Georgia DUI Consequences and Penalties
A DUI charge in Georgia is not only scary, it’s confusing. You don’t know what penalties you’ll be facing, and you’re hearing a lot of different answers from different people. Stop guessing and start knowing. We’ve compiled this helpful information that relates to your Georgia DUI charge. With this information, you can determine if hiring an experienced DUI lawyer is right for you.
A First Time Conviction in a 5-Year Period
You’ll face at least 24 hours of jail time. You could serve between 10 days and 12 months, but many times the judge will suspend or probate this sentence. A fine of $300 to $1,000 plus surcharges is what you can expect. The judge will assign 40 hours of community service and order you to take a Risk Reduction course. He or she will also send you for a clinical evaluation for drug and alcohol dependency. Your license will be suspended for 1 year if it was alcohol-related, however you can get your license reinstated in 120 days if you took the Risk Reduction course. If your DUI was drug-related, you’ll lose your license for 6 months and no limited permit is available.
A Second Conviction in a 5-Year Period
Expect to serve the minimum jail sentence of 72 hours. The judge can suspend or probate the 90 days to 12 months in jail sentence. You’ll be slapped with a fine between $600 and $1000 plus surcharges. The judge can order you to 30 days (240 hours) of community service and make you take the Risk Reduction course. They may also require you to have a clinical evaluation for drug and alcohol dependency. Your license will be suspended for 18 months and no permit is available. The ignition interlock will be installed in your car and you can get your license back in 12 months with this machine. You must surrender all your license plates and your picture will be published in the local newspaper.
A Third Conviction in a 5-Year Period
All but 15 days of a 120-day to 12 month jail sentence can be suspended or probated by the judge. They’ll slap you with a fine of $1,000 to $5,000 plus surcharges and order you to 30 days (240 hours) of community service. You’ll have to take the Risk Reduction course and receive a clinical evaluation for drug and alcohol dependency. Your license will be revoked for 5 years and no permit is available. You may however receive a probationary license after 2 years. You will have to surrender your license plates and have the ignition interlock installed in your car. Your picture will also be published in your local newspaper.
