Grantham & Peterson:
Driving
Under the Influence (DUI):
Driving
Under the Influence (DUI) can arise out of an alleged use of alcohol,
drugs (legal or illegal), inhalants, or any combination thereof. In
Georgia, every driver is presumed to have consented to a test of their
blood, breath or urine upon request. Drivers are still entitled to
an implied consent warning upon an officer requesting that they submit
to such a test or tests. Failure to comply with the request for testing
can result in the suspension of a driver's license or privilege to
drive in the state.
Quite
often, there has been a failure by the officer to comply with the
requirements of the implied consent warning, proper testing procedures,
Miranda warnings, field sobriety testing or other matters. It is our
task to identify these deficiencies and attempt to turn them to your
advantage.
It's
important to know what to do if you are arrested for DUI. There are
many different ways that a driver can be charged with DUI in the state
of Georgia. We begin with the premise that you must be driving or
be in actual physical control of a motor vehicle in order to be charged.
The offense can occur on public roads or on private property.
Less
safe offenses:
It is
a violation of Georgia law to be driving or be in actual physical
control of a motor vehicle while under the influence of one or more
of the following to the extent that the person is "less safe."
- Alcohol
- Any
drug (legal or illegal)
- The
intentional influence of any glue, aerosol, or other toxic vapor
- Per
Se Offenses
It is a violation of Georgia
law to have an alcohol concentration of 0.10 grams percent or more
within three hours of driving or being in actual physical control
of a motor vehicle from alcohol consumed prior to or at the time of
driving.
It is a violation of Georgia law to have an alcohol concentration
of 0.04 grams percent or more while driving or being in actual physical
control of a moving commercial motor vehicle.
It is a violation of Georgia law to be under the age of 21 and have
an alcohol concentration of 0.02 grams percent or more within three
hours of driving or being in actual physical control of a motor vehicle
from alcohol consumed prior to or at the time of driving.
It is a violation of Georgia law to have present in the person's blood
or urine any marijuana or controlled substance, including any metabolites
or derivatives, whether or not there is any alcohol usage.
It is a separate offense to commit a DUI offense (as otherwise defined
above) while transporting a child under the age of fourteen (14) years.
This offense does not merge with the additional charge of DUI.
In evaluating alcohol test results, the following presumptions should
be considered:
- If
the alcohol test shows the alcohol concentration is 0.05 grams percent
or less, it is presumed that the person is not under the influence
of alcohol
- If
the alcohol test shows the alcohol concentration is in excess of
0.05 grams percent but less than 0.08 grams percent or less, no
presumption as to whether the person is under the influence of alcohol
shall arise from the alcohol test result
- If
the alcohol test shows the alcohol concentration is 0.08 grams percent
or more, then it is presumed that the person is under the influence
of alcohol.
- If
the alcohol test shows the alcohol concentration is 0.10 grams percent
or more, this is a per se violation as discussed above.
Note: If you were arrested for DUI in Georgia, you may
have only ten (10) business days to request a hearing or your license
will be suspended.
Penalties for DUI Convictions in Georgia:
FOR DRIVERS 21 YEARS OF AGE & OLDER:
If it is a first DUI within five years, you are facing:
- Jail time: Minimum of 24 hours if you tested .08 or higher, maximum
of 12 months.
- Fines: $300 to $1000, plus court costs and statutory fees.
- Community service: Minimum of 40 hours.
- License Suspension: Minimum of 120 days (you should be eligible
for a limited permit during that time if you submitted to a blood,
breath or urine test); and up to a one year suspension without any
permit if you refused to submit to a blood, breath or urine test.
Drug & alcohol dependency evaluation: May be ordered by the
court.
If it is a second DUI within five years, you are facing:
- Jail time: Minimum of 72 hours, maximum of 12 months.
- Fines: $600 to $1000, plus court costs and statutory fees.
- Community service: Minimum of 30 days.
- License Suspension: Maximum of three years, but you may be eligible
for early reinstatement after one year with an ignition interlock
device.
- License plates: Confiscated.
- Drug & alcohol dependency evaluation: Mandatory.
- Your photograph: In the local newspaper at your expense.
If it is a third DUI within five years, you are facing:
- Jail time: Minimum of 15 days.
- Fines: $1000 to $5000, plus court costs and statutory fees.
- Community service: Minimum of 30 days.
- License Revocation: As a "habitual violator" your license
will be revoked for five years. After two years you may be eligible
for a probationary license with an ignition interlock.
- License plates: Confiscated.
- Drug & alcohol dependency evaluation: Mandatory.
- Your photograph: In the local newspaper at your expense.
FOR DRIVERS UNDER 21 YEARS OF AGE:
If it is a first DUI within five years, you are facing:
- Jail time: Minimum of 24 hours if you tested .08 or higher, maximum
of 12 months.
- Fines: $300 to $1000, plus court costs and statutory fees.
- Community service: Minimum of 40 hours if tested .08 or higher,
20 hours if tested below .08.
- License Suspension: 12 months if tested .08 or higher, 6 months
if tested below .08. No work permit available.
If it is a second DUI within five years, you are facing:
- Jail time: Minimum of 72 hours, maximum of 12 months.
- Fines: $600 to $1000, plus court costs and statutory fees.
- Community service: Minimum of 30 days.
- License Suspension: Maximum of three years, but you may be eligible
for early reinstatement after 18 months with an ignition interlock
device.
- License plates: Confiscated.
- Drug & alcohol dependency evaluation: Mandatory.
- Your photograph: In the local newspaper at your expense.
If it is a third DUI within five years, you are facing:
- Jail time: Minimum of 15 days.
- Fines: $1000 to $5000, plus court costs and statutory fees.
- Community service: Minimum of 30 days.
- License Revocation: As a “habitual violator” your
license will be revoked for five years. After two and a half years
you may be eligible for a probationary license.
- License plates: Confiscated.
- Drug & alcohol dependency evaluation: Mandatory.
- Your photograph: In the local newspaper at your expense.
FOR DRIVERS OF COMMERCIAL VEHICLES:
If it is a first DUI within five years, you are facing:
- Jail time: Minimum of 24 hours if you tested .08 or higher, maximum
of 12 months.
- Fines: $300 to $1000, plus court costs and statutory fees.
- Community service: Minimum of 40 hours.
- License Suspension: Minimum of 120 days (you should be eligible
for a limited permit during that time if you submitted to a blood,
breath or urine test); and up to a one year suspension without any
permit if you refused to submit to a blood, breath or urine test.
Drug & alcohol dependency evaluation: May be ordered by the
court.
- One year disqualification from holding a CDL.
If it is a second DUI within five years, you are facing:
- Jail time: Minimum of 72 hours, maximum of 12 months.
- Fines: $600 to $1000, plus court costs and statutory fees.
- Community service: Minimum of 30 days.
- License Suspension: Maximum of three years, but you may be eligible
for early reinstatement after one year with an ignition interlock
device.
- Disqualified from obtaining a CDL for life.
- License plates: Confiscated.
- Drug & alcohol dependency evaluation: Mandatory.
- Your photograph: In the local newspaper at your expense.
If it is a third DUI within five years, you are facing:
- Jail time: Minimum of 15 days.
- Fines: $1000 to $5000, plus court costs and statutory fees.
- Community service: Minimum of 30 days.
- License Revocation: As a “habitual violator” your
license will be revoked for five years. After two years you may
be eligible for a probationary license with an ignition interlock.
- Disqualified from obtaining a CDL for life.
- License plates: Confiscated.
- Drug & alcohol dependency evaluation: Mandatory.
- Your photograph: In the local newspaper at your expense.