In this article, you will discover:
A first-time DUI offender faces 12 months in jail, 40 hours of community service, and license suspension. You could also spend a mandatory 24 hours or more in jail. However, judges will often give credit for time served the first evening you’re arrested, requiring no more jail time after that.
Treatment will also be mandated, and you’ll be required to attend DUI school, get an alcohol and drug evaluation, and follow any recommendations given.
For your first DUI offense, jail time is mandatory for 24 hours. A second DUI within five years will require anywhere between three days and 90 days in jail, but only three days are mandatory. Community service jumps from 40 hours to 240 hours. Additionally, you’re required to install an ignition interlock device, also known as a breathalyzer, in your car for one year.
For a third offense, jail time increases significantly, ranging from a mandatory 10 days to two months. The penalties are the same as those for a second DUI.
Attorney George Stein is a skilled lawyer based in Atlanta, GA, who has helped countless clients just like you navigate the intricacies of DUI law. With decades of experience, he is prepared to assist you in understanding and avoiding the potential penalties for a DUI conviction.
Still have questions? Ready to get started? Contact George Stein, The DUI Lawyer today to schedule a free initial consultation.
On a second DUI, mandatory jail time is three days; on a third DUI within five years, it’s 10 days. If you get a fourth DUI within 10 years, that’s a felony, and you face one year in state prison.
Defenses for repeat DUI offenders are the same as for any other offender, including a first-time offender. Defenses would include challenging whether the traffic stop or arrest was legal. If the stop or arrest were not legal, then the case against you would be dismissed, and all evidence would be suppressed.
Regarding suppression of evidence, suppose there is a blood or breath result that exceeds the limit, but the officers made a procedural error that violated the law. Our defense would be to challenge that damning blood or breath test evidence and have it suppressed. Often, that opens the window of opportunity to have your DUI dismissed.
Often, multiple offenders have alcohol and drug addiction problems. I always encourage them to address these problems and straighten out their lives by seeking treatment.
Many clients are off balance after they’ve been arrested and anxious about their pending case. To regain their equilibrium, I typically ask them to return to work, exercise, and not just fixate on their problem. I also tell them to get plenty of sleep and avoid scrolling the internet every night until 04:00 a.m.
I also make sure to maintain good communication with my clients, as they may frequently call to request updates or reassurance that everything is going to be okay. I’m careful to be diligent about returning their calls to help answer their questions and make the process less stressful for them.
For more information on penalties for Georgia DUI offenders, an initial consultation is your next best step. Get the information and legal answers you are seeking by calling (404) 681-4000 today.
Attorney George Stein is a skilled lawyer based in Atlanta, GA, who has helped countless clients just like you navigate the intricacies of DUI law. With decades of experience, he is prepared to assist you in understanding and avoiding the potential penalties for a DUI conviction.
Still have questions? Ready to get started? Contact George Stein, The DUI Lawyer today to schedule a free initial consultation.