JenniferG.Ammons[1]WilliamC.Head[2]
Overthepast15years,theGeorgiaGeneralAssemblyhasenactedseveralnewlegislativelawsrelatingtoyourGeorgiadriver’slicense.Substantialchangesoccurredin1997(endingthefavorablenolocontenderepleatoretainafirstoffender’slicense),2001(majoroverhaulofminimumpunishmentforrepeatoffenseDUIoffendersandloweringtheadultBAClevelto0.08)and2008(addingafelonyDUI).Majorrevisionsoccurredin2012thatwillhaveasignificantimpactonmisdemeanorDUIpracticeinGeorgia.BecausethesechangeswillaffectmanyGeorgiadriverswhorunafoulofthelaw,anoverviewofcurrentlawswillbenefitallGeorgiaattorneys.
Amongothersweepingchanges,SB236madesubstantialchangestothedrivingconsequencesforteendriversconvictedofdrivingundertheinfluence(DUI)inviolationofO.C.G.A.§40-6-391.ThissamenewlawwillmakeitpossibletoacceleratetheavailabilityofignitioninterlocklimiteddrivingpermitsforanydefendantconvictedofasecondDUIwithinfiveyears(measuredbydate-of-arresttodate-of-arrest).Currentlawrequiresaminimumof12monthsoftotallossofdrivingprivileges(a“hardsuspension”inGeorgiaDepartmentofDriverServices[DDS]terminology).Thenewlawcreatesamethodbywhichalimiteddrivingpermitcanbeobtainedafteronly120daysofhardsuspension,assumingthatcertainconditionsarecompletedorarebeingcompletedbythesuspendeddriver.
Further,SB236modifiesthepermissibleusesavailableforalllimiteddrivingpermitsissuedbytheDDSbeginningJan.1,2013.Sen.BillCowsert(R-Athens)championedthelegislationattherequestoftheCouncilofStateCourtJudges.RecentlyretiredStateCourtJudgeN.KentLawrenceofAthens-ClarkeCounty,representedtheStateCourtjudges,withinputfromtheDDS,prosecutors,criminaldefenseattorneysandotherpartiesinterestedinthesubjectmatter.ThebillpassedtheSenatelateinthe2011Session,butitwasnottakenupbytheHouseuntil2012.Gov.DealsignedthebillonApril16,2012,withaneffectivedateofJan.1,2013.Lawrence,aproponentofthismajorchangeinGeorgia’sDUIlaws,hasnotedthatimpaireddrivingoffendersconvictedofasecondDUIoffensewhodemonstratesobrietyoveranextendedperiodoftimeearntheprivilegetodrivetowork,toschoolandtoapprovedtreatmentfacilities,providedthattheoffenderinstallsanignitioninterlockdeviceforaminimumperiodofeightmonthsonallvehiclesownedandoperatedbytheoffender.Offenderswhofailtocomplywithcourt-orderedsentenceconditionsmayhavetheirlimiteddrivingpermitrevoked.
TougherSuspensionsforTeenDrivers
Section3ofSB236modifiesO.C.G.A.§40-5-57.1relatingtolicensesuspensionsforteendriversconvictedofDUI.Currently,thelengthofadriver’slicensesuspensionimposedforaDUIconvictiondependsuponthedefendant’sageatthetimeofconviction,hisorherbloodalcoholconcentration(BAC),andhisorherpriordrivingrecord.Undercurrentlaw,ineffectuntilDec.31,2012,suspensionimposedforDUIconvictionsfordriverswhoarebetweentheagesof16and20rangefromsixto12monthsdependingupontheaforementionedfactors.
SB236alignsthedrivingconsequencesforteenswhoareconvictedofmultipleDUIswiththeprovisionsofGeorgialawapplicabletotheircounterpartswhoareage21andover.Thenewlanguagenolongerincludesanyreferencetoateen’spriorsuspensionsunderO.C.G.A.§40-5-57.1inthecalculationofthelengthofthelicensesuspensionorrevocationtriggeredbyhisorherDUIconviction.
Additionally,Section4ofSB236addsO.C.G.A.§40-5-57.1(thestatuterelatingtodriversunderage21)tothelistofsuspensionsforwhichaclinicalevaluationisrequiredforreinstatementofasuspensiontriggeredbyasecondDUIconvictionwithin10years.Onceagain,themeasurementoftimeforwhetheranoffenseisasecond(orsubsequent)convictionisfromdate-ofarresttodate-of-arrest.Plus,thisnewlawtakeseffectfromoffensesarisingJan.1,2013,andafter.
AvailabilityofLimitedDrivingPermitasaMotivationforTreatment
SB236alsomakessubstantialchangestoignitioninterlockpermiteligibility.Currently,O.C.G.A.§§40-5-64and42-8-110,etseq.,providethatanadultdriverconvictedofasecondDUIwithinfiveyearsmustwaitafullyearbeforemakingapplicationforanignitioninterlocklimiteddrivingpermit.Underthenewlaw,suchdriversmaybeeligibletoseekaninterlockpermitsoonerifheorshetakesmeaningfulrehabilitationandeducationstepstowardresolvingtheperson’sunderlyingsubstanceuseandabuseissues.Section5ofSB236amendsO.C.G.A.§40-5-64tostatethatanignitioninterlockpermitcanbeissuedafterthedefendanthasservedthefirst120daysofthehardsuspension.Aswillbecoveredbelow,theissuanceofacourtorderisrequiredbeforethedrivermayreceivethatpermit.
AllaccesstoissuanceofignitioninterlockpermitswillfallwithinthediscretionofthecourtthathandledtheunderlyingDUI.Sections5through9ofSB236removethepreviousreferencestoignitioninterlockinstallationandremoveprovisionsthatrequiredtheuseoftheinterlockdeviceasaconditionofprobation.Instead,thenewlawrequiresdefendantstoseekthecourt’spermissionfortheinterlockinstallationwhenthesuspendeddriverisreadytoapplyforanignitioninterlocklimiteddrivingpermit.Thesedeletionsofpriorlawandthisnewlanguageofthe2012legislationisintendedtoresolveanylingeringissuesrelatingtopotentialconflictsbetweenthelimitsonsubjectmatterjurisdiction(e.g.,a12-monthmaximumprobationperiod)formisdemeanortrafficcasesinO.C.G.A.§§40-13-32and40-13-33andthe“hard”suspensionperiod,whichcouldextendwellbeyondtheendoftheDUIsentenceunderthecurrentlaw.
Tobeeligibleforsuchanignitioninterlockpermit,theapplicantmustbeenrolledinclinicaltreatmentasdefinedinO.C.G.A.§40-5-1orengagedinadrugcourtprogram.TheexistingprerequisiteofcompletionofDUIdrugoralcoholuseriskreductionprogramremainsinplace,andrepeatconvictedoffenderswhoarenotengagedinadrugcourtmustcompleteaclinicalevaluationfromaproviderapprovedbytheDUIInterventionProgramoftheGeorgiaDepartmentofBehavioralHealthandDevelopmentalDisabilitiespriortoenrollinginclinicaltreatment.KnowledgeableandexperiencedDUIdefensepractitionerswillappreciatethevalueofearly“assessment”andenrollmentinbothriskreductionandtheclinicalevaluationprogramformanyoftheirclientsfacingrepeatoffenseDUIcharges.
TheLegalDepartmentofDDS,inconsultationwiththeAttorneyGeneral’sOffice,hasdeterminedthattheearliereligibilitylanguagewillapplytodriverswhoarealreadyunderasuspensionimposedforasecondDUIconvictionpriortoJan.1,2013.Thismeansthatapersonwhoseconvictionisenteredpriortotheeffectivedateofthenewlaw,Jan.1,2013,willreceivecreditforthemandatorydaysof“hardsuspension”requiredforallsecondDUIoffenderswithinafiveyearperiodunderthenewlegislation.So,adriverwhoseconvictionisentered120dayspriortoJan.1,2013,andwhootherwisequalifiesforissuanceofthelimiteddrivingpermit,maybeeligibletoreceivethelimitedpermitonJan.1(orassoonasDDSofficesareopenaftertheholiday).Thiseligibility,however,willbefacilitatedgreatlybytheconvictedpersoncompletingthenecessaryprerequisitestofacilitateissuanceofaninterlockpermitafterJan.1,2013.
LimitedPermitUsesforFIRSTOFFENDERSwithin5Years
Section5ofSB236alsomodifiesthepurposesforwhichalllimiteddrivingpermitsmaybeused.Currently,O.C.G.A.§40-5-64(c)restrictsthepermissibleusesofpermitstothefollowing:
Goingtohisorherplaceofemploymentorperformingthenormaldutiesofhisorheroccupation;
Receivingscheduledmedicalcareorobtainingprescriptiondrugs;
Attendingacollegeorschoolatwhichheorsheisregularlyenrolledasastudent;
Attendingregularlyscheduledsessionsormeetingsofsupportorganizationsforpersonswhohaveaddictionorabuseproblemsrelatedtoalcoholorotherdrugs,whichorganizationsarerecognizedbythecommissioner;or
Attendingundercourtorderanydrivereducationorimprovementschooloralcoholordrugprogramorcourseapprovedbythecourtwhichenteredthejudgmentofconvictionresultinginsuspensionofhisorherdriver’slicenseorbythecommissioner.
Formorethanadecade,manyaffecteddrivers,theirlegalcounselandmanyjudgeshavecomplainedabouttheextremerestrictionsimposedbyGeorgialawforthelimitedpermits,inlightofthemobilityoftoday’ssociety,thelimitedavailabilityofpublictransportationoutsidemajormetropolitanareas,andtheneedforsomanycitizenstodrivetoandfromcertaincriticalcourt-relatedandfamilymatters.TheseseverelimitationsondrivingcurrentlyincludebeingallowedtodrivetofulfillconditionsofprobationrelatedtotheirunderlyingDUIsentences,suchasreportingtoprobationofficers,performingcommunityserviceobligationsandmakingvisitstotheignitioninterlockdeviceproviderformonthlydatadownloadsorinstallationmaintenance.
These“practical”concernsweretakenintoconsiderationinthedraftingofSB236andwillresultinsignificantincreasestothepermissibleusesofalllimiteddrivingpermits,effectiveJan.1,2013,andafter.Thenewlanguageallowslimiteddrivingpermits for FIRST Offenders within five (5) years toincludeanyorallofthefollowingrestrictions:
Goingtohisorherplaceofemployment;
Receivingscheduledmedicalcareorobtainingprescriptiondrugs;
Attendingacollegeorschoolatwhichheorsheisregularlyenrolledasastudent;
Attendingregularlyscheduledsessionsormeetingsofsupportorganizationsforpersonswhohaveaddictionorabuseproblemsrelatedtoalcoholorotherdrugs,whichorganizationsarerecognizedbythecommissioner;
Attendingundercourtorderanydrivereducationorimprovementschooloralcoholordrugprogramorcourseapprovedbythecourtwhichenteredthejudgmentofconvictionresultinginsuspensionofhisorherdriver’slicenseorbythecommissioner;
Attendingcourt,reportingtoaprobationofficeorofficer,orperformingcommunityservice;or
Transportinganimmediatefamilymemberwhodoesnotholdavaliddriver’slicensetowork,toschool,formedicalcareortoprocureprescriptionmedications.
Toansweralikely,commonquestionaboutwhetheraconvictedrepeatDUIoffender(oronewhoplanstoenterapleatoDUIbetweennowandJan.1,2013)canperformalloftheminimummandatoryscreeningrequirements,theansweris“yes.”Forexample,inSouthCarolina,theADSAPprogramcannotbestartedorcompletedwithoutajudge’sorderpriortoenrolling.
RepresentativesfromtheNationalHighwayTransportationSafetyAdministration(NHTSA)requestedthedeletionoftheverbiageunderpriorlawrelatingtotravelforpurposesrelatedtoemployment.TheNHTSAexpressedconcernthattheinclusionofthatlanguagetookthestateofGeorgiaoutofcompliancewith23U.S.C.§164relatingtothefederallymandatedconsequencesfordriversconvictedofmultipleDUIoffenses.NoncompliancewiththisfederalstatutecouldcostGeorgiafederalhighwayfunds,simplybynotmakingthisaspectofGeorgia’sDUIlawscompliantwithfederalmandate.
Languagerelatingspecificallytothepermissiblerestrictionsonignitioninterlocklimiteddrivingpermitsfor SECONDandsubsequentrepeatDUIoffenderswasaddedasO.C.G.A.§40-5-64(c.1)(2)andincludethefollowingJan.1,2013,andafter:
Goingtohisorherplaceofemployment;
Attendingacollegeorschoolatwhichheorsheisregularlyenrolledasastudent;
Attendingregularlyscheduledsessionsormeetingsoftreatmentsupportorganizationsforpersonswhohaveaddictionorabuseproblemsrelatedtoalcoholorotherdrugs,whichorganizationsarerecognizedbythecommissioner;and
Goingformonthlymonitoringvisitswiththepermitholder’signitioninterlockdeviceserviceprovider.
Significantly,neithertheoldlawnorthenewlawpermitsdrivingtoandfromreligiousservices.Otherstatesallowrestricteddrivingprivilegesforsuchpurposes.
ParentalADAPandDriver’sEducationforMilitaryDependents
TwoprovisionsthatwerenotincludedinearlydraftsofSB236wereincorporatedasthelegislationmadeitswaythroughtheCapitol.TheseincludeamandateaddedtoO.C.G.A.§20-2-142forthecreationofacomponentoftheAlcoholandDrugAwarenessProgram,knownasADAP,whichisrequiredforteensseekingissuanceofafirstlicense.Typicallycompletedinninthgradehealthclasses,ADAPisregulatedbytheGeorgiaDDS.TheDDSalsooffersthecourseonlineforchildrenwhoarehome-schooledorotherwiseunabletocompleteitatschool.
Thenewparental“supervision”componentofthislawisnotmandatoryforalldrivers.CurrentlawprovidesthattheteendriverwhoseeksaClassDlicensepriortohisorher17thbirthdaymustcompleteatleast40hoursofsuperviseddrivingwitha“learner’spermit.”Thistrainingmustincludenotfewerthansixhoursofsuperviseddrivingatnight.However,parentswhocompletetheparental“provision”programforateendriverarenoweligibleforafreecopyoftheirdrivinghistoryunderO.C.G.A.§40-5-25,asamended.
Additionally,languagewasaddedtoallowfordependentsofmilitarypersonnelwhoarestationedinGeorgiatosatisfythedriver’seducationrequirementsofJoshua’sLawfoundinO.C.G.A.§40-5-22(a.2)(2)(relatingtoutilizingalicenseddriver’seducationprogramintheirpreviousstateofdomicile).However,toreceive“credit”inGeorgia,suchaprogramfromanotherstatemustbecompletedpriortothedependent’srelocationtoGeorgia.
PracticalConsiderationsforDUIDefenseAttorneys
FortheseasonedDUIpractitioner,thechangesinGeorgialawareawelcomeadditiontoourlicensinglaws.Mostchangesarecommonsensemodificationsthatenhanceandencourageaproblemdriver’srehabilitationprospects.Practitionersalsomustbeaware,however,ofseveralareasofconcern.Judgesmayrefusetograntinterlockpermits,becausetheissuanceisnowdiscretionarywiththesentencingcourt.Thereisanimpactonsalesrepresentativeswhoarerepeatoffenders,whomustdrivefromcustomerlocationtocustomerlocationtostayemployed.Underthechangesthatseemtolimittravelingtoandfromsaleslocations,thesenewrulescouldendtheemploymentofthousandsofworkers.Thenewlawtookawayaportionofpriorlawthataddressedsalesjobsbydeletingtheprovisionthatallowsdrivingwhen“performingthenormaldutiesofhisorheroccupation.”Lastly,theavailabilityofDUICourtprogramsacrossthestatehasbeenlimitedtomajormetropolitanareas.TheseprogramswillbeneededacrossGeorgiatoofferthisprogramtoallrepeatDUIoffenders.
[1] Jennifer G. Ammons is general Counsel for the Georgia Department of Driver Services, and a 1994 Graduate of the University of Georgia School of Law
[2] William C. Head is a private DUI Defense Attorney who has handled over 4500 contested DUI cases for the past 37 years. He is a 1976 graduate of the University of Georgia School of Law. Mr. Head has also authored or co-authored more than a dozen books relating to DUI Laws and Practice.