reduce serious injuries and fatalities on roadways across the state. Unfortunately, the number of fatal accidents has only increased over the past two years. Statistics About Fatal Auto Accidents 2016 was considered the deadliest year on U.S. roadways since 2007, with more than 40,000 people dying in fatal auto accidents. Since 2015, the number of fatal auto accidents on Georgia roadways increased by 33 percent. That accounts for 1,561 fatalities in 2016 and 1,547 in 2017. The Georgia DOT provided…Read More
New GBI Procedures Prompted by Spill of Deadly Drug Evidence The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) is working to establish new procedures for transporting dangerous drug evidence after a spill last month inside a Duluth Police Department patrol SUV. According to media accounts, two Duluth Police Officers were transporting a package of furanyl fentanyl, commonly referred to simply as fentanyl, from the GBI crime lab back to Duluth to be stored as evidence. When they arrived at Police Headquarters, the officers noted that the fentanyl had spilled out into the SUV. Apparently, the corners of the cardboard packaging came open, and the fine powder spilled out into the vehicle. The Police Department was evacuated and the road was shut down…Read More
In what is being called the most expensive House race in Georgia history, the battle between Jon Ossoff and Karen Handel for Georgia's 6th Congressional District has finally come to a close. After months of campaigning and vying for the open Congressional seat in the special election, Handel beat out Ossoff by nearly 11,000 votes. Though Ossoff topped the charts in the initial round of voting in April, Handel won the seat with more than four percentage points in her favor. Handel's victory was one of a string of Democratic defeats and strengthens Republican support for the White House. It is also a victory in the eyes of many Georgians since Handel is the first female Republican from Georgia ever…Read More