Georgia imposes criminal charges for drivers who have a measured blood alcohol content of 0.08% or higher or who display obvious drug or alcohol impairment behind the wheel. Drivers who do not consent to a breath or blood test will be subject to additional criminal penalties.
If you are facing a charge of driving under the influence in Georgia, review the possible consequences of a conviction:
DUI with no prior convictions
First-time DUI offenders, defined by the state as those with no DUI convictions in the past five years, may receive the following legal penalties in Georgia:
- One-year license suspension with $210 reinstatement fee
- At least $300 and up to $1,000 in fines
- Up to a year in jail
- A minimum of 40 mandatory hours of community service
Second-time DUI
If you receive another DUI within five years of the first, penalties can include:
- A three-year license suspension with $210 reinstatement fee
- At least $600 and up to $1,000 in fines
- At least 48 hours and up to 12 months in jail
- A minimum of 30 mandatory community service days
- Mandatory substance abuse evaluation and treatment at your cost if the screening indicates substance use disorder
Third-time DUI
A third DUI in the same five-year period will result in:
- A five-year license suspension with $210 reinstatement fee
- At least $1,000 and up to $5,000 in fines
- At least 15 days and up to 12 months in jail
- A minimum of 30 mandatory community service days
- Mandatory substance abuse evaluation and treatment at your cost if the screening indicates substance use disorder
- Seizure of your vehicle’s license plate
- Local newspaper ad naming and picturing the individual as a habitual DUI offender
In addition to these minimum penalties, the circumstances of your case may result in additional charges. For example, an open container in a vehicle carries a fine of $200 on top of other fees.