SB473: SB473 Motor Vehicles and Traffic; submission of proof of completion of certified DUI Alcohol or Drug Use Risk Reduction Programs by certain applicants to obtain limited driving permits; require

Under current Georgia law, drivers whose licenses are suspended can sometimes apply for a limited driving permit that lets them drive for work, school, or other approved purposes. This bill changes the rules for one category of suspension tied to failing or refusing a DUI chemical test (O.C.G.A. § 40-5-67.2), requiring applicants to first submit proof they completed a certified DUI Alcohol or Drug Use Risk Reduction Program before getting that permit. It also lets people credit a program they completed for a permit toward the separate requirements for getting their license fully reinstated later. The bill also allows written consent forms for releasing confidential program records to be signed and transmitted electronically, and it revises several fees: raising the defensive driving course fee from $95 to $125, restructuring the DUI program's assessment and intervention fees into a single $380 charge, and lowering the administrative fee programs must pay the state from $30 to $15 per offender assessed. These changes would take effect July 1, 2026, and apply to offenses committed on or after that date.

• Requires applicants for a limited driving permit under the DUI test-refusal suspension (O.C.G.A. § 40-5-67.2) to submit proof of completing a certified DUI Alcohol or Drug Use Risk Reduction Program.
• Allows a DUI program completed to get a permit to count toward the separate course requirements for reinstating a suspended license under three related code sections.
• Permits written consent for releasing confidential DUI program records to be obtained and transmitted electronically instead of only on paper.
• Raises the fee driver improvement clinics can charge for a defensive driving course from $95.00 to $125.00.
• Replaces the separate $100 assessment fee and $235 intervention fee for DUI Risk Reduction Programs with a single combined fee of $380.00.
• Lowers the administrative fee that certified DUI programs must pay the state per offender assessed from $30.00 to $15.00.

Drivers whose licenses are suspended for refusing or failing a DUI chemical test, people enrolled in certified DUI Alcohol or Drug Use Risk Reduction Programs, driver improvement clinics, the Department of Driver Services, and the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities, which receives program assessment records.

Drivers seeking early limited driving privileges after a DUI-related suspension would need to complete a certified program first, which could delay or condition their ability to drive for work or school. Fee changes would also affect what drivers pay for defensive driving courses and DUI programs, and what programs owe the state.

• Section 1 amends O.C.G.A. § 40-5-64 to require proof of completing a certified DUI program before issuing a limited permit tied to a Section 40-5-67.2 suspension, and adds a new subsection (e.1) crediting that completed program toward reinstatement requirements under Sections 40-5-57.1, 40-5-63, and 40-5-67.2.
• Section 2 amends O.C.G.A. § 40-5-82 to allow written consent for releasing confidential DUI program records to be obtained and transferred electronically.
• Section 3 amends O.C.G.A. § 40-5-83 to raise the defensive driving course fee from $95.00 to $125.00 and combine the DUI program assessment and intervention fees into a single $380.00 fee.
• Section 3 also lowers the per-offender administrative fee DUI programs pay the state from $30.00 to $15.00.
• Section 4 sets the effective date as July 1, 2026, applying to offenses committed on or after that date.

1. 2026-03-06Senate Tabled (Senate)
2. 2026-03-03Senate Read Second Time (Senate)
3. 2026-02-26Senate Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (Senate)
4. 2026-02-09Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
5. 2026-02-06Senate Hopper (Senate)

• Randy Robertson (R, SD-029)Primary sponsor
• Timothy Bearden (R, SD-030)
• Jason Anavitarte (R, SD-031)
• Bo Hatchett (R, SD-050)
• Bill Cowsert (R, SD-046)
• Matt Brass (R, SD-006)
• Steve Gooch (R, SD-051)
• Drew Echols (R, SD-049)
• Chuck Hufstetler (R, SD-052)
• Chuck Payne (R, SD-054)
• Clint Dixon (R, SD-045)
• Larry Walker (R, SD-020)

• DUI laws
• driver's license suspension
• limited driving permits
• traffic safety fees