Being charged and convicted with driving under the influence in Georgia can lead to a litany of challenges. In addition to the possibility of being incarcerated and fined, it can result in a driver’s license suspension.
Different ‘legal limits’
According to state law, a driver who is stopped by law enforcement on suspicion of DUI and registers a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08% or above will be charged. However, if it is a commercial driver or a driver under the legal drinking age of 21, the amounts are significantly lower.
For a commercial driver, it is 0.04%. Although this is a misdemeanor, the commercial driver will face potential consequences that will permeate their entire life as it can negatively impact their ability to drive professionally.
They could be incarcerated for 10 days to one year and be obligated to pay a fine of $300 to $1,000. Their commercial license can be suspended for varying time-periods depending on how many violations they have. It might even be permanently rescinded.
Drivers under the age of 21 are technically not supposed to be drinking alcohol at all. If they register a BAC of 0.02% or above, they can be charged. The penalties are generally the same for underage drivers as they are for commercial drivers with fines and jail time. Their driver’s license can be revoked, but they can reapply after six months. Both commercial drivers and underage drivers would need to take part in education programs explaining the dangers of DUI.
Fighting DUI charges is a necessity
Anyone who is accused of DUI needs to know the penalties that might be assessed. This is far worse for commercial drivers who need to maintain their license in good standing for their job and underage drivers who are just starting out in their driving lives.
Although these charges are serious and it might appear difficult to find an avenue of DUI defense that can be effective, there are ways to fight back. The traffic stop might not have been done properly or there could be issues with the evidence. There might be opportunities to reduce the charges. In these cases, it is wise to consider the options before automatically accepting the conviction.