Georgia 2025-2026 Regular Session

Georgia Senate Bill SB160 Compare Versions

OldNewDifferences
1-25 LC 39 4778S
2-The House Committee on Motor Vehicles offers the following substitute to SB 160:
1+25 LC 39 4601
2+Senate Bill 160
3+By: Senators Kirkpatrick of the 32nd, Albers of the 56th, Jones of the 10th, Robertson of the
4+29th, Halpern of the 39th and others
5+AS PASSED SENATE
36 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
47 AN ACT
5-To amend Title 40 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to motor vehicles and1
6-traffic, so as to require submission of proof of completion of a DUI Alcohol or Drug Use2
7-Risk Reduction Program by certain applicants to obtain limited driving permits; to provide3
8-that completion of such courses shall be credited toward any reinstatement requirements for4
9-drivers whose licenses were suspended for certain offenses; to authorize written consent for5
10-release of certain information to be obtained and transferred electronically; to revise the6
11-authorized fee for driver improvement clinics; to revise a definition; to require intervention7
12-components of DUI Alcohol or Drug Use Risk Reduction Programs be conducted in person;8
13-to require certain training for clinical evaluators performing assessment components relative9
14-to DUI Alcohol or Drug Use Risk Reduction Programs; to revise the authorized fees relative10
15-to DUI Alcohol or Drug Use Risk Reduction Programs; to provide a sentencing court with11
16-authority to order the installation of a device which limits the speed of a motor vehicle as part12
17-of the punishment for conviction of the offense of reckless stunt driving; to provide for a13
18-definition; to provide for procedures and conditions upon issuance of such orders; to provide14
19-for notification to the Department of Revenue; to provide for a penalty; to provide for related15
20-matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.16
21-BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:17
22-S. B. 160 (SUB)
23-- 1 - 25 LC 39 4778S
24-SECTION 1.18
25-Title 40 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to motor vehicles and traffic, is19
26-amended in Code Section 40-5-1, relating to definitions relative to drivers' licenses, by20
27-revising paragraph (10) as follows:21
28-"(10) 'Intervention component' means a program which delivers in-person therapeutic22
29-education about alcohol and drug use and driving and peer group counseling concerning23
30-alcohol and drug use over a period of 20 hours utilizing a methodology and curriculum24
31-approved and certified by the department for the DUI Alcohol or Drug Use Risk25
32-Reduction Programs under subsection (e) of Code Section 40-5-83."26
33-SECTION 2.27
34-Said title is further amended in Code Section 40-5-64, relating to limited driving permits for28
35-certain offenders, by revising subsection (a) and adding a new subsection to read as follows:29
36-"(a) To whom issued.30
37-(1) Notwithstanding any contrary provision of this Code section or Code31
38-Section 40-5-57, 40-5-57.2, 40-5-63, 40-5-75, 40-5-121, or 42-8-111, any person who has32
39-not been previously convicted or adjudicated delinquent for a violation of Code33
40-Section 40-6-391 within five years, as measured from the dates of previous arrests for34
41-which convictions were obtained or pleas of nolo contendere were accepted to the date35
42-of the current arrest, may apply for a limited driving permit when that person's driver's36
43-license has been suspended in accordance with:37
44-(A) Code Section 40-5-54.1 and upon receipt of a record of such from a court or the38
45-agency within the Department of Human Services which is responsible for enforcing39
46-orders for child support;40
47-(B) Subsection (d) of Code Section 40-5-57;41
48-(C) Paragraph (1) of subsection (a) of Code Section 40-5-57.2;42
49-(D) Paragraph (1) of subsection (a) of Code Section 40-5-63;43
50-S. B. 160 (SUB)
51-- 2 - 25 LC 39 4778S
52-(E) Paragraph (1) of subsection (a) of Code Section 40-5-67.2 and upon submission of44
53-proof of completion of a DUI Alcohol or Drug Use Risk Reduction Program;45
54-(F) Subsection (a) of Code Section 40-5-57.1, when the person is 18 years of age or46
55-older and his or her license was suspended for exceeding the speed limit by 24 miles47
56-per hour or more but less than 34 miles per hour, and the sentencing judge, in his or her48
57-discretion, decides it is reasonable to issue a limited driving permit; or49
58-(G) Paragraph (1) of subsection (a) of Code Section 40-5-75.50
59-(2) No person who has been granted an exemption from the ignition interlock device51
60-requirements of Article 7 of Chapter 8 of Title 42 due to undue financial hardship under52
61-Code Section 42-8-111 shall be eligible for a limited driving permit, an ignition interlock53
62-device limited driving permit, or any other driving privilege for a period of one year.54
63-(3) To the extent a person is subject to more than one suspension for which a limited55
64-driving permit may be issued, the department shall not issue such permit unless the56
65-suspensions are for a conviction for driving under the influence in violation of Code57
66-Section 40-6-391 imposed pursuant to Code Section 40-5-63 and an administrative58
67-suspension imposed pursuant to paragraph (1) of subsection (a) of Code59
68-Section 40-5-67.2 arising from the same incident."60
69-"(e.1) Credit. The department shall credit any DUI Alcohol or Drug Use Risk Reduction61
70-Program completed to obtain a permit pursuant to this Code section toward the62
71-requirements of Code Sections 40-5-57.1, 40-5-63, and 40-5-67.2 relating to such course."63
72-SECTION 3.64
73-Said title is further amended in Code Section 40-5-82, relating to administration of driver65
74-improvement clinic program and DUI Alcohol or Drug Use Risk Reduction Program, by66
75-revising subsection (d) as follows:67
76-"(d) All DUI Alcohol or Drug Use Risk Reduction Program records including, but not68
77-limited to, assessment results and other components attended shall be confidential and shall69
78-S. B. 160 (SUB)
79-- 3 - 25 LC 39 4778S
80-not be released without the written consent of the DUI offender, except that such records70
81-shall be made available to the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental71
82-Disabilities and the Department of Driver Services. The written consent required by this72
83-subsection may be obtained and transferred in electronic format. The provision of73
84-assessments to the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities shall74
85-be according to an interagency agreement between the Department of Driver Services and75
86-the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities, and the agreement76
87-may provide for assessment fees to be transmitted to the Department of Behavioral Health77
88-and Developmental Disabilities. No fee shall be charged by any party which provides78
89-assessment component software for the electronic transfer of any assessment results."79
90-SECTION 4.80
91-Said title is further amended in Code Section 40-5-83, relating to approval and operation of81
92-driver improvement clinics, criteria for defensive driving courses, alcohol and drug courses,82
93-and driving under the influence risk reduction programs, by revising subsections (a) and (e)83
94-and adding a new subsection to read as follows:84
95-"(a)(1) The commissioner shall establish criteria for the approval of driver improvement85
96-clinics. To be approved, a clinic shall provide and operate a defensive driving course. 86
97-Clinics shall be composed of uniform education and training programs consisting of six87
98-hours of instruction designed for the rehabilitation of problem drivers. The commissioner88
99-shall establish standards and requirements concerning the contents of defensive driving89
100-courses, qualifications of instructors, attendance requirements for students, and90
101-examinations. Approved clinics shall charge a fee of $95.00 $125.00 for a defensive91
102-driving course, except that such clinics may charge different fees of their own choosing92
103-if the person is not enrolling in such course pursuant to court order or department93
104-requirement. No clinic shall be approved unless such clinic agrees in writing to allow the94
105-examination and audit of the books, records, and financial statements of such clinic. 95
106-S. B. 160 (SUB)
107-- 4 - 25 LC 39 4778S
108-Clinics may be operated by any individual, partnership, or corporation. Nothing in this96
109-paragraph shall be construed to affect in any way driving programs established for97
110-purposes of insurance premium reductions under the provisions of Code Section 33-9-42.98
111-(2)(A) No driver improvement clinic shall be permitted to use, adopt, or conduct any99
112-business under any name that is like or deceptively similar to any name used by any100
113-other driver improvement clinic, Georgia company, or Georgia corporation registered101
114-with the Secretary of State. This subparagraph shall not prohibit the franchising or102
115-licensing of any part or all of the name of a driver improvement clinic by the owner or103
116-the rights thereof to another licensed driver improvement clinic.104
117-(B) This paragraph shall not prohibit the franchising or licensing of any part or all of105
118-the name of a clinic by the owner of the rights therein to another licensed driver106
119-improvement clinic."107
120-"(e)(1) The department is designated as the agency responsible for establishing criteria108
121-for the certification of DUI Alcohol or Drug Use Risk Reduction Programs. An applicant109
122-shall meet the certification criteria promulgated by the department through its standards110
123-and shall provide assessment component services and intervention component services. 111
124-A certified DUI Alcohol or Drug Use Risk Reduction Program shall require that a risk112
125-assessment component be conducted prior to administering the intervention component113
126-of such program. A certified DUI Alcohol or Drug Use Risk Reduction Program may114
127-include a clinical evaluation component after an individual completes risk assessment and115
128-intervention services. Only clinical evaluators licensed by the Department of Behavioral116
129-Health and Developmental Disabilities who have training in alcohol and drug abuse117
130-evaluation or assessment shall be qualified to conduct clinical evaluations. The118
131-department is designated as the agency responsible for establishing rules and regulations119
132-concerning the contents and duration of the components of DUI Alcohol or Drug Use120
133-Risk Reduction Programs, qualifications of instructors, attendance requirements for121
134-students, examinations, and program evaluations; provided, however, that intervention122
135-S. B. 160 (SUB)
136-- 5 - 25 LC 39 4778S
137-components of such courses shall be conducted in-person and online courses or remote123
138-participation platforms which provide in-person instruction shall be prohibited. Qualified124
139-instructors shall be certified for periods of four years each, which may be renewed.125
140-(2) Certified DUI Alcohol or Drug Use Risk Reduction Programs shall charge a fee of126
141-$100.00 for the assessment component and $235.00 for the intervention component in an127
142-amount set forth in subsection (g) of this Code section. An additional fee for required128
143-student program materials shall be established by the department in such an amount as129
144-is reasonable and necessary to cover the cost of such materials.130
145-(3) No DUI Alcohol or Drug Use Risk Reduction Program shall be certified unless such131
146-program agrees in writing to submit reports as required in the rules and regulations of the132
147-department and to allow the examination and audit of the books, records, and financial133
148-statements of such DUI Alcohol or Drug Use Risk Reduction Program by the department134
149-or its authorized agent.135
150-(4) DUI Alcohol or Drug Use Risk Reduction Programs may be operated by any public,136
151-private, or governmental entity; provided, however, that, except as otherwise provided137
152-in this subsection, in any political subdivision in which a DUI Alcohol or Drug Use Risk138
153-Reduction Program is operated by a private entity, whether for profit or nonprofit, neither139
154-the local county board of health nor any other governmental entity shall fund any new140
155-programs in that area. Programs in existence prior to July 1, 1990, which are operated141
156-by local county boards of health or any other governmental entities shall be authorized142
157-to continue operation. New programs may be started in areas where no private DUI143
158-Alcohol or Drug Use Risk Reduction Programs have been made available in the political144
159-subdivision.145
160-(5) The Department of Corrections shall be authorized to operate DUI Alcohol or Drug146
161-Use Risk Reduction Programs in its facilities where offenders are not authorized to147
162-participate in such programs in the community, provided that such programs meet the148
163-certification criteria promulgated by the Department of Driver Services. All such149
164-S. B. 160 (SUB)
165-- 6 - 25 LC 39 4778S
166-programs operated by the Department of Corrections shall be exempt from all fee150
167-provisions established in this subsection Code section specifically including the rebate151
168-of any fee for the costs of administration.152
169-(6) No DUI Alcohol or Drug Use Risk Reduction Program shall be certified unless such153
170-program agrees in writing to pay to the state, for the costs of administration, a fee of154
171-$30.00 in an amount set forth in subsection (g) of this Code section for each offender155
172-assessed, provided that nothing in this Code section shall be construed to allow the156
173-department to retain any funds required by the Constitution to be paid into the state157
174-treasury; and provided, further, that the department shall comply with all provisions of158
175-Part 1 of Article 4 of Chapter 12 of Title 45, the 'Budget Act,' except Code159
176-Section 45-12-92, prior to expending any such miscellaneous funds."160
177-"(g) A certified DUI Alcohol or Drug Use Risk Reduction Program shall be authorized to161
178-charge the following fees:162
179-(1) An assessment component fee of $100.00;163
180-(2) An intervention component fee of $275.00; and164
181-(3) A course enrollment fee, which shall include:165
182-(A) A course materials fee of up to $25.00;166
183-(B) A state administration fee of $30.00; and167
184-(C) An assessment fee of $10.00."168
185-SECTION 5.169
186-Said title is further amended in Code Section 40-6-390.1, relating to reckless stunt driving,170
187-is amended by adding a new subsection to read as follows:171
188-"(b.1)(1) As used in this subsection, the term 'intelligent speed assistance device' means172
189-a device designed to be installed within a motor vehicle to actively monitor and prevent173
190-the operator from exceeding a preset speed. Such term shall not include any technology174
191-S. B. 160 (SUB)
192-- 7 - 25 LC 39 4778S
193-provided by the motor vehicle manufacturer as a component of a motor vehicle that175
194-controls or affects the speed of a motor vehicle.176
195-(2) Upon conviction of a violation of this Code section and in addition to the punishment177
196-provided for in subsection (a) of this Code section, a court shall be authorized to order178
197-the installation of an intelligent speed assistance device upon the motor vehicle operated179
198-by the offender during such violation when the offender is the registered owner of such180
199-motor vehicle as shown in the records of the Department of Revenue. Such order shall181
200-set the maximum speed limit for an intelligent speed assistance device installed upon a182
201-motor vehicle at a speed limit of no greater than 20 percent above the posted speed limit. 183
202-An intelligent speed assistance device shall be installed within ten days of the issuance184
203-of such order and remain on the vehicle for a period of time ordered by the court which185
204-shall be no less than six months. The costs relating to the installation of an intelligent186
205-speed assistance device upon a motor vehicle and any monitoring thereof shall be borne187
206-by the offender. Any court which orders an intelligent speed assistance device to be188
207-placed upon a motor vehicle pursuant to this subsection shall provide the Department of189
208-Revenue with a copy of such order. The records of the Department of Revenue shall190
209-contain a record reflecting that the motor vehicle shall only be operated when equipped191
210-with a functioning intelligent speed assistance device. The operation of a motor vehicle192
211-without an intelligent speed assistance device for which an order for installation of an193
212-intelligent speed assistance device has been issued pursuant to this subsection by the194
213-offender issued such order shall be punished as for a misdemeanor."195
214-SECTION 6.196
215-All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.197
216-S. B. 160 (SUB)
217-- 8 -
8+To amend Code Section 40-6-390.1 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to
9+1
10+reckless stunt driving, so as to replace the forfeiture penalty of a motor vehicle involved in2
11+a second offense of reckless stunt driving with authority to order the installation of a device3
12+which limits the speed of such vehicle; to provide for a definition; to provide for procedures4
13+and conditions upon issuance of such orders; to provide for notification to the Department5
14+of Revenue; to provide for a penalty; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting6
15+laws; and for other purposes.7
16+BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:8
17+SECTION 1.9
18+Code Section 40-6-390.1 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to reckless10
19+stunt driving, is amended by revising subsection (c) as follows:11
20+"(c)(1) Any motor vehicle operated by a person who has been previously convicted of
21+12
22+a violation of this Code section and who is arrested and charged with a violation of this13
23+Code section is declared to be contraband and subject to forfeiture in accordance with the14
24+procedures set forth in Chapter 16 of Title 9 As used in this subsection, the term15
25+'intelligent speed assistance device' means a device designed to be installed within a16
26+motor vehicle to actively monitor and prevent the operator from exceeding a preset speed. 17
27+S. B. 160
28+- 1 - 25 LC 39 4601
29+Such term shall not include any technology provided by the motor vehicle manufacturer18
30+as a component of a motor vehicle that controls or affects the speed of a motor vehicle.19
31+(2) In any case where a vehicle which is the only family vehicle is determined to be20
32+subject to forfeiture, the court may, if it determines that the financial hardship to the21
33+family as a result of the forfeiture and sale outweighs the benefit to the state from such22
34+forfeiture, order the title to the vehicle transferred to such other family member who is23
35+a duly licensed operator and who requires the use of such vehicle for employment or24
36+family transportation purposes. Such transfer shall be subject to any valid liens and shall25
37+be granted only once Upon a second or subsequent conviction of a violation of this Code26
38+section, a court shall be authorized to order the installation of an intelligent speed27
39+assistance device upon the motor vehicle operated by the offender during such violation28
40+when the offender is the registered owner of such motor vehicle as shown in the records29
41+of the Department of Revenue. Such order shall set the maximum speed limit for an30
42+intelligent speed assistance device installed upon a motor vehicle at a speed limit of no31
43+greater than 70 miles per hour. An intelligent speed assistance device shall be installed32
44+within ten days of the issuance of such order and remain on the vehicle for a period of33
45+time ordered by the court which shall be no less than three months. The costs relating to34
46+the installation of an intelligent speed assistance device upon a motor vehicle and any35
47+monitoring thereof shall be borne by the offender. Any court which orders an intelligent36
48+speed assistance device to be placed upon a motor vehicle pursuant to this subsection37
49+shall provide the Department of Revenue with a copy of such order. The records of the38
50+Department of Revenue shall contain a record reflecting that the motor vehicle shall only39
51+be operated when equipped with a functioning intelligent speed assistance device. The40
52+operation of a motor vehicle without an intelligent speed assistance device for which an41
53+order for installation of an intelligent speed assistance device has been issued pursuant42
54+to this subsection by the offender issued such order shall be punished as for a43
55+misdemeanor."44
56+S. B. 160
57+- 2 - 25 LC 39 4601
58+SECTION 2.
59+45
60+All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.46
61+S. B. 160
62+- 3 -