Why Reckless Driving Over a Georgia DUI Conviction?

As a Georgia DUI Lawyer, I get a lot of inquiries about the benefits of getting a Reckless Driving conviction over a DUI in Georgia. In today's post, I'd like to highlight the law behind reckless driving and the penalties for conviction. 

Reckless Driving in Georgia

Reckless Driving in Georgia is considered a serious traffic violation. Examples of reckless driving include: weaving, driving at high speeds, tailgating, forceful merging, or cutting other drivers off.

Reckless driving is defined by Georgia law as:

Any person who drives any vehicle in reckless disregard for the safety of persons or property commits the offense of reckless driving. O.C.G.A. §40-6-390. 

If convicted of reckless driving, a person is guilty of a misdemeanor. The punishment can include a fine up to $1,000.00, jail time for up to 12 months, or both.

A conviction for reckless driving will also add four points to your license. This has the potential of leading to a points suspension of your Georgia driver's license. A points suspension occurs if you have accumulated fifteen or more points in a consecutive 24-month period. However, if you are a driver under 21 years old, any offense that is four points or more will suspend your Georgia driver's license for a six-month period. 

A DUI conviction in Georgia comes with serious Georgia DUI Penalties. A DUI is considered a high and aggravated misdemeanor in Georgia.

The penalties for a first DUI in Georgia 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 

The penalties only increase from here with a second Georgia DUI, a third Georgia DUI, a fourth Georgia DUI, and a felony Georgia DUI.

If you or a loved one has been charged with a DUI in Georgia, contact a Georgia DUI Attorney today.