Yeargan & Kert - May 2021

Yeargan & Kert - May 2021

THE DEFENSE REPORT

MAY 2021

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CAN A DUI AFFECT INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL?

Hello friends! For all the “April showers” the pandemic has brought, I hope you’re able to enjoy the May flowers as much as possible this month. You may even be planning to travel to visit family and friends or enjoy new scenery. While you’re able to travel freely from state to state without restriction, Americans with DUIs will have a little more trouble traveling internationally. Not everyone realizes this before drinking and getting behind the wheel, but your criminal record follows you no matter where you go. A criminal attorney can be a huge asset to many people because, without help in resolving your record, you may be unable to travel to other countries.

Here’s a brief list of countries and how they deal with Americans with DUIs on their records and potential waivers.

EUROPE As of right now, both the European Union and the U.K. allow Americans with DUI convictions into their countries. NEW ZEALAND AND AUSTRALIA So long as you didn’t serve a prison sentence for a DUI lasting over a year, you’ll be able to enter these countries with a DUI conviction. THE MIDDLE EAST When it comes to applying for a visa to a Middle Eastern country, most travelers with a DUI cannot enter. Islamic law condemns the consumption of alcohol. If you’re just visiting, however, your ability to enter may be at the discretion of the immigration official. If you (or a loved one) don’t want your passport to become highly limited after a DUI, get in touch with one of Atlanta’s most trusted DUI firms, Yeargan & Kert. We can help you sort out just how serious your

CANADA If it’s been five years since you’ve served your DUI sentence, you may fill out a Criminal Rehabilitation waiver that will permanently allow you to enter the country. If it’s fewer than five years, however, you may only fill out a temporary resident permit. This permit allows you to travel to Canada for a specific purpose only.

After 10 years, however, the country considers you rehabilitated and you won’t need a waiver.

MEXICO There are frequent law changes that can make it a little unpredictable to say for sure, but in general, you’ll be able to enter the country with a misdemeanor DUI; however, a felony conviction may keep you out. ASIA Many asian countries impose travel restrictions on Americans with DUIs, including Malaysia, Japan, and China, even if it’s a misdemeanor. You’re required to disclose any DUI conviction or arrest, or you’ll typically be arrested for a much more severe crime.

offense is, and even potentially get it off your record. I look forward to working with you!

–Jim Yeargan

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WHEN YOU WANT EVERY DECISION TO BE A TOUCHDOWN CONFIDENCE IS KEY

If you’re a business owner, you’ve no doubt faced hard decisions. And when we say “hard decisions,” we don’t mean the ones you make on a daily basis. We’re talking about make-or-break decisions that have serious long-term consequences. Choosing the right path forward could mean years of business growth, but choosing the wrong path could be the death knell. With stakes that high, decision-making may not feel that exciting. The prospect of making difficult choices leaves many business owners understandably in a state of paralysis. You may stop and ask yourself: Am I making the right call? What if this endangers the livelihood of my business and my employees? This paralysis is normal, but it can prevent you from making the moves your business needs to survive. Luckily, however, you can change this initial reaction. According to David Meltzer’s book, “Game-Time Decision Making: High- Scoring Business Strategies From the Biggest Names in Sports,” you can be ready to make hard decisions before the buzzer signals the end of the game. As Meltzer’s book title suggests, decision-making in sports parallels decision-making in business. Business leaders can learn lessons from the court, field, or rink, even if they’re just sitting courtside.

easier said than done. According to Meltzer, one way to boost your confidence is by surrounding yourself with people who support you and trust your judgment. Just like having an all-star team that trusts your judgment in the game, having friends and colleagues who affirm your decisions goes a long way toward building your confidence. It’s also important to have a positive mindset. It’s tempting to expect the worst from any decision you make, but according to Meltzer, the most confident decision-makers are those who have a positive outlook on the future. This makes sense, considering how challenging it is to move forward with a decision when negative thoughts are clouding your judgment. After all, no one ever made a game-winning touchdown after imagining all the ways they might fail to do so! While reading books like “Game-Time Decision Making” can certainly help you become a more confident decision-maker when everything is on the line, the fact is that confident decision-making comes with time and practice. So, if you want to be ready to beat the buzzer on your next tough decision as a business owner, surround yourself with a team that supports your call. Let their confidence in your leadership inspire your abilities, and remember: Don’t let thoughts about how your decision could go wrong stop you from making any decision at all. Maintain a positive outlook, put together an all-star team, and you’ll be making confident decisions in no time.

The biggest lesson is that confidence is key. But having confidence in your decisions — especially ones with serious consequences — is

What to Know About Underage Drinking in Georgia

If the BAC (blood alcohol concentration) is higher than 0.02%, there will be some minor legal penalties. But, if the test shows a blood alcohol concentration at 0.08% or higher, the legal penalties will be much harsher. Of course, if this is the first conviction for the underage person, the legal penalty will not be so strict. If the underage person has been caught drunk driving for the first time, with the blood alcohol concentration in the range from 0.02% up to 0.08%, you can get no mandatory jail time, community service of 20 hours, license suspension for six months, and a fine of $300–$1,000. But, if this is not the first conviction, the underage person can expect more serious legal penalties. An underage person caught drunk driving for the second time, with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08% or higher, can receive

a minimum of 24 hours in jail, community service of 40 hours, license suspension for one year, and a fine of $600–$1,000. If the underage person has been caught drunk driving for a third time, with the blood alcohol concentration of 0.02% or higher (notice the lowered amount), here are the possible penalties: a minimum of five days in jail, community service of 30 days, license suspension for five years, and a $1,000– $5,000 fine. As you can see, the state of Georgia is extremely strict when it comes to underage drunk driving, and the penalties are stricter with each offense and higher blood alcohol concentrations. However, if you give our experienced DUI lawyers a call, you can experience peace of mind knowing you aren’t battling these new challenges on your own.

Spring has begun and, as it happens in warmer weather, so have the parties. For all of you who are underage, or for all of you who have children younger than 21 years old, you should know that Georgia’s laws on underage drinking are zero-tolerance. The only situation where underage persons can consume alcohol is at their home, in the presence of their parents or guardians. Every other situation where underage persons are consuming alcohol is perceived as illegal. Especially the situation where persons under the age of 21 are driving under the influence of alcohol.

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LAUGH IT OFF

4 EASY MEDITERRANEAN DISHES FOR A BUSY LIFESTYLE

Whether you’re very busy (or, understandably, very lazy!) by the end of the day, you might not want to expend energy to make dinner. It’s easy to pick up fast food, but why allow your sodium and sugar levels to be at someone else’s mercy? Take control of your energy levels with these five easy Mediterranean-inspired dishes to help you achieve in life. AVOCADO TOAST There are so many ways to make your ideal, killer avocado toast. Spread some flaxseed or olive oil on bread, toast it, then top with avocado and a dusting of coarse salt and black pepper (and maybe more of your favorite oil). Not only is it full of healthy fats, but it’ll keep you energized in the morning and light on your feet. CHICKPEA QUINOA BOWLS Pick up a can of garbanzo beans, a bag of quinoa, and any other veggies you’d like (onion, sweet potatoes, or mushrooms work great). Fry the garbanzo beans and veggies together with your favorite spices (smoked paprika and lemon pepper recommended!), and prepare quinoa according to package instructions. Put it all in a bowl and bam! You have an easy lunch or dinner. You can even add eggs for a breakfast-y flair. MEDITERRANEAN-STYLE BREAKFAST SANDWICH Pick up some store-bought pita bread and stuff it with scrambled or fried eggs, spinach, tomato, feta, olive oil, a dash of salt and pepper, plus your favorite extras like avocado, red onion, and olives. It’s so fast to make, you don’t have to think about it. Think about your first morning meeting instead. ONE SHEET PAN ASPARAGUS AND SALMON Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Break off the hard stems of your fresh asparagus, then lay them across one half of a sheet pan. Lay your salmon fillets on the other side. In a small saucepan, combine 3 tbsp of butter, 1 tbsp of olive oil, 1 tbsp of lemon juice, 1/2 tbsp of garlic, and 1 tsp of lemon zest. (For a quicker version, you can also melt the butter in the microwave and mix it with olive oil and a bit of lemon pepper and garlic seasoning!) Pour your mixture over your asparagus and salmon. Bake for 10–15 minutes and — with very little prep or effort — you have a whole salmon dinner, complete with veggies. Any of these dishes would be rather pricey at a restaurant, but you can make them cheaply at home! Why not give it a try? Happy National Mediterranean Diet Month!

THAI MINCED PORK SALAD

INGREDIENTS • 5 tbsp uncooked Thai sticky rice • 1 lb ground pork • 1/2 tbsp chili flakes • 1/8 tsp sugar • 1/2 tbsp fish sauce

• Juice of 1–2 limes, to taste • 4 small shallots, thinly sliced • 4 green onions, thinly sliced • Cilantro leaves, to taste • Mint leaves, to taste

DIRECTIONS 1. First, make toasted rice powder: In a frying pan over low heat, dry-roast the rice, stirring continuously until it turns golden brown and smells fragrant, about 15 minutes. 2. Let toasted rice cool, then grind into a coarse powder using a mortar and pestle, blender, or food processor. Set aside. 3. In a medium frying pan over medium-high heat, fry pork, breaking it into small pieces as you go, until fully cooked. 4. Remove from heat and add 1 heaping tbsp of toasted rice powder along with all other ingredients. Stir to combine. 5. Taste and adjust, adding more lime juice and herbs to suit your palate. Serve with rice.

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Yeargan & Kert, LLC 3715 Northside Parkway Building 100 Suite 500 Atlanta, GA 30327 404-467-1747 AtlantaDUILawyer.com

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INSIDE

Can a DUI Affect International Travel?

Make Every Decision a Touchdown

What to Know About Underage Drinking in Georgia

4 Easy Mediterranean Dishes for a Busy Lifestyle

Thai Minced Pork Salad

The Benefit of Using Your Vacation Days

IN DEFENSE OF RELAXATION

WHY YOU NEED TO TAKE YOUR VACATION DAYS

If you’re one of the 50% of Americans who would prefer a higher salary over paid vacation days, then the thought of relaxing by the pool probably makes your skin crawl. According to a 2019 Allianz Global Assistance survey, most Americans would only give up their vacation days for a 48% raise, but as Forbes reports, about 1 in 5 workers would only need a 24% raise to willingly fork over their vacation days. The rise of what experts are calling “performative workaholism” is evident in the hustle-and-grind culture of working long hours, skipping lunches, working throughout the weekend, and taking very few breaks. But medical and psychological experts caution that addiction to the hustle comes at a price. Recent evidence suggests that working long hours over extended periods of time actually makes you a worse employee. As exhaustion creeps in, your ability to complete even the most mundane or simple task decreases. In those moments, it’s important to take a short break, but it’s also vital to recognize when your body needs an extended refresher. This could make you better at your job. According to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, Luxembourg, Ireland, and Norway have some of the world’s most productive workers. Coincidentally, they also provide many vacation days.

So, what’s great about taking a vacation? Experts at a Midwestern hospital system, Allina Health, report that stepping away from work for a short period of time can decrease your risk of heart disease, improve your quality of sleep, create a better mood, and boost your relationships. Researchers in the Netherlands even found that simply planning for and anticipating a vacation can improve your happiness level! If you can’t stand the thought of taking time off, you’re not alone. More than 40% of respondents in a 2016 survey said they felt they couldn’t take a vacation because there wasn’t anyone to cover them. Communicate your concerns with your employer to find a compromise. Start slow, too. Schedule a long weekend and pack your days with activities, like getting a massage, hiking, or traveling to a local destination. Look to travel sites like Expedia, Airbnb, and Travelocity for local deals and tips on the best vacation methods. Soon, you’ll be the biggest advocate for taking time off.

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