How Much Is a DUI Fine in Georgia?

DUI Fine Amounts by Offense Level

Georgia counts prior DUI convictions using the dates of arrest within a ten-year window, a rule separate from the driver's license point system that governs your license. An older conviction may or may not elevate your current charge, depending on when those arrests happened. That timing detail can move the entire fine range. A drunk driving conviction works differently from an ordinary ticket, and our guide to the DUI point system explains why no license points attach to the charge and what lands on your driving record instead. First, second, and third offenses are misdemeanors or high and aggravated misdemeanors. A fourth DUI within ten years is a felony under Georgia's DUI statute. Each step up raises both the floor and the ceiling of the fine range.

First and Second DUI Convictions

A first DUI conviction generally carries a fine of $300 to $1,000 before surcharges. A second conviction within the ten-year lookback period generally carries $600 to $1,000, again before surcharges. The fine never travels alone. A first offense carries a jail range that starts at ten days, and a judge may suspend all of it. One exception matters. If the reading was 0.08 grams or more, the judge may suspend all but 24 hours. Courts also order at least 40 hours of community service and a DUI Alcohol or Drug Use Risk Reduction Program. The lower 20-hour figure applies only to a driver under 21 sentenced under the zero tolerance subsection with a reading below 0.08. A clinical evaluation is part of a first offense too, though the court may waive it. A second offense requires that evaluation, along with any treatment it recommends. It also carries 90 days to 12 months in jail, with at least 72 hours actually served. Judges rarely impose the statutory minimum in isolation. Across metro Atlanta and the surrounding counties, fine amounts within the range tend to move with BAC level and prior record. Plea negotiations also influence where in that range the number finally lands.

Third and Fourth DUI Convictions

A third DUI within ten years is a high and aggravated misdemeanor. The fine runs from $1,000 to $5,000. The jail term is a mandatory 120 days to 12 months, with at least 15 days actually served. A fourth offense within ten years is a felony, with a similar $1,000 to $5,000 range and a prison term of one to five years. A judge may suspend or probate all but 90 days of that term. Only convictions entered on or after July 1, 2008 count toward that fourth-offense felony. The escalation goes well past money. Drivers may face habitual violator status and license revocation. Georgia law also requires the clerk of court to publish a notice of conviction, carrying the arrest photograph and the person's name, in the county legal organ. That duty begins at the second conviction within five years, not the third. The person convicted is assessed $25 for the cost of that notice. At these levels, the fine is often the smallest financial consequence, and our guide to the full set of Georgia DUI fine and sentencing consequences covers what else the sentence carries. Lost income and long-term insurance costs usually dwarf whatever the court collects.

Surcharges That Increase Your DUI Fine

Here is the most misunderstood part of the question. Georgia adds statutory surcharges on top of the base fine. Under the state surcharge laws, those add-ons roughly double the amount owed. The surcharges fund specific state and county programs. They include the Peace Officers' Annuity and Benefit Fund, the Brain and Spinal Injury Trust Fund, and the Crime Victims Emergency Fund. Jail fund surcharges may apply as well, and every DUI fine also carries a drug abuse treatment add-on equal to 50 percent of the fine.

To illustrate how quickly surcharges add up, consider a first DUI conviction where the judge imposes a $500 base fine. Some surcharges are flat dollar amounts while others are calculated as a percentage of the base fine. Under the state surcharge laws, a $500 base fine comes to about $1,016 owed, or about $1,066 where a county jail-fund surcharge applies. On a $1,000 base fine, the total comes to about $1,956, or about $2,056 with a jail-fund surcharge. The exact multiplier varies by county because each jurisdiction may assess slightly different combinations of flat and percentage-based surcharges.

Surcharge math varies by county and by the base fine imposed, so no single total fits every case. Clients in Georgia state and probate courts are often surprised that surcharges nearly double the figure quoted at sentencing. Confirm your exact amount with the clerk of the sentencing court. Clerks also handle payment plan requests, and those requests generally go more smoothly when made promptly rather than after a due date passes.

Costs Beyond the Fine: The Real Price of a Georgia DUI

Most people asking about a fine really want the total cost. The categories below are typical ranges only. Amounts change over time and vary by county and by provider. License reinstatement fees. The Georgia Department of Driver Services charges a reinstatement fee before it restores driving privileges. Risk Reduction Program. The DUI Alcohol or Drug Use Risk Reduction Program includes an assessment and a 20-hour course. Each carries its own fee. Clinical evaluation and treatment. Second and later offenses require a clinical evaluation. Any recommended treatment costs extra and may run for months. Ignition interlock device. A second conviction within five years requires an ignition interlock device for one year before license reinstatement, unless waived for financial hardship. Drivers pay for installation plus monthly monitoring for the length of the order. Probation supervision fees. Most DUI sentences include probation, billed as a monthly supervision fee. Bail bond costs. A bond premium paid to a bonding company is generally nonrefundable. Towing and impound. These fees accrue daily until someone releases the vehicle. SR-22 high-risk auto insurance. This filing can keep premiums elevated for years after the case closes. A DUI conviction also carries license suspension consequences that run on their own track through the Department of Driver Services. Lost wages often exceed every court-imposed cost combined. Court dates, jail time, and a suspended license all cut into your ability to earn.

DWI vs. DUI Fines: Why the Terms Differ by State

Readers searching "how much is a DWI fine" who land on this page from a Georgia search are usually asking about the same conduct Georgia prosecutes as DUI. Georgia does not use the DWI label. Under Georgia law, driving under the influence is the offense, and the fine for a first conviction runs $300 to $1,000 before surcharges. A fourth offense within ten years can carry up to $5,000.

"DWI" – short for driving while intoxicated – is the term used in states like Texas, New York, New Jersey, and Missouri. Fine ranges differ meaningfully across state lines. A first-offense DWI fine in Texas can reach $2,000, or $4,000 if the reading was 0.15 or more. In New York, a first DWI conviction carries a fine of $500 to $1,000. New Jersey sets its first-offense range at $250 to $500, depending on the reading. Georgia's $300 to $1,000 DUI range falls in the middle. These figures change as legislatures update their codes, so readers facing an out-of-state charge should confirm the current numbers with an attorney in the charging state.

If the arrest happened in Georgia, the DUI fine figures in the rest of this article apply to your case. Readers who want what DUI stands for will find the terms sorted out there. One detail matters for drivers with history in another state. A DWI or equivalent conviction from another jurisdiction may still count as a prior offense in Georgia. That can push a Georgia case into second- or third-offense fine tiers – $600 to $1,000 or $1,000 to $5,000 – even if the earlier arrest happened elsewhere. Commercial drivers and drivers under 21 also face separate, stricter BAC thresholds and consequences.

Speak With a Georgia DUI Defense Attorney

The fine is only one part of a case that may be open to challenge. A defense attorney can question the traffic stop, the field sobriety testing, or the breath test result. These cases often turn on whether the officer followed proper procedure. Where the facts support it, a lawyer may negotiate a reduction to reckless driving, which removes the DUI fine structure entirely. At sentencing, counsel can argue for the low end of the statutory range and request a payment plan the court will accept. Timing matters. You generally have 30 days from the notice of suspension, plus a $150 filing fee, to request an administrative license hearing. Missing that deadline can cost you your license before the criminal case is ever resolved. Kohn & Yager LLC defends DUI cases in Georgia courts and follows how local sentencing practices and clerk procedures differ from county to county. No attorney can guarantee a particular fine, sentence, or case outcome. Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome, and every case depends on its specific facts. Call for a free consultation. The first conversation covers your arrest, your testing history, your prior record, the deadlines you face, and a realistic view of what your case may cost.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Much Is a DUI Fine for a First Offense in Georgia?

Readers who ask how much is the fine for DUI in Georgia are asking about this range. A first DUI conviction generally carries a statutory fine of $300 to $1,000 under Georgia's DUI statute. Surcharges raise the total well above that figure. The exact amount depends on your BAC, the county, and the sentence the judge imposes.

Do Surcharges Get Added on Top of a Georgia DUI Fine?

Yes. Georgia adds statutory surcharges that roughly double the amount owed. They fund programs such as the Peace Officers' Annuity and Benefit Fund and the Brain and Spinal Injury Trust Fund. Ask the clerk of the sentencing court for your exact total.

What Happens if You Cannot Pay Your DUI Fine in Georgia?

Courts may allow a payment plan, and many clerks handle these requests routinely when a defendant asks early. Ignoring the balance is the real risk. Nonpayment may lead to a probation violation, added fees, or a bench warrant, so tell the court before a due date passes.

How Much Is a DWI Fine Compared to a Georgia DUI Fine?

A DWI fine in states that use that label typically ranges from roughly $250 to $4,000 for a first offense, depending on the state. A Georgia DUI first-offense fine runs $300 to $1,000 before surcharges. Georgia does not charge the offense as DWI – it prosecutes the same conduct as DUI under Georgia law's driving under the influence statute. An out-of-state DWI conviction may count as a prior offense if a Georgia DUI arrest follows. That can push a Georgia case into second-offense fine tiers of $600 to $1,000, or third-offense tiers of $1,000 to $5,000.

Can a Georgia DUI Fine Be Reduced or Waived?

Judges cannot waive a DUI fine outright, but may impose the statutory minimum and suspend up to half of it if the defendant undergoes substance abuse treatment. The more effective path is usually challenging the case itself or negotiating a reduced charge where the evidence supports it. An attorney can review whether either option is realistic for your situation.