SWGA Politics

Closing the Consent “Loophole”[ November 30, 2009 – 9:19 pm]by Jeff Posted in » Legislation

Last Friday, I wrote about State Rep (and Attorney General Candidate) Rob Teilhet saying he wanted to close the loophole in regards to teachers having sex with students being able to use the fact that it was consensual as a defense when charged with sexual assault of a person in custody.

I said then and I maintain that I have ZERO problems with the teacher in question losing their license to teach. I’m even willing to allow – though I’m not completely sold on this – that it should be a crime to begin with. ALL I am saying is that if a person is charged with sexual assault under this statute, the fact that the sex was consensual SHOULD be a valid defense that SHOULD be allowed at trial – as the Supreme Court of Georgia said last summer.

I just wanted to get my position on the matter crystal clear before going into the meat of this post. You see, there is already a bill that attempts to close this “loophole” – State Rep Kevin Levitas’ HB 886 pre-file.

Also please remember that, as always, this commentary is SIMPLY opinion-based commentary from a “civilian” with absolutely no legal training whatsoever. If you need legal advise on the subject matter at hand, PLEASE contact a member of the State Bar of Georgia!
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Excuses are easy, action is what matters though.[ November 30, 2009 – 8:00 am]by Tom Posted in » Editorial

Everywhere I go, I have a tendency to listen to people around me. Yeah, it’s evesdropping, but it’s also one of the best ways to find out what people are actually talking about. I hear plenty of celebrity gossip, and quickly dismiss it. Personally, I could care less about Amy Winehouse or Angelina Jolie unless she’s got a cool new movie coming out. But all to often, I hear excuses for all kinds of things. Read More …

Should Local Law Enforcement Patrol Federal Highways?[ November 30, 2009 – 6:35 am]by Jeff Posted in » Legislation

If you drive on the Interstates very much at all, you’ve seen city cops sitting on them with the radar guns out. Most drivers deem these as “speed traps”, and they probably are. State Senator Mitch Seabaugh (R-Sharpsburg) has pre-filed a bill that would end this practice, at least somewhat.

I’ve been thinking about it, and doing some basic research, and honestly I’m torn on the measure. The way I read the section of US Code Seabaugh’s bill references, Seabaugh’s bill would do quite a bit more than just ban the City of Forsyth Police Department from sitting on I-75 – just as an example there.
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