Drivers Under 18 Years' Old in Georgia
Special Rules Apply for Drivers Under 18 Years' Old
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Drivers under 18 years' old are notoriously expensive to insure, and being cited for a traffic offense can make that expense even worse. To make matters worse, families frequently depend on young drivers to transport themselves and their siblings to school and extracurricular activities. Therefore, the burden of a suspended driver's license for a young driver frequently falls on the parents.
Parents and their young drivers should carefully consider speaking with an attorney before paying traffic tickets for a driver who is under 18 years' old. In addition to the more serious traffic offenses that result in suspension of a driver's license, drivers who are under 18 years' old are subject to license suspension if they are convicted of:
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hit and run or leaving the scene of an accident, OCGA 40-6-270;
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racing on highways or streets, OCGA 40-6-186;
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fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer, OCGA 40-6-395;
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DUI, OCGA 40-6-391;
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aggressive driving, OCGA 40-6-397;
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reckless driving, OCGA 40-6-390;
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unlawful passing of a school bus, OCGA 40-6-163;
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improper passing on a hill or curve, OCGA 40-6-45;
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exceeding the speed limit by 24 mph or more, OCGA 40-6-181; or
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any 2 or more traffic offenses for which a total of 4 points or more are assessed, within a 12 month period.
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As an example, a driver under 18 years' old who received a citation for failing to stop at a stop sign in January of a particular year and a citation for following too closely in November of that same year would probably be subject to a driver's license suspension in they were convicted of both offenses. Further, a plea of nolo contendere would be treated as a conviction, thus not saving the young driver from a suspension.
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An experienced traffic ticket attorney may be able to help a young driver avoid a suspended license. Call the Kelbaugh Firm for a free consultation to discuss the options available.