After you are arrested for drunk driving, you are sure to have a number of concerns. Will the court be sympathetic to you? If you are convicted, will you be able to pay the fine? What happens if you are required to spend time in jail? In addition to these concerns, it is important to consider another penalty that could have a long-lasting impact on your freedom and your finances: license suspension.
License suspension after a DUI in Georgia
If you were arrested for driving under the influence, Georgia law states that your license can be suspended. Your license may be suspended for 120 days or more depending on the exact charges you face and your criminal history.
What happens if you drive with a suspended license?
License suspensions are taken very seriously by the government of Georgia. Your first charge of driving with a suspended license is a misdemeanor, and you could spend time in jail, pay a fine and lose your license for additional time. A subsequent charge will result in even steeper fines, longer jail time and even more time without the ability to drive.
You can get your license reinstated.
Once you have completed your license suspension, you can have your license reinstated as long as you meet specific conditions. These include completing an approved risk reduction program and paying a reinstatement fee.
Other options are also available to you. You can be granted limited driving permissions if your suspension is a hardship. A limited permit or restricted license will allow you to travel to work, school, doctor appointments and addiction treatment as well as to court-related events like probation visits or community service. Applying for a restricted license can get you on the road sooner and allow you to continue to support yourself even after DUI charges.