How Georgia DUI courts are organised
A DUI charge in Georgia is prosecuted in the State Court or Superior Court that serves the county or municipality where the stop happened, not where you live. The clerk's office in that courthouse controls your hearing dates, accepts motions and continuances, and takes payment of fines and court costs. Calendars, filing hours and remote-appearance rules differ from courthouse to courthouse, so confirm them with the clerk before your first date.
Georgia tries misdemeanor DUI in State Court or, where no state court exists, in Superior Court; some counties route misdemeanor DUI through municipal or probate court. Felony DUI — a fourth offense within ten years, or a case involving serious injury or vehicular homicide — is tried in Superior Court. Appeals go to the Georgia Court of Appeals or the Supreme Court of Georgia.
The state judiciary publishes the authoritative directory of courthouses, judges and calendars at georgiacourts.gov. Use it to confirm the address and division for your case number; local listings age quickly.
Courthouse locations, hearing calendars, clerk contacts and self-help forms.
The separate licence action, which the criminal court does not decide.
What happens at each stage in Georgia
A DUI case in Georgia is heard in the State Court or Superior Court, and it runs on two tracks at once: the criminal case and a separate licence action you must challenge within 30 days of arrest.
- 1Arrest, booking and the chemical test — Officers arrest for DUI under Ga. Code Ann. § 40-6-391 and request a breath, blood or urine test under Georgia's implied-consent section, Ga. Code Ann. § 40-5-67.1. Refusing carries its own licence penalty, separate from the criminal charge.
- 2Licence action — request a hearing within 30 days — An Administrative License Suspension follows a DUI arrest when the state-administered test shows impairment or the driver refuses testing. You have 30 days from arrest to demand the administrative hearing with Georgia Department of Driver Services; miss it and the suspension takes effect automatically, whatever happens in court.
- 3Arraignment in the State Court or Superior Court — The charge is read, a plea is entered and conditions of release are set in the State Court or Superior Court. Georgia tries misdemeanor DUI in State Court or, where no state court exists, in Superior Court; some counties route misdemeanor DUI through municipal or probate court.
- 4Pretrial motions and discovery — Defence counsel obtains the police report, test records and calibration or maintenance logs, and may move to suppress the stop or the test result. Georgia uses the statewide Odyssey eFileGA system in participating superior and state courts.
- 5Diversion or treatment disposition — Diversion exists in some jurisdictions, but many counties limit DUI eligibility.
- 6Plea or trial, then sentencing — A first DUI conviction carries a fine of $300–$1,000, jail exposure up to 1 year, a licence suspension of 1 year. Prior offenses within 10 years push the case into the enhanced-penalty range. Miss the ALS deadline and the suspension takes effect automatically.
- 7Reinstatement — DDS publishes reinstatement fees by suspension type on its Reinstatement Fees and Payment page. Georgia requires a SR-22 certificate of financial responsibility for 3 years before the licence is restored.
Filing and case handling in Georgia
- Georgia uses the statewide Odyssey eFileGA system in participating superior and state courts.
- A municipal court hearing DUI is a court of record when the proceedings are reported or recorded, under the Uniform Municipal Court Rules.
- Diversion exists in some jurisdictions, but many counties limit DUI eligibility.
- The Department of Driver Services runs the Administrative License Suspension on its own timetable, separate from the criminal case.
Whatever the local practice, take your citation or case number to every call — clerks index by case, not by name — and get the payable amount for fines and court costs in writing before you pay.
Georgia ZIP codes covered
These Georgia ZIP-code pages carry the local court, filing and licensing detail for the area, and each one links back to this resource page.
Counties and cities using these Georgia resources
Counties
Other Georgia official resources
Frequently asked questions
- Which court handles a first DUI charge in Georgia?
- First-offense DUI cases in Georgia are heard in the State Court or Superior Court for the county where the stop happened. The court clerk's office there sets the arraignment date and accepts filings.
- Does the court case decide whether I keep my licence in Georgia?
- No. The criminal case and the administrative licence action run separately. The licence action is handled by the GA driver-licensing agency, and the request for a hearing is due within 30 days of arrest.