Posted by duijim in on March 18, 2025
Under Georgia law, you may be charged with DUI if you operate a motor vehicle while legally impaired due to alcohol or drugs. Furthermore, Georgia state can impose DUI charges if legal prescription medications or medical substances impede driving ability.
Police use chemical tests and field sobriety assessments like the walk-and-turn and one-leg stand tests to establish probable cause for DUI arrests. An experienced lawyer can spot weaknesses in prosecution’s case to negotiate reduced or dropped charges.
1. Your Driver’s License
Georgia DUI laws can be complex and even first offenses may have serious repercussions. Alongside criminal charges, individuals could also face license suspension or revocation by the Georgia Department of Driver Services (DDS), participation in an Alcohol or Drug Use Risk Reduction program and community service, as well as installing an ignition interlock device on their vehicle after being arrested for DUI.
Legal limits for adults typically lie at 0.08% or greater blood alcohol concentration levels; however, truck drivers and other individuals with CDLs typically have a lower limit of 0.04%. Georgia follows an implied consent law where when you obtain your driver’s license you implicitly agree to submit to chemical tests in case of lawful arrest for DUI; refusal may result in an automatic one year license suspension.
An experienced Atlanta DUI lawyer can help you fight to maintain your driver’s license after being arrested for DUI. Act quickly following arrest to schedule an administrative hearing with DDS; this hearing provides your sole opportunity to contest evidence against you and protect your license. Your lawyer can also offer diversion programs or alternative means that might lessen the harsh penalties imposed by legal systems.
2. Your Driver’s Permit
Medical doctors, lawyers, teachers and truck drivers rely on their driving licenses for income. A DUI conviction may impact these professionals by leading to disciplinary actions from licensing boards; thus it is imperative that these professionals understand its implications on their professional license and hire an experienced Atlanta DUI lawyer to defend against disciplinary measures taken by licensing boards.
Most individuals arrested for DUI must submit to a chemical test to determine their blood alcohol content (BAC). If an officer determines you are above the legal limit, your driver’s license will be suspended immediately, although certain situations allow judges to issue limited permits so you may drive for work, medical appointments, community service sessions and counseling sessions. Our attorneys can assist in helping obtain one in these instances.
Your DUI police report will be submitted to your previous state of residence and that state may suspend or revoke your driving privileges, potentially making it more difficult to find employment in Georgia due to background check requirements for most employers and increasing landlord scrutiny of potential tenants’ criminal histories. A prior DUI conviction can also decrease chances of finding housing as landlords frequently ask prospective tenants about criminal records before making their selections.
4. Your Professional License
Professional licensing boards take DUI convictions very seriously, which can have devastating repercussions for an individual’s career. Many professions requiring licensure like healthcare, education and legal services require an individual to maintain a clean record; an arrest could make people question whether an employee can fulfill job responsibilities which could prompt disciplinary actions or dismissals of employees in these fields.
An Atlanta DUI may or may not appear on an employment application depends on the employer, though applicants must disclose any criminal arrests on their application – one would assume a DUI would show up during any background checks conducted by potential employers.
Healthcare and transportation professions may be vulnerable to being put off by individuals charged with driving under the influence. A DUI could even prevent an employee from continuing in his/her role at work – something which could have far-reaching repercussions for an individual’s career prospects.
An Atlanta DUI lawyer experienced with Georgia drunk driving laws can help individuals mitigate the repercussions of being arrested for drunk driving on their professional lives, particularly those working in industries where reputation plays an integral part of professional success, such as hospitality, legal or public services. Rebuilding your professional image may take some time but a skilled DUI attorney will help get back on track towards reaching your career goals more quickly.