Being pulled over by the police can turn into a person’s worst nightmare. After all, it is not unknown for a traffic stop in Georgia to lead to a vehicle search and potentially serious charges.

A routine traffic stop recently led to three people being charged with felony possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia. Police allegedly found the drugs in the vehicle. The stop took place in Worth County, Georgia, on Highway 300. The three individuals are currently in jail in another county and will be moved to Worth County, Georgia, for warrants related to the drug charges.

Convictions for drug crimes in Georgia can have serious consequences. Drug manufacturing, drug trafficking or possession of a large amount of drugs can be charged as felonies, which carry longer prison sentences and steeper fines than misdemeanor possession. In addition, having a felony conviction on one’s criminal record can make it difficult for the individual to rent an apartment or get a job. It can also prevent a person from owning a firearm or even voting in elections.

Because of this, it is important that anyone accused of a felony drug crime put together a strong defense. In many cases arising out of a vehicle search, the constitutionality of the search and seizure can be challenged. If the challenge is successful, any drugs seized in the search can be excluded from evidence at the trial. This will often result in the charges against the accused being reduced or even dismissed entirely.

Source: walb.com, “Traffic stop leads to meth drug arrests,” Krystyne Brown, June 9, 2014