DUI Defense Lawyer in Augusta, GA

What is a DUI in Georgia?

In the state of Georgia there are two ways a driver can violate the driving under the influence (DUI) law:

1. DUI Less Safe (GA Zero Tolerance) – An officer observes the driver commit a “less-safe act”, and makes an educated determination that this was the result of some level of intoxication.
2. DUI per se – A driver is administered a chemical test (blood or breath) and their blood alcohol content (BAC) is 0.08% or higher.

In the case of “under the influence” you do not have to have a BAC of 0.08 or higher to be determined guilty.

Is a DUI a Felony in Georgia?

In the state of Georgia, driving under the influence can be classified as either a misdemeanor or felony, depending on the circumstances of the arrest and the driver’s history. A conviction, felony or otherwise, will result in a permanent criminal record.

Penalties For a DUI in Georgia

There are two seperate penalties to deal with when convicted of a DUI: the criminal case and an administrative proceeding against your license. ALWAYS contact an attorney immediately upon release on a DUI arrest, as there are deadlines imposed by the Georgia Department of Driver’s Services which can lead to a 12 month license suspension, regardless of whether the charge for DUI has been resolved. For first-time offenders, penalties for DUI are the following:

• Up to 12 months in confinement, with a mandatory minimum 24 hours to serve
• Fines up to $1,000 plus court charges
• No less than 40 hours community service
• Substance abuse counseling
• Attendance of DUI Risk Reduction School
• Drivers license suspension (limited privileges on first offense)

For felony DUI convictions/repeat offenses, severity of penalties go up substantially.

In Georgia, being convicted of DUI is expensive and can result in life-changing consequences beyond the courtroom. If you are arrested for a DUI, contact the The Usry Firm immediately for a free consultation.