People who plead guilty to or get convicted of driving under the influence (DUI) offenses face the same basic penalties in most cases. Without the presence of aggravating factors, a simple, first-time DUI carries the lowest potential penalties of state DUI charges.
Under current state laws, the potential penalties include incarceration, probation, fines and an obligation to cover court costs. A driver’s license suspension is also a standard penalty that reflects the nature of the offense.
Losing driving privileges can be costly and embarrassing. How long are motorists unable to drive after a first DUI conviction?
Even first convictions cost people their licenses
Under current Georgia statutes, the standard driver’s license suspension after a first DUI conviction is 12 months. However, drivers may be able to regain their privileges more quickly if they meet certain standards imposed by the state.
After serving 120 days of their license suspension, they can request a reinstatement. They generally need to attend drug or alcohol risk reduction education programs and present a certificate showing that they completed the program when applying for license reinstatement.
They also need to pay a fee. While a suspension lasting 120 days is less of a hardship than a suspension that lasts for a year, drivers can still experience financial and professional complications during those 120 days.
Motorists who work with a defense lawyer to fight back against DUI charges can avoid convictions and may be able to completely avoid a driver’s license suspension. Discussing pending DUI charges can help drivers evaluate their options before they go to court.