Does Traffic Offenses in Atlanta Attract Jail Sentences?
All traffic offenses are misdemeanors in Atalanta. These offenses are subject to a point system that could result in the suspension of a driver’s license in addition to the same penalties as other offenses unrelated to driving or traffic. Most traffic offenses only carry fines and points rather than jail time. The point system divides drivers into three age groups, each assigned a maximum number of points. The motorist runs the danger of having their license suspended if the maximum number of points is reached or surpassed within a specific time.
Categories of Traffic Offenses in Georgia
The three classes of driving offenses are petty offenses, misdemeanors, and felonies.
1. Petty Offenses
Petty offenses, known as infractions, are offenses of administrative rules, ordinances, municipal codes, and traffic laws. Most states do not treat minor infractions as crimes. Hence convictions for minor infractions result only in fines and never in jail.
2. Misdemeanor
Misdemeanors are non-indictable criminal offenses. Misdemeanors in Georgia can be simple offenses or aggravation misdemeanors.
3. Felonies
Felonies are more serious than misdemeanors because they typically include violence. Penalties for felonies can be severe and may consist of more than one year in jail, a fine exceeding $1,000, community service, probation, or other punishment the sentencing court deems appropriate.
Driving offenses that result in a mandatory suspension
- Driving when registration is either revoked, canceled, or suspended.
- Vehicular homicide.
- Hit-and-run or fleeing the scene of an accident.
- Street and highway racing.
Traffic offenses that generally result in the suspension
- Driving while intoxicated or drugged.
- Driving without insurance.
- Driving when your license is suspended.
Felony Driving Offenses
Felony driving involves violence of some kind. Serious harm by automobile and first-degree vehicular homicide are the two driving infractions that result in criminal prosecution.
You may be charged with severe harm by vehicle if, without intent, you operated your vehicle and the resulting injuries to another person were such that the person:
- Lost use of a part of the body
- Lost a portion of the body
- Suffered severe disfigurement
- Suffered brain injury that resulted in the loss of use of a body part.
Prison time for serious auto accidents is at least one year but not more than that fifteen years.