HARD AND FAST FACTS: DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN A DUI MISDEMEANOR AND A FELONY
From celebrity commercials to our parents, we’ve heard it several different ways: Having a couple drinks and getting behind the wheel is never a good idea. However, DUIs can be charged in a couple different ways — and some factors of your DUI can affect your life more drastically than others. In Georgia, your first three DUI offenses will be counted as a misdemeanor. The consequences of getting a misdemeanor vary widely depending on whether it is a first offense or not. You’ll get up to one year in jail, a fine ranging from $300 to $5,000, up to five years of license suspension, 40–240 hours of community service, 12–36 months of probation, a DUI education course or substance abuse treatment, surrender of license plate, up DUI MISDEMEANOR
to five years of driver’s license suspension, and possibly an Ignition Interlock Device.
for life. You’ll also have restrictions on adopting a child, voting, holding a professional license, and other benefits can be stripped or restricted from you.
However, no matter the final jurisdiction, having a DUI record can negatively impact your job, family life, insurance rates, and ability to travel.
SHOULD I REFUSE A BREATHALYZER TEST?
DUI FELONY
No, you should always take the breathalyzer test. If you’re pulled over by a cop for DUI suspicion, comply. Georgia state law says that if you refuse a test, your driver’s license is automatically suspended for one year right off the bat. Your license suspension is handled by the DMV and separately from the court, so you can’t get that year back. If you or a loved one have been affected in a DUI-related accident, you don’t have to be alone. Let our super lawyers at Obiorah Fields fight for you.
If you get a fourth offense, or if you kill or seriously injure someone under the influence, then you have committed a DUI felony. You can spend up to five years in jail with up to $5,000 in fines, 10 years of driver’s license suspension, 480 hours of community service, mandatory counseling for alcohol and drug abuse, and any other reasonable penalty associated with a felony conviction. A felony is a criminal offense, thus you could be considered a convicted felon
At Obiorah Fields LLC, we’re not your standard, run-of-the-mill law office. We don’t just do what’s required of us — we go the extra mile to make sure justice is served in every case we take on. If you’ve worked with us before, and you know somebody who could benefit from taking us on as their legal team, please don’t hesitate to give them this newsletter and show them who we are! We want to help as many people as we can. We’re just one phone call away from new potential clients. If they contact us through our website and give us their name, contact info, and a brief description of their situation, we will give them a free case evaluation and report. Don’t hesitate to refer us! DO YOU KNOW SOMEONE WHO NEEDS OUR HELP? GIVE THEM THIS NEWSLETTER!
NEED A SPEAKER? If you are interested in having Teri Fields speak to your organization about legal issues, please contact us at 404-994-6218.
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