Young Mother Accused of DUI And Child Endangerment in Alpharetta on New Year’s Eve

A young mother in Alpharetta was arrested on New Year's Eve after crashing her vehicle with her daughter riding in the backseat.
The woman is facing charges of child endangerment and DUI in Georgia by Forsyth County.

Most people are unaware that when a driver is accused of DUI with a child in the vehicle that the consequences can double. As a Georgia DUI Lawyer, I will outline the offense of DUI Child Endangerment in today's post.

DUI Child Endangerment in Georgia

DUI Child Endangerment in Georgia is defined by Georgia Law in the same statute as DUI (O.C.G.A. §40-6-391).

A person who violates this Code section while transporting in a motor vehicle a child under the age of 14 years is guilty of the separate offense of endangering a child by driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Bottom line - DUI cases that involve children are taken very seriously in the state of Georgia. The penalty for DUI with a child in the vehicle is that for every child in the vehicle, another DUI charge is placed against the driver.

Therefore, even in one instance of DUI, if there are three children in the car, the accused driver is looking at four separate DUI charges. A fourth DUI is classified as a Felony DUI in Georgia. This means that the typical consequences of a DUI conviction no longer apply. A felony DUI conviction means being listed as a convicted felon for life, years of driver's license suspension, and the potential of lengthy prison time.

Practice Note

General practitioners or lawyers who do not specialize in DUI Defense in Georgia will not understand the severity of a DUI Child Endangerment charge. If you or a loved one has been arrested, do not hesitate to contact our offices today.

A Georgia DUI Lawyer can help you with your case today and help you understand what options you have.