There is not just one legal blood alcohol limit in Georgia, but three. Different categories of drivers are governed by different limits, and exceeding the applicable limit can lead to a drunk driving arrest. The court can presume that a driver was illegally impaired because they violated the limit.
The first limit is a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08%. In most cases, if you ask someone in Georgia what the legal limit is, this is what they are going to tell you. It is the most widely known limit, and it does apply to the largest category of drivers. It is also significantly higher than the other two limits.
Commercial drivers
For a commercial driver, such as someone who professionally drives a semi-truck for a living, the legal limit is cut in half. They need to keep their BAC under 0.04%. The ramifications of a drunk driving conviction can also be severe because someone who loses their commercial driver’s license (CDL) can effectively lose their entire career.
Underage drivers
For teenage drivers or anyone under 21, the limit is cut in half yet again. This is known as a zero-tolerance law, and it stipulates that the limit for underage drivers is just 0.02%. After all, if someone is under 21, it is illegal for them to drink alcohol to begin with. This limit leads to many arrests for college students and even high school students.
What are your legal defense options?
If you have been accused of violating one of these legal limits, you could be in danger of incarceration, losing your driver’s license and facing substantial financial fines. It is important to understand exactly what legal defense options you have available. Seeking legal guidance is a good way to get started.
