The severity and duration of the penalties for driving under the influence in Georgia increase with each consecutive DUI conviction within a 10 year period. For a free review of your specific case and clarification of potential penalties for GA DUI, contact Athens-Clarke County DUI Lawyer Richard Lawson by calling 770-641-0100.
The following outlines penalties for DUI for adults with a general driver's license. Drivers under the age of 21 face the risk of enhanced penalties, as do holders of commercial driver's licenses.
First Offense – no prior convictions
- Driver's license suspended for 1 year. Limited permit may be available.
- Fines – $300-1,000
- Mandatory Minimum Jail Sentence – 24 hours to 10 days
- Maximum Jail Time – 1 year
- Minimum Community Service – 40 hours
- Mandatory attendance in DUI school
- Alcohol & Drug Evaluation & Treatment – A likely part of the sentence
Second Offense – within 10 years
- Driver's license suspended for 3 years. Reinstatement possible after 12 months with installation of ignition interlock device.
- Fines – $600-1,000
- Mandatory Minimum Jail Sentence – 72 hours to 90 days
- Maximum Jail Time – 1 year
- Minimum Community Service – 30 days
- Mandatory attendance in DUI school
- Mandatory Alcohol & Drug Evaluation & Treatment
- Photo published in local paper
- Seizure of license plate and auto tag
Third Offense – within 10 years
- Assigned Habitual Violator Status
- Driver's license revoked for 10 years. Issuance of a probationary license possible after 24 months, with installation of ignition interlock device.
- Fines – $1,000 – 5,000
- Mandatory Minimum Jail Sentence – 15 days to 120 days
- Maximum Jail Time – 1 year
- Minimum Community Service – 30 days
- Mandatory attendance in DUI school
- Mandatory Alcohol & Drug Evaluation & Treatment
- Photo published in local paper
- Seizure of license plate and auto tag
Four or More Offenses – within 10 years
- Felony charges filed
- Assigned Habitual Violator Status
- Driver's license revoked for 10 years. Issuance of a probationary license possible after 24 months, with installation of ignition interlock device.
- Fines – $1,000 – 5,000
- Mandatory Minimum Jail Sentence – 90 days to 1 year
- Maximum Jail Time – 5 years
- Minimum Community Service – 60 days, unless serving 3 year prison sentence
- Mandatory attendance in DUI school
- Mandatory Alcohol & Drug Evaluation & Treatment
- Photo published in local paper
- Seizure of license plate and auto tag
Click here for main page on drunk driving in Hall County, GA. For information on defending against a charge of DUI in Georgia, contact Criminal Defense Lawyer Richard Lawson.
Law Office of Richard S. Lawson
261 W. Crogan St.
Lawrenceville, GA 30045
Georgia DUI Case Results
The Law Offices of Richard S. Lawson
DUI and 4 counts of DUI Child Endangerment ☆ All 4 child endangerment charges were reduced to city ordinance violationsThis case was in Helen Municipal Court. The client was charged with a DUI and four counts of DUI Child Endangerment. In Georgia, for every child under the age of 14 in a vehicle it is considered a separate DUI offense. The client would have been declared an habitual violator from one arrest and would have had a 5-year license suspension. The result was all four child endangerment charges were reduced to city ordinance violations. The client received no jail-time, and left with a permit to drive.
KH
DUI, Failure to Maintain Lane & Open Container ☆ Reduced to Reckless DrivingClient is a business professional who was charged with DUI, failure to maintain her lane and open container. She took a breath test and blew above the legal limit. The client's case was reduced to reckless driving allowing her to keep full driving privileges. She served no additional jail time. Client was extremely pleased with the outcome!
AB
DUI Charges Dismissed ☆ Outcome: DUI DismissedThe client was charged with DUI and Impeding Traffic. The charges were dismissed after winning a motion hearing on the issue of the traffic stop. The judge found that the officer had no reason to stop the client's vehicle when he was driving 20 mph below the speed limit because it was still a lawful rate of speed and did not give the officer reason to suspect DUI.
Defendant (Richard's party) vs. State of Georgia
DUI, Reckless Driving, & Speeding 37 MPH over the speed limit ☆ DUI DismissedClient was a resident of New York who was arrested while he was visiting Georgia for pleasure. He was charged with DUI, Reckless Driving, and Speeding 37 MPH over the speed limit. We were able to get the client an unbelievable outcome in Hampton Georgia Municipal Court. His DUI was dismissed, his speeding ticket was reduced to Too Fast for Conditions (a zero point offense) and he pled guilty to reckless driving. We were able to keep him driving and avoided a license suspension. The client received no additional jail time, no probation, no community service, and only had to pay a fine. The client was extremely pleased.
SB
Police Officer charged with DUI (Refusal of Breath Test) ☆ Reduced to Reckless DrivingClient is a police officer. He was charged with DUI and refused the State breath test. His case was reduced to reckless driving and he received non-reporting probation upon completion of the terms of his sentence.
SD
Blood Test Ruled Inadmissible ☆ Outcome: DUI reduced to Reckless DrivingThe charge was reduced to Reckless Driving after the court ruled the blood test would be inadmissible at trial because the test was not performed within 3 hours of the officer stopping the client's vehicle for speeding.
Defendant (Richard's party) vs. State of Georgia
Judge found no evidence to support officer's claim ☆ Outcome: DUI dismissedThe charge was dismissed after a motion hearing where the judge found there was no evidence to support the officer's claim that the client was driving erratically and made an illegal U-turn.
Defendant (Richard's party) vs. State of Georgia
CDL Driver ☆ Outcome: DUI reduced to Reckless DrivingThe client was a commercial driver (CDL) with a second lifetime DUI. He was facing a lifetime revocation of his CDL license. The case was reduced to Reckless Driving and the CDL was saved.
Defendant (Richard's party) vs. State of Georgia
.188 Breath Test ☆ Outcome: "Not Guilty"The client was charged with DUI (second offense). The jury heard two DUI cases against the client. The client was .188 on the breath test. She was seen impaired in a parking lot of a convenience store. A concerned customer called the police. Several witnesses saw her at the store. In spite of the strong evidence against her, the jury found her "NOT GUILTY" of DUI.
Defendant (Richard's party) vs. State of Georgia
Suspended Drivers License ☆ Case DismissedClient was charged with a suspended license because he did not reinstate his privilege to drive after the expiration of his restricted license. Per my advice, the client properly reinstated his license the day after he was charged. Case Dismissed in Cobb County State Court.
MM
All cases are unique on their own merit. Each case result listed above is no guarantee of your potential outcome.
