Reinstating Your Georgia Driver’s License After a DUI

When faced with a DUI, there are some serious license consequences that you should be aware of, especially when it’s time for reinstating your driver’s license in Georgia.

When You’re Over the Age of 21

If you are over the age of 21, a Georgia license holder, and convicted of your first DUI in the past five years (measured from date of arrest to date of arrest), your license goes under suspension for four months with the ability to get a limited permit immediately during that four month period. Your limited permit is valid only for certain necessary trips such as work, doctor visits, school, emergencies, etc. DDS will explain the parameters of this limited permit when they give it to you after conviction. After a period of four months, you are eligible for reinstating your driver’s license in Georgia, as long as you have completed Risk Reduction (Georgia’s DUI school) and are able to pay the reinstatement fee to DDS. If you are convicted of your first DUI (DRUGS) in five years, meaning that no alcohol is alleged), your license is suspended for six months with NO limited permit, regardless of your age.

When You’re Under 21

If you are under the age of 21 and convicted of your first DUI in the past five years (measured from date of arrest to date of arrest), you are out of luck when it comes to obtaining a limited permit. In these cases, your length of suspension depends on whether you took the State breath test and the corresponding results. At this age, if your BAC is .08 grams or more (the legal limit for adults over the age of 21), your license is suspended for twelve months with no ability to get a limited permit. After the expiration of this period, you can reinstate your Georgia driving privileges as long as you have completed Risk Reduction (Georgia’s DUI school) and are able to pay the reinstatement fee. If you are under the age of 21 and your BAC is under a .08, you suffer a six-month suspension with no ability to get a limited permit. Reinstatement after the end of this six-month period requires the same steps as mentioned above. Always remember that the legal limit for anyone under the age of 21 in the state of Georgia is .02 grams or more.

Multiple DUIs

Things get much more complicated if you are convicted of two or more DUIs in a five year period (measured from date of arrest to date of arrest). Regardless of your age, if you have two DUI convictions in a five-year period, your license is suspended for four months hard, with no permit, followed by mandatory installation of an ignition interlock machine (which will only allow your car to operate after you give a sample of your breath and your BAC is zero) and then a final two months on a regular limited permit before complete and early reinstatement of your license. It’s important to remember that you are only eligible to begin limited driving on the ignition interlock after four months if you have completed Risk Reduction, show proof of a Drug and Alcohol Evaluation and further treatment, and can provide proof that you have installed the machine in your vehicle. Otherwise, you are facing a three-year suspension of your license instead of the limited driving and early reinstatement after 18 months as described above.

Habitual Violators

Finally, if you are convicted of three or more DUIs in a five year period (measured from date of arrest to date of arrest), you are now considered a Habitual Violator in the state of Georgia and your license is revoked for five years with no ability to get a limited permit. After two years, you can apply for a probationary license with the Department of Driver Services, but it is not guaranteed and can be granted or denied by DDS. If you become a Habitual Violator and cannot obtain a probationary license after two years, your privilege to drive on the highways of Georgia remains revoked for five years.

Get Advice – Call Schiavone Law Group Today

The consequences to your license are very serious and the laws change over time as our state legislature periodically amends these rules. If you are facing a DUI, make sure to contact Schiavone Law immediately so we can attempt to mitigate your hardships and help you navigate this often difficult and confusing road. Get the help and advice needed for reinstating your driver’s license in Georgia.