Page 22 - DDS Newsletter the Scoop June 2017

SB 176

The three major changes associated with SB 176 are as follows:

 First, in cases where a person has been accused of a traffic violation, issued a citation, and fails to appear in
court on their court date, SB 176 will require that the court notify the person by mail of the FTA and give them
30 days to respond. If there is no response, the court may then request that DDS suspend the license for FTA
(following existing DDS rules and regulations). This would not include, however, offenses that, upon conviction,
require the mandatory suspension of a person’s driver’s license.

 Second, SB 176 changes the eligibility requirements of a habitual violator probationary license (HVPL) such that
someone who has ever been previously convicted of an alcohol violation under Title 3 or a controlled substance
violation under Chapter 13 of Title 16 will no longer be excluded from obtaining an HVPL.

 And, finally, SB 176 amends subsection (a) of O.C.G.A. §40-5-75(a) by eliminating the 5-year controlled
substance suspension in paragraph (3) for a third conviction of DUI drugs within a 5-year period. It also
eliminates the controlled substance limited driving permit for a third conviction of DUI drugs within a 5-year
period. Effective July 1, 2017, a “third-in-five” conviction of DUI drugs will be treated exclusively as a habitual
violator revocation under O.C.G.A. §§40-5-58 and 40-5-62. An HVPL may be issued in accordance with the
provisions already set forth in O.C.G.A. §40-5-58.

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LEGISLATIVE APPRECIATION LUNCH

DDS was one of many state agencies represented this year at Senator Tyler Harper’s annual Legislative Appreciation
Lunch in Ocilla, Georgia on May 15th. While individually recognizing the agencies represented, Senator Harper took
extra time to applaud TEAM DDS for their responsiveness to constituent concerns and special requests. Lt. Governor
Casey Cagle was this year’s special guest speaker. Senator Harper chairs the Senate Public Safety Committee and has
sponsored our agency legislation in the Senate for the past two legislative sessions.