Georgia DUI First Offense

When a crime has been committed as serious as a drunk driving offense, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that the penalties will be just as severe. This holds true even if it is your first DUI offense. For this reason alone, it is imperative that you contact an experienced DUI defense attorney to fight for your rights and protect your freedoms. If you have been arrested for DUI in Georgia, please contact The Law Office of Larry Kohn right away. This will allow the legal team to immediately begin putting together a solid defense strategy.

Like many who have been arrested for DUI, you’re probably anxious and scared, wondering what penalties you could be facing if convicted. To help alleviate some of the anxiety that comes from the unknown, please review the following penalties for a Georgia DUI first offense.

The Georgia judicial system has described a first-offense DUI within a five-year period as having a fine of at least $300, but not exceeding $1000. This does not include any statutory surcharges, which may add an additional 15 to 25% to your overall fees.

In addition to the fees listed above, you can also expect to spend 10 days to 12 months in jail. Depending on the judge’s discretion, you may not have to serve this time, however the mandatory jail sentence is 24 hours. Whether you plead guilty or are convicted of DUI, you will be placed on 12 months probation in addition to any jail time served.

First-time DUI offenders in the state of Georgia are also required to serve 40 hours of community service. For underage drivers who were under 21 at the time of their DUI arrest, the law requires them to serve 20 hours of community service.

A DUI conviction will also result in the suspension of your driver’s license for one year. However, the court will allow you to take an alcohol education class and pay a license reinstatement fee following 120 days after your sentencing. During this time, you may apply for a limited license to drive to and from work, school and important medical appointments.