Alabama DUI Lawyer Blog

We all expect authority figures to do the right thing and act as models to which the rest of us may aspire. Regarding drinking and driving, I’ve already spoken of the responsibility that judges, prosecutors and police officers have to maintain the same standards which they expect average citizens to meet. But I now must add educators to this list, if only for the sake of our children. A recent article about a teacher in Mobile who was arrested for DUI is a sad commentary on the example that some people are setting for our youngsters.

As a Birmingham DUI defense lawyer, even I was shocked that this happened at all, much less at the beginning of a school day. Apparently on her way to school, Suzanne Morrison was spotted weaving through traffic on Interstate 10 around 8am on the morning of Tuesday, September 1, before a patrolman pulled her over.

As the officer approached Morrison's silver Pontiac Grand Prix, he noticed her drinking from a cup. According to reports, the officer detected a smell of alcohol on her breath, following which he located the cup with some alcohol remaining in it.

The 42-year-old Morrison was given a field sobriety test, which police say she failed. Later she was given a breath test to determine the blood-alcohol content (BAC) of her blood, but authorities have declined to release the results. Morrison was charged with DUI and placed in Mobile County Metro Jail overnight in lieu of $1,000 bond.

The sad part is that Morrison has 19 years of educational service to her credit -- she was even named Teacher of the Year at the Chickasaw School of Mathematics and Science in 2002. News reports also indicate that she has been going through a divorce, which her husband initiated on Valentine's Day this year.

As for school officials, they have been placed on administrative leave for now and reportedly will wait until it is known if Morrison was in fact under the influence of alcohol, and if she was intending to go to work in such a condition. If so, she could be relieved her duties permanently. I can only hope that she may have learned a lesson herself.

Chickasaw teacher arrested for DUI while heading to school; was named school's top teacher in 2002, AL.com, September 2, 2009

As a Birmingham drunk driving defense lawyer, I stand in front of judges and prosecutors on a regular basis defending my clients against DUI charges. Because I defend individuals accused of driving while intoxicated, I believe that representatives our law enforcement agencies, as well as the judiciary, should be held to the same standards as the rest of Alabama’s citizenry. A recent story about a DeKalb County assistant district attorney who was charged with an alcohol-related offense emphasizes my point.

According to police reports, assistant DA Julie Baker McCormick was the passenger in a car being driven by her husband, Toby McCormick, during the evening of August 21. The couple’s vehicle was pulled over by police officers as part of a driver’s license checkpoint around 11pm that evening on County Road 51.

News reports state that McCormick’s husband was allegedly drunk at the wheel, and that the 33-year-old DeKalb County prosecutor was in possession of an alcoholic beverage. As a result, Alabama State Troopers at a traffic roadblock arrested the pair and took them into custody. Ms. McCormick was charged with unlawful possession of a prohibited beverage, while her husband received a DUI.

The McCormicks were transported to the DeKalb County jail for processing, and subsequently released early Saturday morning on $1,500 bond each.

At this point, I must say that any judge, prosecutor or patrolman who doesn't observe the same standards that he or she expects the rest of us to live up to does not deserve our respect. Apparently, McCormick’s office believes this to be the case as well, as there doesn’t appear to be any special treatment in the offing.

According the news article, District Attorney Mike O’Dell said he will let McCormick be treated as any other suspect. “Like any other person, Mrs. McCormick will go through the system. I will step back and let the system run its course,” O’Dell is quoted as saying.

“I will be sitting down and talking to Mrs. McCormick at the conclusion of this case to determine if any discipline or sanctions take place. It is unfortunate she found herself in this situation. She is a hard worker and a great young lady and has always done a good job in this office. I would expect that to continue despite these circumstances.”

Assistant DA receives alcohol charge, Times-Journal.com, August 24, 2009

As a Birmingham drunk driving defense lawyer, I have represented many motorists accused of being drunk at the time of an accident. I’m especially concerned for my clients with DUI incidents involving injury accidents. Alabama’s local and state police take a very dim view of drivers who even have the slightest appearance of intoxication. When others have been hurt or killed, law enforcement and the courts are highly suspicious of the circumstances especially where alcohol is concerned.

A recent news article reported a surprising trend in DUI crashes involving female drivers. Apparently, a study of accidents between 2007 and 2008 showed an increase in the number of impaired female drivers involved in automobile accidents, including fatal crashes. This reminded me of a DUI-related accident that injured an Alabama motorcyclist the other day.

According to police, Tanya Perez of Springhill, Florida, collided with the motorcycle being driven by an Elba, AL, man. The 31-year-old woman was allegedly driving on the wrong side of the road in her 1997 Ford when her vehicle struck the motorcycle of Terry Williamson, who lost a leg during the accident.

When emergency crews arrived at the scene, Williamson, 43, was treated and immediately transported to Troy Regional Medical Center. The severity of his injuries required hospital staff to airlift the man to Baptist South in Montgomery.

Police reports indicate that the accident was caused by the woman’s intoxication. Perez was taken into custody and held in the Pike County Jail following the accident. This is a serious situation for this woman. Being from out of state as she is, and allegedly having caused severe injury to another driver, Perez will need to retain an experienced drunk driving defense attorney to handle her case.

Woman faces DUI charges after motorcycle wreck, TroyMessaenger.com, August 18, 2009

Women involved in increasing number of DUI Crashes, KTNV.com, August 22, 2009

As a Birmingham drunk driving defense lawyer, I know that a DUI-related traffic accident can become very complicated when injuries are involved. Multiple-vehicle accidents can, of course, result in serious injuries and sometimes death. However, driving while intoxicated and hitting a pedestrian or cyclist can up the ante significantly in the eyes of a local prosecutor. This is why anyone arrested in Alabama for driving under the influence of alcohol should retain the services of a qualified DUI defense attorney.

A recent news story coming out of Baldwin County, AL, details an all too common scenario involving an inebriated motorist and several unlucky bicyclists. According to police reports, three cyclists were pedaling on a Saturday morning along County Road 1 just south of Point Clear. Around 8:30 a.m. the three were hit by a driver identified as Bradford Maples, a resident of Fairhope, AL.

Alabama State Troopers discovered the injured bicyclists, including Angela Ross, Craig Ross and Tracey Wall, all from Fairhope as well. Emergency personnel treated the three at the scene and then transported them to hospitals for further examination. Wall was airlifted to the University of South Alabama Medical Center USA Medical Center in Mobile, while the other two cyclists were taken to Fairhope’s Thomas Hospital. According to new reports, none of the injuries appeared to be life-threatening.

Police arrested the allegedly drunk driver on charges of DUI. Authorities said that they may press additional charges in the future. Being an experienced DUI defense lawyer, I can say that the injuries sustained by those bicyclists may cause additional difficulty for Mr. Maples. Also, if this is not his first DUI offense, I know for certain that repeat drunk driving offenders are looked on very dimly by law enforcement and judicial authorities. If so, he will no doubt need professional representation during his trial, assuming the charges are valid.

Bicyclists Hit By Suspected Drunk Driver, wkrg.com, August 22, 2009