Georgia Driving Record

Requirement to obtain a Georgia Driver’s License

Georgia law requires that any person wanting to operate a motor vehicle on the roadways of this state obtain a Georgia driver’s license or permit within 30 days of becoming a resident. A person meeting at least one of the following criteria is considered a Georgia resident according to Georgia law (O.C.G.A. §40-5-1):

• A person who has a permanent home or abode in Georgia and, when absent, has the intent of returning.
• A person who accepts employment or engages in any trade or occupation in Georgia or who enters his/her children in school.
• Any person that has been in the state for 30 days or more.

Georgia License Restrictions

When issuing a driver’s license, DDS is authorized to impose restrictions on your driver’s license, whenever there is good cause, to assure the safe operation of a motor vehicle. Any restrictions imposed will appear on your driver’s license. If no restrictions are imposed, the letter “A” will appear in the License Restrictions area on your license. The chart below lists the restriction codes used by DDS. Licenses may be issued with multiple restriction codes.

Georgia Laws Governing Right-of-Way

Right-of-way is a phrase used to describe who has the lawful authority to enter a roadway, change lanes within a roadway, make a turn from a roadway, travel through an intersection, or make any other traffi c related movement. Georgia law establishes right-of-way in all situations. Vehicle drivers (including bicyclists) and pedestrians should always understand the rules related to right-of-way, and remember that right-of-way is something to be given, not taken. There may be instances in which you as a driver or pedestrian have the legal right-of-way over someone else, even though the other person does not realize it and is not obeying the rules of the road. In those instances, the right-of-way should be yielded in order to prevent a crash.

• When traveling on a roadway that intersects with another roadway, if you are faced with a stop sign, but other traffi c is not, you may proceed only after stopping and yielding the right-of-way to any other vehicle or pedestrian either in the intersection, or so close to the intersection as to make it dangerous to travel through the intersection.
• At intersections where there are no stop signs, yield signs or other traffic signals, if two vehicles come to the intersection at the same time, the driver of the vehicle on the left must yield to the driver of the vehicle on the right.
• At a four-way intersection where all drivers are faced with stop signs, all drivers must yield to pedestrians; otherwise the vehicles should proceed through the intersection in a “fi rst to arrive, fi rst to proceed order.” If two vehicles reach the intersection at approximately the same time, yield to any vehicles on your right.
• When making a left turn at an intersection, or into an alley or driveway, yield the right-of-way to all traffi c coming from the opposite direction
• When approaching a yield sign, slow down to a safe speed and be prepared to stop. If necessary, stop and only proceed when it is safe to do so.
• When the roadway you are traveling on is merging into other traffi c without stopping, adjust your speed and vehicle position to allow you to merge into the new lane safely. If traffic from another roadway is merging into the roadway you are traveling on, safely change lanes away from the merging traffi c if possible. If it is not possible to change lanes away from the merging traffic, adjust your speed and vehicle position to safely allow the traffi c to merge.
• At intersections with traffi c control lights, wait until the intersection is clear of traffic or approaching traffi c before entering. Do not proceed “just because” you have the green light.
• If you are about to enter or cross a highway from an alley, private road or highway you must stop and yield the right-of-way to all other pedestrians and vehicles already traveling on the roadway or sidewalk you are entering or crossing.
• If police, fire, or ambulance service vehicles are using their emergency lights (blue or red) and sirens, safely maneuver your vehicle out of their way. You should slow your vehicle and move over to the shoulder of the road, or if that is not possible, as far to the right of the roadway or lane as you can, and stop. You should always use caution to ensure that you do not endanger other motorists, bicyclists, or pedestrians while doing so. Do not position your vehicle so that it blocks an intersection or otherwise prevents the emergency vehicle from making a necessary turn.

Georgia's Move-Over Law

The Georgia Move-Over Law requires drivers to move over one lane when possible if an emergency vehicle with fl ashing lights is parked on the shoulder of the highway. If traffi c is too heavy to move over safely, the law requires drivers to slow down below the posted speed limit AND to be prepared to stop. A violation of the Move-Over Law in Georgia is considered a moving violation, which means a conviction results in the accrual of points on a driver’s record. Drivers convicted of a violation of the Move-Over Law in Georgia will be assessed three points on their driving record and may face a fi ne up to $500.

Georgia Speed Limits

Maximum traveling speeds are determined based on the following general rules in Georgia unless otherwise posted:

• 30 miles per hour in any urban or residential district
• 35 miles per hour on an unpaved county road
• 70 miles per hour on a rural interstate
• 65 miles per hour on an urban interstate or on a multi-lane divided highway
• 55 miles per hour in all other areas

Georgia Drunk Driving

• It is unlawful for any person to operate a motor vehicle while under the infl uence of alcohol, a drug, or any other substance which impairs his/her ability to safely do so.
• A person 21 or more years of age is considered “Under the Infl uence of Alcohol” when 0.08 gm or more by alcohol weight is present in the blood.
• A person under 21 years of age is irrefutably considered “Under the Influence of Alcohol” when 0.02 gm or more by alcohol weight is present in the blood.

Additional Georgia Resources