Question: I got some DUI's in other states. I was arrested for DUI in Florida, Alabama & Tennessee. I was going through a bad time in my life with a divorce and a bankruptcy. That all happened 5 to 10 years ago. In one DUI I got into an accident. All involved prescription drugs, some pot and alcohol. But those days are behind me. I recently got arrested for DUI here in Georgia. I was coming back from a concert and stopped at a bar to watch sports on ESPN. Can Georgia use those old DUI situations against me even though they happened in another state? I am worried that the prosecutor is going to see that I was arrested for DUI before and is going to want to punish me more.
Answer: Yes, pursuant to Georgia law those other instances of DUI can be utilized against you for sentencing purposes. In other words, the punishments that a Georgia court can give you can be increased, sometimes dramatically, because of DUI's in other states. Things like jail time, fines and community service can be greater with other DUI's on your record, even if those DUI's are from other states like Tennessee, Florida and Alabama and even if they occurred years ago.
Please call The Sherman Law Group at 678-215-4106 so that we can answer any questions you may have about a Georgia DUI charge.