Our Athens, Georgia, DUI law blog has mentioned a variety of legal, financial and social consequences individuals may face if convicted of driving under the influence. However, one Georgia woman who was convicted of drunk driving received an unusual punishment last week during her sentencing as part of a plea deal.
On June 19, 2010, the woman, who is now 27 years old, ran a red light at the intersection of 17th and West Peachtree streets in Atlanta. The woman’s car struck another vehicle at the intersection and the driver of the other vehicle was killed in the incident.
After the accident, police issued a Breathalyzer test and reported that the woman’s blood-alcohol level was 0.229. In Georgia, the legal limit is 0.08.
The Athens Banner-Herald reported that the woman was charged with first-degree vehicular homicide and reckless driving. She was convicted in September of this year.
The woman expressed her remorse during last week’s sentencing by apologizing to the victim’s family. As part of her punishment, the woman has agreed to carry a picture of the University of Georgia graduate who was killed in the accident while she serves her 10-year sentence.
A Fulton County judge ordered the woman to serve five years in prison for the DUI accident. After serving time in prison, she will be required to serve an additional five years on probation. As part of the plea deal, the woman will also have to submit to random testing to prove that she remains drug and alcohol free.
Source: wsbtv, “DUI driver to carry picture of man she killed,” Carl Willis, Oct. 28, 2011