Georgia's DUI school isn't only for DUI. The Georgia Department of Driver Services (DDS) says the program, officially the DUI Alcohol or Drug Use Risk Reduction Program, is for people convicted of DUI, possession of illegal drugs, underage possession of alcohol while driving, or Boating Under the Influence (BUI).
What each of those means for your driver's license is a different story. For drug possession in particular, the rules changed in 2015, and a lot of what you'll read online is out of date. This page goes through each offense using what Georgia law and state agencies actually say, then compares all four side by side.
Which offenses can require Georgia's Risk Reduction Program?
| Offense | When the Risk Reduction Program comes in | Effect on your driver's license |
|---|---|---|
| DUI (alcohol) | Required to reinstate your license | Suspended. Length depends on your age and record. |
| DUI drugs (driving under the influence of drugs or marijuana) | Required to reinstate your license | Suspended 180 days for a first conviction in 5 years |
| Drug possession, offense on or after July 1, 2015 | DDS lists it; you need it if your sentence or probation requires it | No automatic suspension, unless it's a felony in which a motor vehicle was used |
| Underage alcohol offenses, including possession while driving | A court may order it, to be finished within 120 days | DDS publications conflict; check your record |
| Boating Under the Influence (BUI) | Part of the sentence for every BUI conviction | The BUI law is about your privilege to operate a boat |
If a court has ordered you to take the program, your court paperwork is the final word on your deadline and what you need to turn in.
Does drug possession suspend your license in Georgia?
For offenses committed on or after July 1, 2015, a drug possession conviction no longer automatically suspends your Georgia driver's license. That's the result of Senate Bill 100, passed in 2015.
According to the DDS Traffic Court Reference Manual, convictions for offenses on or after that date under the drug laws in Article 2 of Chapter 13 of Title 16 "will not suspend the driver's license" and shouldn't be reported to DDS, unless the offense is a felony in which a motor vehicle was used. The Georgia Attorney General reached the same conclusion in Official Opinion 2017-4: SB 100 amended O.C.G.A. § 40-5-75 to remove the mandatory suspension for drug offenses other than impaired driving, so a conviction based only on possession or other drug charges "no longer triggers an automatic, mandatory suspension."
| Drug offense | Reported to DDS? | License result | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Possession (misdemeanor or felony), offense on or after July 1, 2015, no vehicle used in a felony | No | No automatic suspension | DDS court manual; AG Opinion 2017-4 |
| Felony drug offense (for example, distribution or trafficking) in which a motor vehicle was used | Yes, if the clerk finds a vehicle was used | Suspension under the "felony with a motor vehicle" rule; DDS sets the period | AG Opinion 2017-4 |
| Knowingly using a vehicle in a felony involving making, selling, distributing or trafficking drugs, or possession with intent to do so | Yes, in every case | Lifetime disqualification from driving commercial vehicles | DDS suspension offenses page; AG Opinion 2017-4 |
| Driving under the influence of drugs (DUI drugs) | Yes | Suspended; see the next section | DDS court manual |
| Drug possession offense before July 1, 2015 | Was reported under the old law | Suspension may still be on your record; see DS-566 below | DDS Form DS-566 |
Why DUI school can still apply after a possession charge
DDS still lists possession of illegal drugs among the convictions the program is for. Even without a license suspension, a judge may make the program part of your sentence or probation. If yours does, finish a DDS-certified program by the deadline and send your certificate to the court or your probation officer. Under DDS Rule 375-3-3-.05 the course counts only if you took it after the violation date. Read what you learn in DUI school if you're wondering what a possession charge has to do with a driving class: the course covers drug use as well as alcohol.
What if you have an older drug suspension? Form DS-566
Before SB 100, drug convictions did suspend licenses, and some of those suspensions are still sitting on driving records. DDS's Form DS-566, the Application for Reinstatement of a Controlled Substance Suspension, is the form for them. It says:
- Time toward reinstatement eligibility starts on the date DDS processes the form onto your record, and only after any earlier suspensions on your record have been reinstated.
- Eligibility comes after 180 days for a first controlled substance conviction in 5 years, 3 years (with early reinstatement after 1 year) for a second, and 5 years for a third, measured from arrest date to arrest date.
- To reinstate you must submit an original certificate of completion from a DDS-approved Risk Reduction Program and a $210 reinstatement fee, or $200 if processed by mail.
- The form is mailed to Georgia Department of Driver Services, P.O. Box 80447, Conyers, GA 30013, ATTN: CSLR Validation Unit.
If an old drug suspension is on your record, sign in to DDS Online Services or call DDS at 678-413-8400 before you file anything, so you know which rules DDS is applying to you.
DUI drugs: when drugs do suspend your license
Driving under the influence of a controlled substance or marijuana is a DUI under O.C.G.A. § 40-6-391, and the suspension rules come from O.C.G.A. § 40-5-75. The Attorney General's opinion lists DUI drugs "less safe," combined influence, and DUI drugs "per se" (any amount of a controlled substance in your blood or urine) as convictions that still suspend a license automatically. Here is what the DDS Traffic Court Reference Manual lists.
| DUI drugs conviction | Suspension period (DDS court manual) | Limited permit? | To reinstate |
|---|---|---|---|
| First in 5 years | 180 days from the effective date | The manual says yes for offenses committed on or after July 29, 2020; the Driver's Manual's list of ineligible suspensions still includes DUI drugs | Original Risk Reduction certificate; $210, or $200 online or by mail |
| Second in 5 years | The manual lists a one-year period; DDS Form DS-566 and the statute describe a 3-year suspension with early reinstatement after one year | No | Original Risk Reduction certificate; $210, or $200 online or by mail |
| Third in 5 years | Declared a habitual violator; a probationary license may be possible after a minimum of 2 years | No | Original Risk Reduction certificate; $410, or $400 online or by mail |
DUI drugs is still a DUI. If you have two or more DUI convictions of any kind within 10 years, you'll also need a clinical evaluation, and any treatment it recommends, before reinstatement. See Second DUI in Georgia: the clinical evaluation. And driving while suspended for DUI drugs carries a heavier fine: the DDS court manual, citing O.C.G.A. § 40-5-75(e), lists a fine of $750 to $5,000, up to 12 months in jail, or both.
Underage possession of alcohol and your license
Georgia law, O.C.G.A. § 3-3-23.1, lets a court order anyone convicted of an underage alcohol offense to complete a DDS-certified Risk Reduction Program within 120 days. Failing to finish in time is contempt of court, punishable by a fine of up to $300, up to 20 days in jail, or both. The same law says that when the charge was unlawful possession of alcohol while operating a motor vehicle, the court must report the conviction to DDS within 10 days.
Whether that conviction also suspends your license is less clear-cut, because DDS's own publications don't line up:
| DDS source | What it says about underage possession of alcohol while driving |
|---|---|
| ADAP teen driver manual, Chapter 1 | Lists "underage possession of alcohol while operating a motor vehicle" among the TADRA offenses that suspend an under-21 license for 6 months (12 months for a second) |
| Traffic Court Reference Manual 2021-2022 | Tells courts to report possession of alcohol by a minor only when the driver was operating a vehicle, and only if the violation date is before July 1, 2015; for offenses on or after that date, "do NOT report the conviction to DDS (SB100, 2015)" |
| Driver's Manual 2023-2024 | Its list of under-21 suspensions does not include underage possession of alcohol |
Because of that, check your status in DDS Online Services or call DDS rather than relying on any website, this one included. If DDS does show a TADRA suspension, the court manual lists the reinstatement requirements for under-21 non-DUI suspensions as an original certificate from a DDS-approved defensive driving course, a Risk Reduction certificate if the court ordered one, and a $210 fee ($200 online or by mail). Athena offers the Driver Improvement course in Athens.
If you're under 21 and you were driving with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.02 or more, that's not a possession charge. It's a DUI, with a 6- or 12-month suspension and no limited permit. See Georgia DUI under 21.
BUI in Georgia and the Risk Reduction Program
Boating Under the Influence is covered by O.C.G.A. § 52-7-12. Georgia DNR's Law Enforcement Division says the Georgia Boat Safety Act bans operating "any boat, sailboat, personal watercraft, water skis, sailboard or similar device" while intoxicated, and also makes it illegal for an owner to let someone else operate their boat or personal watercraft while under the influence. Adults may not operate a vessel with an alcohol concentration of 0.08 or more, or if drugs are detected, and people under 21 may not operate one at 0.02 or more.
| BUI consequence | What Georgia DNR and the statute say |
|---|---|
| Boating privilege | A person arrested for BUI may lose the privilege to operate a boat or personal watercraft until they complete a DDS-approved Risk Reduction Program |
| Criminal charge | A misdemeanor punishable by fines up to $1,000, up to one year in prison, or both |
| Refusing a test | By operating a boat on Georgia waters you've consented to testing; refusing costs your boating privilege for up to one year, and the refusal can be used at trial |
| Child on board | Operating under the influence with a child under 14 aboard is the separate charge of endangering a child |
| Sentence | The BUI law lists a Risk Reduction Program for a first, second and third conviction, plus a clinical evaluation and, if recommended, a substance abuse treatment program |
The BUI statute itself doesn't address your driver's license. If you have questions about how a BUI affects anything beyond boating, ask a Georgia attorney. And note that Georgia's DBHDD rules define the Risk Reduction Program as education about alcohol and substance use "and driving a vehicle or boat," so the same certificate serves both.
How the four offenses compare
| DUI drugs | Drug possession (on or after July 1, 2015) | Underage possession of alcohol while driving | BUI | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Who requires DUI school | DDS, to reinstate | The court, if part of your sentence or probation | The court, within 120 days if ordered | The court, as part of the sentence; DNR ties your boating privilege to it |
| Driver's license | Suspended 180 days (first in 5 years) | No automatic suspension unless a felony with a vehicle | DDS publications conflict; check your record | Not addressed by the BUI law |
| Other privilege affected | None beyond the license | Commercial driving, for felony drug offenses with a vehicle | None stated | Operating a boat or personal watercraft |
| Alcohol limit | Not applicable (drugs) | Not applicable | 0.02 or more while driving is a DUI instead | 0.08 adults; 0.02 under 21 |
| Clinical evaluation | If two DUIs in 10 years | Only if the court orders it | Only if the court orders it | Listed in the BUI sentence |
| Reinstatement fee | $210, or $200 online or by mail | None, unless a suspension applies | $210 ($200 online or by mail) if DDS shows a suspension | None stated |
| Main law | O.C.G.A. §§ 40-6-391 and 40-5-75 | Title 16, Chapter 13; SB 100 (2015) | O.C.G.A. § 3-3-23.1 | O.C.G.A. § 52-7-12 |
How the program works, whatever your offense
Everyone takes the same program, whether the conviction was for DUI, drugs, underage alcohol or BUI.
- Assessment: a 130-question screening (the NEEDS assessment) of your alcohol and drug use and its effect on driving. $100.
- Intervention: a 20-hour course (Prime for Life) over several sessions, taught in a group. DDS says most people finish in less than a week. $235, plus a $25 workbook.
- Total: $360 at every certified school, set by law. See how much DUI school costs in Georgia.
- Online courses: DDS doesn't accept certificates from online DUI courses for any license purpose. Live virtual classes from a certified school are different. See whether you can take DUI school online in Georgia.
- Timing: you can enroll before your case is decided, but the course must be taken after the violation date to count. See starting DUI classes before your court date.
What happens if…
- You miss a court deadline for an underage alcohol order. The statute makes it contempt of court: up to $300, up to 20 days in jail, or both.
- You arrive late or miss a session. DDS says late students can expect to be denied entry, and absences may mean starting over at full cost. Refunds are between you and the school under your contract.
- You lose your certificate. The school can issue a replacement for up to $20, and DDS only requires schools to keep records for three years. If the school has closed, call DDS at 678-413-8745.
- You need to switch schools. DDS allows an assessment transfer if your class was cancelled, you moved at least 30 miles away (transfer fee up to $25), or there's an emergency DDS approves in advance.
Common mistakes
- Assuming a possession charge suspended your license. For offenses on or after July 1, 2015, it usually didn't. Check your record before paying a reinstatement fee you may not owe.
- Assuming a DUI drugs charge is treated like possession. It's a DUI, with a suspension and DUI school required to reinstate.
- Taking an online course to satisfy a court order. DDS won't accept it, and courts that require a DDS-certified program won't either.
- Waiting on a BUI. DNR ties your boating privilege to finishing the program, so the sooner you finish, the sooner you can ask about getting it back.
- Relying on one DDS publication for an underage possession charge. They conflict; your record in DDS Online Services is what counts.
If you're in Athens-Clarke County
- Municipal Court of Athens-Clarke County handles state misdemeanor traffic violations including DUI, possession of less than an ounce of marijuana, and underage possession of alcohol. 325 East Washington Street, Suite 170, Athens, GA 30601; 706-613-3690. Sessions are held Monday through Thursday most weeks.
- Athens-Clarke County Probation Services supervises misdemeanor probation and is where a probation-ordered certificate usually goes. 110 Bray Street, Athens, GA 30601; 706-613-3911.
- DDS: the Athens center at 1505 US Highway 29 North closed on October 3, 2026. From October 6, 2026, the Oconee center at 1627 McNutt Creek Road, Bogart, GA 30622, is open Tuesday through Friday, 8am to 6pm, and lists reinstatements among its services.
Questions to ask, and what to keep
- Your attorney: Is my charge possession or DUI drugs? Was a vehicle used in a felony? What exactly does the sentence require and by when?
- The clerk or probation officer: Where should the certificate go, and do you need the original?
- DDS (678-413-8400): Does my record show a suspension at all, and if so, which reinstatement rules apply?
- The school: Will you send my certificate to the court or probation officer, and at what cost?
- Keep: your court order, the original certificate plus a copy, receipts, and any DDS notice, for at least three years.
Key terms
- Risk Reduction Program: Georgia's DUI school; DBHDD rules define it as education about alcohol and substance use and driving a vehicle or boat.
- NEEDS assessment: the 130-question screening that makes up the assessment component.
- Certificate of Completion: the original document a certified school issues when both components are finished.
- SB 100: the 2015 Georgia law that ended automatic license suspensions for drug convictions other than impaired driving.
- DS-566: the DDS application for reinstating a controlled substance suspension.
- DUI drugs: driving under the influence of a controlled substance or marijuana, including "per se" cases where any amount is found in your blood or urine.
- BUI: operating a boat, personal watercraft or similar device under the influence, at 0.08 for adults or 0.02 under 21.
- Habitual violator: a driver with three qualifying convictions in 5 years, whose license is revoked.
Take the Risk Reduction Program at Athena
Athena DUI Academy & Family Enrichment in Athens is a Georgia DDS-certified Risk Reduction Program, RRP Cert #10432. The price is the state price, $360, and classes are taught live online or in person at 110 Athens West Parkway, Ste. C. Register online or call 706.215.9661, Monday through Friday, 10am to 6pm. You'll join the next scheduled class, qualifying students can take class now and pay later through Stripe, and when needed we send your certificate to the court, probation officer or clerk at no extra cost. For a step-by-step overview of the program, read our complete guide to Georgia DUI school or our DUI school in Athens page.