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Cumming/Forsyth County
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Commerce/Jackson County
Can you even get a DUI while riding a bicycle in Georgia? Yes! We serve clients throughout Gwinnett County, Forsyth County, Hall County, Barrow County, Jackson County, and Dawson County.
In Georgia, riding a bicycle while under the influence of alcohol is a crime. Bicycles are considered moving vehicles for Georgia’s DUI laws, so riding a bicycle while intoxicated is no joke. Law enforcement officers in our state have the authority to arrest you for cycling under the influence of alcohol (DUI).
Bicycle DUI arrests often occur on college campuses when students attempt to ride their bike home from parties while intoxicated. As bicycling grows in popularity in various counties around Atlanta, law enforcement officers may begin making more bicycle-related DUI arrests.
If you’re facing a bicycle DUI charge, the DUI attorneys at Banks, Stubbs & McFarland LLP can help. Our law firm focuses entirely on representing clients who face DUI charges. We pride ourselves on vigorously fighting for our client’s rights.
Our attorneys formerly prosecuted DUI charges and have an inside understanding of DUI trials. The consequences of a bicycle DUI conviction can be severe. Our law firm is open 24 hours a day. If you’re facing a bicycle DUI charge, contact our law firm today to schedule your free initial consultation.
Georgia’s DUI law extends to bicycling while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Georgia law prohibits drivers from driving or being in actual physical control of any moving vehicle when one or more of the following circumstances occur:
It is worth noting that Georgia courts have ruled that a bicycle is considered a moving vehicle because the state’s DUI law does not refer to motor vehicles; the statute refers to moving vehicles. Thus, the motorization of the vehicle is not a requirement for making a DUI arrest. A corresponding Georgia statute defines moving vehicles as any device which transports a person or property upon a highway.
Since bicycles transport people on highways, they meet the statutory definition of moving vehicles. The Court extended the scope of Georgia’s DUI statute beyond highways, determining that the law applies throughout the entire state of Georgia. Thus, bicyclists face the same DUI charges as motor vehicle drivers who drive while under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
While Georgia’s DUI laws apply to bicycles and motor vehicles, the penalties of a bicycle-related DUI are less severe. The penalties that motor vehicle operators face when convicted of a Georgia DUI do not apply to bicyclists convicted of a DUI. Georgia courts treat a bicycle DUI conviction as an ordinary misdemeanor offense. Those convicted of a DUI in a motor vehicle face penalties related to the suspension or revocation of their driving license. However, courts will not impose driver’s license penalties on defendants convicted of a bicycle-related DUI.
Georgia misdemeanor offenses are punishable by fines of up to $1,000 and possible jail time lasting 12 months or less. Judges in Georgia rarely impose maximum penalties on defendants convicted of misdemeanors. A conviction of bicycling while under the influence of drugs or alcohol could easily result in probation. Individuals on probation must not violate any other laws. They must maintain contact with their probation officer and inform them of any phone or address changes.
In drug-related convictions, defendants must obtain a chemical assessment and follow the assessor’s recommendations during probation. Sometimes assessors recommend treatment for chemical dependency. The assessor will recommend an outpatient treatment program, or, in severe cases, time in an inpatient facility. Finally, the court may order a bicycle DUI defendant to participate in a DUI Alcohol or Drug Risk Reduction Program. Georgia’s Department of Driver Services manages these 20-hour classes. Attendees must take the classes in the evening or attend a weekend program that lasts two days. Attendees must pay for the class and complete all assignments.
A misdemeanor conviction is not a simple traffic offense; it’s a criminal conviction. A bicycling DUI conviction will remain on an individual’s criminal record and have a negative effect. Those convicted of bicycling while under the influence must answer in the affirmative when asked if they have a criminal record on job applications. Georgia courts can expunge a DUI conviction, but they rarely do so.
At Banks, Stubbs & McFarland LLP, we focus exclusively on representing clients charged with DUI offenses. Our clients benefit from our vast DUI defense experience. We know all of the most persuasive and effective defenses to DUI charges, such as:
Prosecutors must prove all of the elements of a DUI crime beyond a reasonable doubt to secure a criminal conviction. Proving a DUI in court can be challenging, particularly when law enforcement officers incorrectly administer tests for alcohol concentration in some cases. Our experienced DUI attorneys understand how to poke holes in the prosecution’s DUI cases in an attempt to secure a dismissal or not-guilty verdict.
We are located in Suwanee Georgia, but we defend clients throughout Gwinnett County, Forsyth County, Hall County, Barrow County, Jackson County, and Dawson County. Contact our Suwanee law firm as soon as possible to learn how we advocate for your best interests.