That is not exactly correct. Here in Georgia, your license is automatically suspended for a DUI, even the first one, for at least 3 months, and you have to go to court to get a hardship waiver, which is only granted in extreme circumstances (going to the doctor for life-threatening conditions, etc...). The 2nd offense is 11 months and 29 days in jail, and a $2000.00 fine. The 3rd offense is a felony, and is permanent suspension, and 5 years in the State Penitentiary. If you cause an accident while drunk, or on a suspended license, it is a felony, and if anyone dies, it is Vehicular Manslaughter. Georgia will suspend your Drivers License for fishing without a license, getting behind in child support, or contempt, both civil and criminal. Any excuse for them to take your license will suffice. In addition, any law enforcement officer can confiscate your license and have it suspended on the spot for any reason they deem fit. You have to go to court to get it back, and it will cost you a $150.00 re-instatement fee, on top of court costs, to get it back, even if you have done nothing wrong. In Georgia, Driving on a Suspended License is a minimum of $500.00 fine and 10 days in jail, which will start as soon as they stop you. You will go directly to jail, and they will impound your vehicle. You cannot get it back until you show that you have a valid license, tags, and insurance, and pay the storage fees of $100.00 per day, + the towing fees, which start at $75.00.. Otherwise, after 30 days, it will be sold, along with anything in it, at a public auction. The only other state with laws as Draconian as Georgia is Texas.
Originally Posted by
B. Carfree
Stop making us Yanks jealous. Hereabouts, a license isn't suspended until the third drunk driving conviction. Also, a "hardship" waiver is almost automatic. It allows the drunk to keep driving to work and shopping (they are always shopping). Also, there's essentially no penalty for driving while suspended anyway, so it's the norm. In fact, my postal carrier was nearly killed on her way to work by a drunk driver who was driving while suspended. Yes, she was drunk at 6:30 AM. (The drunk left the scene, but since she lives in my carrier's route it was a pretty easy identification to make.)