Implied consent and teen DUI suspensions

Key points

1. Georgia law requires you to submit to state chemical tests of blood, breath, urine or other substances.

   Source: Handbook p. 47

   “Georgia law requires you to submit to state administered chemical tests of your blood, breath, urine, or other bodily substances”
   Georgia Drivers Manual, Handbook p. 47

2. After the state tests, you may get additional tests at your own expense.

   Source: Handbook p. 47

   “you are entitled to additional chemical tests of your blood, breath, urine, or other bodily substances at your own expense and from qualified personnel of your own choosing.”
   Georgia Drivers Manual, Handbook p. 47

3. A person under 21 is irrefutably considered under the influence of alcohol with 0.02 grams or more of alcohol in the blood.

   Source: Handbook p. 23

   “A person under 21 years ofage is irrefutably considered "Under the Influence of Alcohol" when 0.02 gm or more by alcohol weight is present in the blood;”
   Georgia Drivers Manual, Handbook p. 23

4. For teen drivers, the first DUI suspension rules cover a BAC of .02 or more but under .08.

   Source: Handbook p. 27

   “First DUI Suspension: • If your Blood Alcohol Concentration was .02 or greater, but less than .08;”
   Georgia Drivers Manual, Handbook p. 27

5. For teen drivers, a BAC of .08 or more or a refused test means at least a 12 month suspension.

   Source: Handbook p. 27

   “If your Blood Alcohol Concentration was .08 or greater or you refused implied consent testing, your license will be suspended for a minimum period of12 months;”
   Georgia Drivers Manual, Handbook p. 27

6. Having a prescription is no defense if the medicine impairs your driving.

   Source: Handbook p. 23

   “Having a prescription for certain medication is not a defense if the medication impairs your ability to”
   Georgia Drivers Manual, Handbook p. 23

7. A driver under 21 convicted of aggressive driving loses all driving privileges to a suspension.

   Source: Handbook p. 23

   “if the driver is under 21 years of age, conviction will result in a suspension of all driving privileges.”
   Georgia Drivers Manual, Handbook p. 23

Numbers to know

3 questions from the Georgia practice test

1. 1. At what blood alcohol level is a Georgia driver under 21 irrefutably considered under the influence of alcohol?

   1. 0.04 or more
   2. Any measurable amount only after a crash
   3. 0.08 or more
   4. 0.02 or more
   Show answer

   0.02 or more. Georgia uses a much lower alcohol threshold for drivers under 21 than for adults. The manual says a person under 21 is irrefutably considered under the influence of alcohol when 0.02 grams or more by alcohol weight is present in the blood. The adult 0.08 figure therefore understates the standard for a younger driver, and 0.04 is not the stated level either. The rule is not limited to crashes. The cue is the leading zero and the two hundredths figure: 0.02.

2. 2. A Georgia driver under 21 refuses implied consent testing after a DUI arrest. How long is the first DUI suspension?

   1. A minimum of 30 days
   2. A minimum of 6 months
   3. A minimum of 5 years
   4. A minimum of 12 months
   Show answer

   A minimum of 12 months. For a Georgia driver under 21, a first DUI suspension is at least 12 months when the BAC was .08 or greater or the driver refused implied consent testing, and no limited driving permit is available. Six months is the minimum when the BAC was .02 or more but below .08, when the test results were suppressed, or when no test was given. Thirty days understates the rule, and five years is not the first DUI figure.

3. 3. What does Georgia say about a prescription medication that impairs a person’s ability to safely operate a motor vehicle?

   1. The prescription always permits driving
   2. The medication matters only for commercial drivers
   3. The rule applies only after a crash
   4. Having the prescription is not a defense
   Show answer

   Having the prescription is not a defense. Georgia states that having a prescription for certain medication is not a defense when the medication impairs a person’s ability to safely operate a motor vehicle. The important issue is the effect on safe driving, not whether the medicine was legally obtained or whether the driver holds a commercial license. A prescription does not remove the responsibility to avoid impaired operation. The practical cue is impairment: if the medication affects safe control, do not drive until it is safe.

Source: the Georgia Drivers Manual, Section 10: Losing Your Driving Privileges. This lesson is a plain English summary, not the law itself; where it differs, the manual and the statute govern. Last checked 2026-09-27.