Arrested for Marijuana? 4 ways to save your license
In Georgia a conviction for possession of marijuana, of any amount, and whether driving or not, will cause your license to be suspended for 6 months, with no limited permit. There are at least 4 ways to prevent your license from being suspended:
1. No Contest Plea: Also known as nolo contendere or nolo, you can enter this plea if you have not pled nolo to a drug offense in the past 5 years. A nolo plea is solely at the discretion of the judge; he or she just does not have to accept the plea; in addition you have to complete a DUI school within 120 days;
2. First Offender: If you have not pled first offender ever, you could enter this plea. Under this plea you plead guilty, but the disposition is held while you serve a period of probation and perform certain conditions(such as pay a fine, do community service, etc.) and NOT get into any more trouble while on probation. Then you are not “adjudicated guilty”, hence DDS does not find out about the plea and the license is not suspended.
3. Conditional Discharge: Similar to First Offender; you plead guilty, and are placed on probation, with conditions, and if you successfully complete the sentence, the charges are dismissed.
4. Fight your case Usually with a motion to suppress, or perhaps a trial.
Tags: Marijuana possession, suspended license for drug conviction