A 27-year-old woman was convicted of wrongful death and driving under the influence (DUI) in Fulton County after a car accident she caused took the life of a 24-year-old Georgia man. She had a blood-alcohol concentration of 0.229, almost three times the legal limit of 0.08. The woman was sentenced to five years in prison and five years on probation. In addition, the now-convicted drunk driver was ordered to carry a picture of the drunk-driving accident victim with her while she is in jail.

The victim's mother requested that the driver carry a picture of her deceased son to remember, every day, the tragedy that she caused by drinking and driving. It's not a common sentence, but it demonstrates the unique conditions that can be added to a driver's sentence if convicted of a DUI or Georgia drunk driving offense.

Typical Penalties for a First-Time Georgia DUI Conviction

People are often uncertain about what they should do if stopped for drunk-driving or DUI in Georgia. For example, drivers may not know if they can refuse a Breathalyzer test without negative consequences, and if they are arrested on suspicion of DUI, they may not know whether they need legal representation.

If convicted of Georgia 1st time DUI, a driver may be sentenced to up to one year in prison and a fine of up to $1,000. In addition, the driver's license is automatically suspended, and he or she may be ordered to complete driving courses and community service before the license can be reinstated.

Also, a driver's car insurance premiums are likely to increase following a DUI conviction, and having a first DUI conviction opens to the door even more harsh penalties if the driver is stopped for another DUI within 10 years. Judges sometimes have the discretion to add other conditions to a driver's sentence, too, as exemplified in a recent Georgia DUI case.

Because the possible penalties following a Georgia DUI conviction can be harsh, and because judges have discretion to add unique conditions to drivers' criminal sentences, representation by an experienced criminal defense attorney is invaluable to those facing first-time DUI charges.

Source: Atlanta Journal-Constitution, "Christa Scott to keep DUI wreck victim's picture during 10-year sentence," 28 October 2011