DUI offenders slapped with stiff penalties, fines Published June 19, 2009 By Wayne Crenshaw 78th Air Base Wing Public Affairs ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. -- Most Airmen know they are going to be in serious trouble if they get a DUI, but they may not know a DUI conviction can especially impact their wallets in a variety of ways. A survey of jurisdictions in Houston County show fines for a first DUI range from $801 to $1,164, but the costs can go far beyond that. The state gives cities and counties some leeway in setting DUI fines, while numerous other penalties are the same. In addition to the fine, a DUI conviction means a year of probation and suspension of driver's license. Probation costs can can range from $50 to $70 per month. Add another $210 to have the license reinstated, plus $275 for DUI school, which requires 20 hours of classroom attendance. Once the license is reinstated, expect to see a big hike in car insurance premiums. Georgia law also requires first-time DUI offenders to spend 24 hours behind bars and to serve 40 hours of community service. Most jurisdictions will consider lifting the license suspension after four months and completion of DUI school and payment of fines, but that only applies for those with a Georgia driver's license. Fines for a first-time DUI offense in local jurisdictions are: Houston County - $801; Warner Robins - $985; Perry - $1,164; Centerville - $883. Although most Airmen aren't rolling in cash, they also usually don't qualify for a public defender, so they can expect to pay about $1,000 or more if they want to hire an attorney. Most DUIs by Airmen are handled under the jurisdiction of civilian courts, so they are not eligible for representation by the Area Defense Counsel. Additionally, the majority of Airmen who get a DUI may lose their base driving privileges for a year, said Capt. Keric Clanahan, chief of military justice in the Warner Robins Air Logistics Center's Judge Advocate Office. Other common actions include a letter of reprimand or an unfavorable information file. Also possible is the loss of a stripe or delays in testing for promotion. Airmen may also have limitations placed on temporary duty assignments and permanent change of station moves. Captain Clanahan also stated that underage Airmen should be aware that if they are stopped and have a blood-alcohol level of as little as .02, they can be charged with DUI. Depending on body size, as little as one or two beers can put a person at .02. The legal limit for 21 or older is .08. Officers can also charge drivers with DUI at less than .08 if they observe diminished capacity to drive. "It's very possible that a very minor amount of alcohol could satisfy the factors for getting a DUI," Captain Clanahan said. At DUI school, drivers will learn how alcohol affects their body, said Debbie Vetter, director of the driving school at HODAC, which operates one of the three DUI schools in Houston County and is the only school operated by a non-profit organization. Warner Robins Police Sgt. Debbie Miller, who is now the clerk of city court, said Airmen make up a small percentage of the DUI cases the city handles. In her 30 years in law enforcement, she said she has seen a common factor in why people get behind the wheel while intoxicated. "They don't think they are impaired," she said. State Court Solicitor General Rob Tawse, who prosecutes DUI cases in Houston County State Court, said a common problem he sees is that people convicted of DUI often try to drive while their licenses are suspended. That can lead to automatic jail time and additional fines, causing their problems to spiral even further downward. "Some people have a mistake in judgment, and then things go downhill rapidly," he said.