A Driving Under the Influence (DUI) conviction is one of the most serious traffic offenses under Georgia law. However, like many serious traffic offenses a Georgia DUI conviction does not put any points on your Georgia drivers license. Georgia DUI convictions do carry with them other collateral consequences such as mandatory drivers license suspensions depending on how many convictions you have had in the past five year period, minimum jail time that escalates with every DUI conviction within a ten year period, and community services that increases with each conviction within a ten year period.

Because a DUI conviction already carries with it a mandatory license suspension, it does not include any additional points. Any moving violation under Georgia law that carries with it a mandatory suspension does not put additional points on your drivers license after conviction. These mandatory suspension offenses are:

• Driving Under the Influence (DUI)

• Racing

• Hit and Run

• Fleeing and Attempting to Elude

• Vehicular Homicide

• Serious Injury by Vehicle

The license suspension period for a DUI conviction is measured in five year periods from the date of arrest. A first DUI conviction within a five year period carries with it a 120 day license suspension. You are eligible for a limited driving permit for those 120 days, and your license can be fully reinstated after successful completion of a DUI risk reduction course and the expiration of the 120 day period. A second DUI conviction in a five year period is a mandatory 120 day hard license suspension for which no limited permit will be issued. After 120 days and successful completion of an alcohol and drug evaluation and any recommended treatment you can get an ignition interlock device limited permit for the next 12 months. You must install an ignition interlock device on your vehicle and drive on that permit for 12 months. Following those 12 months there is another two months on a limited permit for a period of 18 months before your license can be fully reinstated. A third DUI conviction in 5 years will cause you to become a habitual violator and cancel your Georgia drivers license for a period of 5 years. After 2 years you can apply for a probationary license to drive, and must continue on that probationary license for 3 years before you can apply for reinstatement of your drivers license. A Georgia limited driving permit is only valid in the State of Georgia and means you cannot drive on it in any other state.

Because there are such serious license ramifications for a DUI conviction, the Georgia Department of Driver Services has chosen not to put points on your license after a DUI conviction. However, a DUI conviction includes other consequences that could have lifelong impacts such as convictions on your Georgia criminal history, community service and classroom requirements and serious hindrances to your ability to freely drive throughout the State of Georgia. If you’d like to discuss an Atlanta or other Georgia DUI case, please call me at 678-753-6431 for a free consultation.