Georgia Drug Offenses
Have you been charged with a drug offense? Do you value your driver’s license? If so, you need to understand that the charges against you may drastically change your life. With a drug conviction, you may lose your driver’s license for a long period of time. This is of course in addition to fines, fees, jail-time and many other consequences.
In Georgia, you may face a drug charge if you possess a controlled substance, distribute that substance, grow or make the drug. The severity of the offense may depend on the amount involved and the class of the drug according to the Controlled Substances Act.
Actual and Constructive Drug Possession
Under Georgia law, police can arrest you for possession of drugs in one of two ways. First, they may find the drugs on your person. This is called actual possession, meaning they found substances in your pockets, wallet, purse, socks, etc. They may also find drugs somewhere on your property such as in your home or car. This is known as constructive possession.
Sometimes police may also see someone throw something on the street or from a car while they are being followed. If the police find this substance and determine it was drugs, you can be arrested for drug possession even though you didn’t have them on you at the time of your arrest.
How long will my driver’s license be taken away?
In almost every case involving a drug conviction, the defendant’s license will be suspended for a minimum of 180 days. After which the individual may apply for license reinstatement. Fees and education courses may be required. Many convictions within 5 years may result in a 3 to 5 year license suspension with the potential for reinstatement after 1 to 3 years.
Is there any way to avoid conviction?
The HTW&W Law Office handles drug cases every day and is known for not accepting guilty as a plea. As the largest and most awarded criminal defense firm in Georgia, in addition to being a member of the Better Business Bureau, you can trust them with your case.
