Georgia State Patrol Trooper Resigns After DUI Arrest

According to reports in Spalding County, Georgia State Patrol trooper, Christopher McEntyre, stumbled into a couple's yard drunk and attempted to enter one of their cars.

McEntyre, who was off duty at the time of his arrest, allegedly got his truck stuck on some nearby train tracks and wandered into Beth and Don Reeves' yard. The Reeves' called the police, and McEntyre was subsequently charged with DUI in Georgia.

As a Georgia DUI Lawyer, I see all types of individuals get charged with DUI. No one is immune from making mistakes or from being accused of a crime. Since his July arrest, McEntyre has resigned from being on the Georgia State Patrol. 

In today's post, I will focus on the different penalties faced if convicted of a DUI in Georgia. 

Georgia DUI Penalties

Georgia DUI Penalties are some of the harshest in the country. There are both short term and long term consequences from the very arrest down to the conviction if that occurs. 

The first penalty for being arrested for a Georgia DUI is the automatic suspension of your Georgia Driver's License. At this point, an DUI accused driver has 30 days to file an appeal if he or she wishes to argue your case at an administrative hearing. This is known as the Georgia ALS Hearing where you appeal the suspension of your license.

The penalties for a DUI conviction in Georgia can include:

• 12 months of probation
• A minimum fine of $300 plus court costs and surcharges
• Between 1 - 10 days in jail, which many times can be waived 
• At least 40 hours of community service
• Substance abuse counseling
• Attendance of the DUI Risk Reduction School (commonly referred to as DUI School)
• Attendance of a Madd Mothers Victim Impact Panel
• Drivers License Suspension, with a limited permit to drive 

Even more seriously, in Georgia, a DUI conviction remains on your criminal record and can be used against you for up to ten years if you are convicted of a subsequent DUI. There is not an option for Georgia DUI Expungement. Again, there is no way to expunge a DUI from your Georgia record.

Practice Note

As you can see, hiring an experienced Georgia DUI Attorney is a worthwhile investment. We will do our very best to minimize the DUI penalties faced when arrested for DUI in Georgia. As a firm, we have over 50 years of combined experience and will apply the most relevant Georgia DUI Defenses to your case.

If you or a loved one has been arrested for DUI in Georgia, contact our offices today.