Why License Points Matter So Much in Georgia

The Georgia DDS (Department of Driver Services) uses a “15 points in 24 months” license suspension points system for adult drivers, and a 4‑point suspension rule for drivers under 21. If you get convicted of speeding for example 3 points or more will be added to your driving record. These demerit points will fall off in 24 months, but if you reach 15 total points in that 2-year window your license will be suspended. That is why it is so important to hire one of our traffic ticket lawyers any time you get a citation in Fulton, Gwinnett, Forsyth, or Cobb County.

You can check how many points you have by visiting the GA DDS website. We regularly see people who came to us only after the person received a suspension letter from the GA DDS. Our defense options are limited at that point, but we take on the case and begin grinding for the truth.

If you’re looking to clear existing points from your Georgia driver’s license, the most effective method is to complete a certified defensive driving (Driver Improvement) course. After successful completion, submit your certificate to the Georgia DDS either in-person or by mail to request a reduction. You can remove up to 7 points once every five years. It’s wise to check your DDS profile regularly and act proactively if you’ve received recent violations.

How Many Points to Suspend a License in Georgia?

Georgia’s point system is designed to penalize repeat traffic violators and unsafe driving:

Drivers age 21 and over: 15 points in a 24-month period leads to suspension.

Drivers under 21: Any single conviction for an offense worth 4 points or more triggers a suspension.

Drivers under 18: 4 points in 12 months results in suspension.

Suspension periods can range from six months to two years for repeat offenders, and reinstatement usually requires a fee and completion of a defensive driving course. First and second suspensions allow for a restricted driving permit, but after a third, no permit is available within five years.

How Many Points Is a Speeding Ticket in GA?

Georgia assigns points to your license for speeding based on how far you exceed the speed limit:

15–18 mph over the limit: 2 points

19–23 mph: 3 points

24–33 mph: 4 points

34 mph or more: 6 points

“Super Speeder” violations (excessively high-speed tickets) carry additional fines of $200 and, if unpaid, result in automatic suspension and further penalties. For drivers under 21, even a 4-point speeding ticket is grounds for suspension.

Multiple speeding infractions in a short period can quickly add up, so consider talking to one of our traffic ticket lawyers during a free in-person consultation if you’re at risk. Attorneys Larry Kohn and Cory Yager have handled thousands of traffic ticket cases around Atlanta for many years. Larry and Cory have represented clients in traffic court who were charged with speeding, super speeding, reckless driving, and even DUI. (404) 567-5515.

How Long Do Points Stay on Your License in GA?

Points in Georgia remain on your driving record for 2 years (24 months) from the date of conviction. Each violation’s points are counted and expire individually, so if you received 3 points on August 11, 2025, they’ll be gone by August 11, 2027. However, the underlying offense may stay on your record for insurance purposes for up to seven years.

Insurance companies often review your entire driving history for three or more years, which means you might see rate impacts even after points expire. Defensive driving courses can reduce your points sooner, but only once every five years.

Call Atlanta traffic lawyers Cory Yager and Larry Kohn at (404) 567-5515 to set up a free attorney consultation at one of our law office locations.

Consequences of Accumulating Too Many Points in Georgia in 2026

The consequences of accumulating too many points on your Georgia driver’s license are significant and include:

License Suspension: If you accumulate 15 or more points within any 24-month period (for drivers age 21 and over), your license will be suspended. For drivers under 21, accumulating just 4 points from a single offense can trigger an automatic suspension.

Restricted Driving Privileges: Upon license suspension, you lose your driving privileges until the suspension period ends. For first and second suspensions, Georgia allows a limited driving permit for certain purposes like work, school, medical appointments, and court-ordered courses. After a third suspension within five years, no permit is issued, and suspension periods can last up to two years.

Increased Insurance Premiums: Insurance companies view drivers with many points as high-risk, resulting in higher premiums or difficulty obtaining coverage.

Financial and Legal Burdens: License reinstatement often requires paying fees, completing defensive driving courses, and meeting court requirements. Failure to comply can extend suspensions or lead to additional penalties.

Employment Impact: A suspended license can affect employment, especially if driving is part of your job responsibilities.

To mitigate these consequences, Georgia allows drivers to reduce their point total by up to 7 points once every five years by completing a state-approved defensive driving course. Also, points remain on your record for two years, so avoiding further violations lets older points fall off naturally.

If you face the risk of suspension, it’s advisable to consult a qualified traffic attorney to explore options such as contesting tickets or negotiating reduced charges to avoid excessive points.

How Does a Lawyer Help Reduce or Dismiss My Traffic Ticket?

A Kohn & Yager criminal defense lawyer can help reduce or dismiss your Georgia traffic ticket in several key ways:

• Review the citation thoroughly: They look for police errors, inconsistencies, or violations of your rights in the way the ticket was issued, which can be grounds to challenge or dismiss the ticket. For example, mistakes in the ticket details or improper procedure during the traffic stop can weaken the prosecution’s case.
• Negotiate with prosecutors: Experienced attorneys often negotiate to reduce charges to lesser offenses or arrange for alternatives like defensive driving courses, which can lead to fewer or no points on your license and lower fines. They act as your advocate to find the best outcome, including possible dismissal or reduced penalties.
• Court representation: If your case goes to court, a lawyer can represent you, present defenses clearly, question the evidence, and protect your rights. Having professional representation often results in more favorable outcomes compared to self-representation.
• Identify procedural defects and challenge evidence: Lawyers scrutinize the evidence supporting the ticket—questioning measurement devices or officer observations—and raise issues such as improper calibration of speed radars or lack of clear signage, which can lead to dismissal.
• Help reduce insurance and license impact: By minimizing points on your driving record and contesting or reducing charges, lawyers help protect you from license suspension and increased insurance premiums.
• Provide timely legal advice and filing: They ensure all deadlines are met and appeals or challenges are properly filed, which is crucial to avoid losing your chance to fight the citation.

In summary, a traffic lawyer uses expertise to either get your ticket dismissed outright or substantially reduce the charges and penalties, helping you avoid points, fees, and longer-term consequences. Consulting qualified Georgia traffic attorneys Larry Kohn and Cory Yager early increases your chances for a positive resolution. Call (404) 567-5515 to speak with Larry or Cory about your pending traffic violation case. They offer free legal advice Atlanta GA.

Overall, accumulating too many points can disrupt your mobility, increase costs, and complicate your legal and financial situation in Georgia. Being proactive about managing points and seeking legal help can protect your driving privileges.

Stay proactive and monitor your driving record online, resolve tickets quickly, and consult legal professionals to minimize penalties.

Protect your driving record and insurance costs by staying informed, acting proactively, and seeking expert advice when you receive a citation. For further support in fighting tickets or reducing your points, reach out to the best Atlanta traffic ticket lawyers, Larry Kohn and Cory Yager. We offer a free consultation. Call (404) 567-5515 anytime day or night and we will answer.

The rule comes from Georgia's impeding traffic law. The statute says no person shall drive a motor vehicle at such a slow speed as to impede the normal and reasonable movement of traffic. A 2014 amendment added the left-lane duty that Georgia drivers now call the slow poke law. That change requires a driver in the leftmost lane to move over when a faster vehicle approaches from behind.

Officers write these tickets across the state, but enforcement concentrates on the busy metro corridors: I-285, I-85, I-75, and Georgia 400. A conviction brings a fine, points on your license, and a misdemeanor record. Kohn & Yager LLC has defended Georgia traffic and misdemeanor charges in Atlanta-area courts for more than 25 years, and these cases are often more contestable than drivers assume.

When Driving Slowly in the Left Lane Is Legal

The statute itself builds in flexibility. A reduced speed for safe operation is permitted when that speed is necessary for safe operation. That single phrase is the legal hook behind nearly every exception below. If your slower speed served safety or followed the law, you were not impeding traffic.

Traffic congestion. When every lane is backed up, you cannot move right into a gap that does not exist. You would need to show the traffic volume at the time, which is why the location and the hour of the stop matter.

Inclement weather, obstructions, or hazards. Rain, ice, fog, debris, and crash scenes all justify slowing down. Weather records and photos of the roadway help support this.

Compliance with an official traffic control device. If a signal, sign, or work-zone marker set your speed, you were following the law, not breaking it. Point to the specific device and where it stood.

Exiting or turning left. Drivers may use the left lane to reach an exit or complete a left turn. You would need to show that the turn or exit was close enough to make the lane choice reasonable.

Toll payment. On toll highways, drivers may stay left when they need to pay a toll or use a pass. The exception exists because the toll infrastructure forces the lane position.

Authorized emergency vehicles. Officers, medics, and firefighters performing official duties are exempt, since their work often requires slow or stopped travel.

Highway maintenance and construction vehicles. Crews working on the road cannot keep pace with traffic, so the law carves them out.

These exceptions are not automatic. The officer may still write the citation, and the court decides whether the reduced speed was necessary. That is why the details of the stop matter so much.

Fines and Penalties for an Impeding Traffic Ticket in Georgia

Georgia sets no separate penalty inside the impeding statute. Georgia's traffic penalties supply it instead. That statute makes most traffic offenses misdemeanors and caps the fine at $1,000. The ceiling is the number drivers hear about, but few first-time defendants pay anything close to it.

In practice, the base fine that Georgia municipal and county courts set for a first impeding traffic citation runs well below the maximum. The printed amount is only the starting point. Georgia adds mandatory state surcharges to every traffic fine, and local courts add their own costs on top. Together those add-ons can push the assessed total far past the number on the ticket. The final figure depends on the court named on the citation, so two drivers stopped on the same stretch of I-285 may owe different amounts.

The money is often the smallest part of the problem. A conviction adds 3 points to your record through the Georgia Department of Driver Services. Insurers treat a points-bearing moving violation as a risk signal. The surcharge that follows may cost more over three years than the fine and court costs combined, though the effect depends on your insurer and your driving history.

A ticket for impeding traffic also produces a misdemeanor conviction. It is a traffic misdemeanor, not a felony, but it can still surface on a criminal history check. That matters for drivers who hold a commercial license, drive for a living, or expect a background screening.

Ignoring the ticket makes all of this worse. Missing the court date can trigger a failure-to-appear, and the state may suspend your license until you clear it. Late payment can add its own penalties, again depending on the court.

None of these numbers are fixed. Actual fines, court costs, license consequences, and insurance effects vary by the court, the driver's record, and the insurance company involved.

What to Do After You Get an Impeding Traffic Citation

Start by reading the citation closely. It names the court, sets an appearance date, and shows whether the officer checked the box waiving your appearance. Those three details drive everything that follows.

Understand what paying does. Paying the ticket online or by mail is a guilty plea. It closes the case, but it also triggers the 3 points, the misdemeanor conviction, and the insurance surcharge. Paying is not a way to make the charge disappear.

Watch the deadline. The court date on the citation is real, and skipping it can lead to a failure-to-appear and a license suspension. If you plan to contest the charge, act well before that date.

Know what contesting involves. You enter a not-guilty plea with the municipal or county court listed on the ticket, and the court sets a hearing. At that hearing, the officer testifies about what he or she saw. In most impeding traffic cases, that testimony is the entire case. There is no radar reading and no calibration record, only an officer's judgment about whether other vehicles were actually slowed. That makes these citations more contestable than drivers expect.

Preserve evidence right away. Dashcam footage often overwrites itself within weeks. Save the file, note the exact time and mile marker, pull weather records for that day, and write down the names of any passengers. Traffic camera and construction records may also help, but they do not stay available forever.

Write down your own account while it is fresh. Note the weather, the number of lanes, whether traffic was heavy, where the officer first appeared behind you, and what the officer said at the window. Memory fades fast, and a contemporaneous note carries more weight months later than a recollection built after the fact.

Outcomes vary by court and by the facts of the stop. A criminal defense attorney can review the citation and explain what your specific court typically does with these charges.

Does an Impeding Traffic Conviction Add Points to Your License?

Yes, an impeding the flow of traffic conviction carries 3 points. For drivers under 21 years of age, accumulating 4 or more points within a 24-month period leads to an automatic license suspension. A single conviction would put such a driver one point away from suspension if they already have one other violation. For drivers 21 and over, accumulating 15 points within a 24-month period results in a license suspension, and this conviction moves the driver closer to that threshold.

Points also raise insurance costs. Insurance companies view drivers with points as higher risks and often increase rates. Points can create other indirect problems too, including difficulty getting coverage and a requirement to take driver education courses. If the state suspends your license over accumulated points, you must go through reinstatement, which takes time and money. Repeat offenses or additional points can lead to longer suspensions or even revocation.

Points do not stay forever. They fall off the record two years after the violation date, so the running total looks at a rolling 24-month window. Georgia also lets a driver petition to reduce points by completing a certified defensive driving course, though the state limits how often a driver may use that relief. Eligibility depends on your driving history and, in some cases, on the court.

The stakes rise sharply for some drivers. A commercial driver may face disqualification consequences that a standard license holder never sees, and a driver on a restricted or probationary permit may lose limited driving privileges entirely. For a driver under 21, one conviction is disproportionately dangerous, since a single prior violation already puts them at the suspension line.

Defenses to an Impeding Traffic Charge in Georgia

Because the statute allows reduced speed when necessary for safe operation, most defenses aim at that language. Here are the arguments you and your lawyer may discuss.

Your speed matched the road and weather conditions. Wet pavement, heavy traffic, fog, or ice can make a slower speed the safe choice. Weather records and photographs support this.

You followed an official traffic control device. If a signal, a posted advisory speed, or a work-zone sign set your pace, you were obeying the law rather than breaking it.

You slowed to avoid a hazard or obstruction. Construction zones, crash scenes, and debris all require caution. Reducing speed there is reasonable driving.

You kept a safe following distance. In heavy traffic or reduced visibility, backing off the car ahead is exactly what a careful driver does.

You reacted to an emergency. Slowing for an emergency vehicle, a pedestrian, or an animal in the roadway is a legitimate reason to drop your speed.

You were in the left lane for a lawful reason. Preparing to turn left, taking a left exit, or passing slower traffic on the right all permit left-lane travel, as long as you return right when it is safe.

No traffic was actually impeded. The officer must be able to describe vehicles that slowed, braked, or changed lanes because of you. Observing a slow car is not the same as observing impeded traffic. If the road behind you was empty, this core element may fail.

The lane configuration did not trigger the duty. The left-lane rule applies only where two or more lanes travel in the same direction. On a road with one lane each way, that duty does not apply.

Evidence strengthens all of these points. Consider presenting records or expert testimony that supports your account. A traffic engineer or safety expert may be able to testify that your speed was reasonable given the conditions, which can turn a credibility contest into a factual one.

Is Impeding Traffic a Crime or a Moving Violation?

Is impeding traffic illegal in Georgia, or is it just poor road manners? It is illegal. A violation of Georgia's impeding traffic law is a misdemeanor under Georgia's traffic penalties.

That classification answers the question drivers ask most often. When people ask is impeding traffic a crime, the technical answer is yes. A misdemeanor is a criminal offense, and a conviction can appear on a criminal history. It is not a civil infraction the way a parking ticket is. Parking tickets are handled administratively and never create a criminal record.

The moving violation label is different but also applies. The charge is a moving violation because the vehicle was in motion when the offense occurred. That is why the Department of Driver Services assesses 3 points and why insurers surcharge for it. Non-moving violations, such as equipment defects and parking tickets, carry no points and rarely affect insurance.

So both labels are correct at once. The charge is a misdemeanor criminal offense and a moving violation, and each label explains a different consequence. One creates the record, the other creates the points.

The label also shapes how a conviction follows you. A moving violation reaches your driving record and your insurance. A misdemeanor reaches background checks that employers, licensing boards, and landlords may run. One citation can produce both results at the same time, which is why drivers who would shrug off a parking ticket should take this charge seriously.

Because it is a misdemeanor, you have the right to contest it in the municipal or county court that issued it rather than simply paying. How a specific court handles the charge may depend on the jurisdiction, the officer's citation, and the facts of the stop.

Georgia's Left Lane Law Explained

The Georgia left lane law lives in the state's left-lane rule. It says a driver in the leftmost lane must move over when a faster vehicle approaches from behind. Some drivers call it the GA left lane law, and most people mean this rule when they say slow poke law.

The trigger is the other vehicle, not your speedometer. The duty arises when an overtaking vehicle comes up behind you. It does not depend on how your speed compares to the posted limit.

That surprises many drivers. Traveling at the speed limit is not a defense. Traveling above it is not a defense either. If a faster vehicle approached and you stayed left, the duty applied. The other driver's speeding does not excuse a failure to yield the passing lane, and officers along I-285 and Georgia 400 write these citations regularly on that basis.

The rule applies only on roadways with two or more lanes traveling in the same direction. It does not apply on a standard road with one lane each way, and high occupancy vehicle lanes are treated separately.

The practical takeaway is simple. Use the left lane to pass, to turn left, or to exit left, then return to the right lane when it is safe. Georgia lawmakers added this duty in 2014 to smooth traffic flow and reduce the lane-weaving that causes crashes.

Impeding Traffic Versus a Speeding Ticket

Both charges are misdemeanor moving violations, and both add points. The point totals differ. Speeding points scale with how far over the limit you were, ranging from none at the low end up to 6 points at the high end. Impeding traffic carries a flat 3 points no matter how slow you were driving.

The evidence differs even more. A speeding case usually turns on a device: radar, laser, or pacing, plus calibration and training records. Those records either exist or they do not. An impeding traffic case turns on the officer's subjective judgment about whether traffic was actually impeded. That difference often gives the defense better material, because judgment is easier to question than a calibrated instrument.

Insurance treats the two differently in practice. Insurers know exactly what to do with a speeding conviction. Impeding traffic is less familiar to them, but it is still a surcharged moving violation on your record.

Officers sometimes write an impeding traffic charge in place of a more serious one, and sometimes write both from the same stop. Georgia also bans lane splitting, which prohibits a motorcyclist from riding between lanes of stopped or slowed traffic. Drivers often confuse the two rules, but lane splitting is its own offense and is not legal in Georgia.

How Our Firm Handles Impeding Traffic Cases

Kohn & Yager LLC has handled Georgia traffic and misdemeanor cases for more than 25 years. Larry Kohn and Cory Yager appear regularly in the municipal and county courts along the I-285, I-85, I-75, and Georgia 400 corridors, where slow poke enforcement concentrates.

That familiarity matters because these courts are not interchangeable. Some prosecutors will discuss a reduction to a non-points offense for a driver with a clean record. Others take a harder line and set the case for a bench trial. Knowing which court you are in shapes the strategy from the first phone call.

We start with the citation and the scene. Where was the stop, how many lanes ran in that direction, and what did traffic look like at that hour? A common pattern involves a driver cited on I-285 during heavy congestion who had no safe opening to move right. Another involves a driver ticketed at or above the posted limit who assumed that speed alone answered the charge.

From there, the judgment call is practical. Some cases are worth trying, because the officer cannot describe any vehicle that was actually slowed. Others are better resolved through a negotiated reduction that keeps points off the license. We do not promise a result in either direction. What we can do is review the facts and explain the realistic range of outcomes in your court.

Talk to an Impeding Traffic Lawyer in Atlanta

An impeding traffic citation rests on one officer's judgment about traffic conditions, which makes it more contestable than most drivers assume. Talking to an impeding traffic lawyer early gives you the clearest view of your options.

Timing matters. The court date on your citation sets a real deadline, and dashcam footage can overwrite itself within weeks. Weather and traffic records become harder to pull as time passes.

A consultation with Kohn & Yager LLC is free. We review the citation, the location, the lane configuration, and what traffic was doing when the officer stopped you. On a first call, we walk through the charge, the points at stake, and what your specific court typically does with these cases. Depending on the facts, a dismissal, a reduction, or a trial may be worth pursuing.

Frequently Asked Questions About Impeding Traffic in Georgia

Can I be charged with impeding traffic if I was driving the speed limit?

Yes, if you were in the left lane and not actively passing other vehicles or preparing to turn left. The left-lane duty is triggered by a faster vehicle approaching from behind, so your speed relative to the posted limit does not settle the question.

Is impeding traffic a moving violation in Georgia?

Yes. Drivers frequently ask is impeding traffic a moving violation, and it is, because the vehicle was in motion. That is why the charge carries the 3 license points described above and why insurers surcharge for it.

How much is the fine for an impeding traffic citation in Georgia?

The statutory maximum is $1,000 under Georgia's traffic penalties, but most first-time base fines are far lower. State surcharges and local court costs can raise the total well beyond the printed amount, and the final figure depends on the court named on your ticket.

Is impeding traffic a crime or just a ticket?

It is both. The charge is a misdemeanor under Georgia law, so a conviction can appear on a criminal history, even though officers issue and courts resolve it like an ordinary traffic ticket.

Is lane splitting legal in Georgia?

No. Lane splitting is prohibited for motorcyclists riding between lanes of stopped or slowed traffic. It is a separate offense from impeding traffic, though drivers often confuse the two.

What should I do if I am pulled over for impeding traffic?

Remain calm, be polite, and avoid admitting guilt. Then follow the steps in the section above on responding to a citation, and contact an experienced attorney before your court date.

The City of Smyrna Municipal Court House is located in Smyrna, Georgia 30080, at 2800 King Street. This is the same building that houses City Hall, so don’t think that you are in the wrong place.

(Photo of the Smyrna Court House shown below)

5 Frequently Asked Questions About the Municipal Court for the City of Smyrna GA

1. If my case was a car accident case with property damage but no injuries, should I call my insurance company first, or talk to a lawyer? Also, don’t just pay any ticket involving the accident, because this can act as an admission of guilt.

Since you can get an initial, free consultation with a skilled lawyer, it may be best to speak to private legal counsel first for both the auto accident and for any injury cases, where civil liability (i.e., for medical bills, pain, and suffering) may exist. Call today, 24 hours a day, to 404-567-5515, for the free, initial consultation.

1. If I want to obtain a jury trial, to which the City of Smyrna GA County would that case transfer be made to? That would be the Cobb County State Court, in downtown Marietta, GA.

Caution: Do not TRANSFER your case out of the Smyrna Court, thinking that you want a jury trial, or for delay purposes. That uninformed action, on your part, could be the WRONG move, in many cases.

People issued non-serious traffic citations by the Smyrna Police Department may pay them via the Internet. Those who face more serious charges (such as reckless driving, hit & run, aggressive driving, or driving under the influence (DUI) must appear in the Traffic Court for the City of Smyrna Georgia.

1. What hours is the Smyrna Traffic Court open? From 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. This number can be called for court date information, or if you lost your ticket, or to pay minor traffic tickets online: 770-431-2804

1. If I cannot afford a criminal lawyer, will one be appointed for me? Yes, that will happen. However, since your arraignment date, and be added to an upcoming Smyrna court docket usually will be beyond 30 days after arrest. Thus, you need to get some free legal advice on how to protect your driver’s license from an administrative license suspension. Feel free to call our criminal law firm ASAP, to learn how to avoid an implied consent suspension for up to 12 months!
2. What is the phone number of the Smyrna GA Police Department? For non-emergency calls and asking about police reports from officers with the Smyrna Police Department GA: 770-434-9481

Those who are taken into custody for a DUI in Smyrna after attending a Braves game or a restaurant at The Battery initially will be taken to the very small Smyrna GA jail. If not released or bonded out immediately from the Smyrna jail, your transfer to the Cobb County Detention Center may occur. If your family member is housed here, the inmate search tool may help you obtain more online information.

Those accused of a “mandatory appearance” crime in Smyrna Municipal Court are subject to possible harsh punishments. This can be lengthy probation, after some spending some jail time, and much more punishment.

In addition, it is common to have to perform community service hours, pay fines and court surcharges, plus possibly being subjected to random drug and alcohol testing are possible, while on probation. To guard your legal rights and best interests, it is wise to take advantage of our no-cost, initial consultation with an award-winning, highly trained criminal lawyer near me before appearing in court. Read more below.

More Basic Information About the Smyrna Municipal Court

The Clerk of Court can be contacted at 770-434-6600, while Judge Phyllis Gingrey Collins is in charge of the Traffic Court Division and Judge Joel Pugh presides over the Environmental Court Division. For traffic ticket charges, and other misdemeanor criminal violations and environmental code violations, local Cobb County attorney Tim Williams is the assigned Prosecutor.

Ms. Cardi McManus is the Smyrna Clerk of Court Administrator, but numerous other court clerks can assist you in that office. If your citation paperwork shows an “environmental” violation, these cases are set on a different date that traffic court cases.

Call Now for Your Free Consultation With a Georgia Criminal Lawyer

Cory Yager, a Cobb County DUI lawyer, began his work career by becoming a Cobb County police officer more than 25 years ago. During that time, he met many members of the Smyrna Georgia police Department as law enforcement officers handling cases in Cobb County Courts.

While with Cobb County PD, he investigated many Cobb County cases that began as a truck or car accident in Smyrna. Later, he transferred to Roswell Police Department, so that he could obtain a fixed police work schedule, which allowed him to attend law school.

Larry Kohn, a veteran criminal defense attorney in Smyrna, specializes in defending DUI, hit-and-run, and other misdemeanor traffic tickets in the Smyrna court. Mr. Kohn is co-author of The Georgia DUI Trial Practice Manual, the leading treatise for DUI attorneys in the Peach State. His two co-authors are his law partners, DUI book author William C. Head and Cory Yager.

All of our legal team members have received recognitions from lawyer ratings services like Super Lawyers, Martindale, Best Law Firms in America, and Best Lawyers in America. In addition, our car accident lawyers have collectively received over 700 AVVO 5-star client ratings. Dial our 24/365 phone number and shift this burden off your shoulders and onto ours. 404-567-5515!

#2. You can now elect to have an ignition interlock (IID) installed on your vehicle instead of filing for an appeal of your Georgia driver’s license suspension.

You only have 30 days after your first offence DUI arrest date to apply for an ignition interlock at your local Georgia Department of Driver Services (DDS) office but talk to an experienced DUI lawyer before taking this option.

Once your permit request is approved, you only have 10 days to then have the device installed at an authorized interlock device installation and monitoring company. If you choose the IID option, you waive your right to pursuing the suspension appeal.

#3. The day that you were arrested does not count towards the 30 days. For example, if you were arrested on a Wednesday, the first day that counts is Thursday. Again, you need to jump on this immediately. Not having a valid driver’s license while you fight your drunk driving charges is an added burden you do not need. You also have the option of installing an ignition interlock device on your vehicle. Ask us to help you decide which route to

#4. The appeal filing fee is $150 and is non-negotiable. This amount is set by the State. All Georgia DUI lawyers charge the same fee.  The payment is not made out to your attorney. It is paid directly to Georgia DDS and can be a personal check, money order or cashier’s check. No credit card payments are accepted, nor any online payment vendors like PayPal or BitCoin. are currently accepted by DDS. The filing paperwork and payment must be hand delivered to the Conyers, GA DDS headquarters, or mailed by the U.S. Postal Service with a return receipt requested and a date-stamped receipt for when the letter was sent out. You can use UPS or FedEX to deliver, but there must be detailed tracking and signature receipt.

#5. The Georgia DUI ALS appeal can arrive at the Conyers, GA DDS after the 10th day, as long as it was sent within the first 30 business days.

#6. Keep a copy of the appeal paperwork and proof of payment in your car at all times, along with your Form 1205 temporary permit in case you get pulled over by the police. Use these documents as your driver’s license.

#7. Most GA ALS hearings take place within 60 days of receipt of your paperwork, and they are held in a civil court that is not the same as your assigned criminal court. Your Georgia DUI attorney’s office will send you an email with the name and location of this court, and the date and time. Our attorney will be there with you.

#8. An ALS hearing is not as involved as your criminal case hearings. They are over much more quickly and legal arguments are kept to a minimum. But don’t take this hearing lightly. Your ability to drive for up to a year is at stake.

#9. The DDS may offer hearing notices and their final decision online instead of through the mail.

#10. Your attorney likely will obtain a transcript of the hearing to use later in your criminal case. ALS hearings are tape recorded, but these recordings are often not easy to hear. Our veteran DUI attorneys prefer to bring in their own court reporter (whose services you retain) to create a full and accurate record. This transcript can be used for possible impeachment purposes during your criminal case.