Former Georgia Congressional Candidate Allegedly Violated DUI Probation

Steven Foster, age 62, is a former Democratic congressional candidate in North Georgia. He now stands accused of violating his probation stemming from a DUI conviction.

Foster was taken back to the Whitfield County jail after he, allegedly, failed to complete his assigned DUI classes. He now faces a misdemeanor probation violation charge. According to Connie Hall-Scott, a former communications director for his congressional campaign for Georgia's 14th District, Foster only had 36 days left on his probation as of Thursday, April 11, 2019.

Foster is a businessman and former physician from Dalton, Georgia. He was convicted of driving under the influence on August 7, 2018. He was sentenced to serve six months in jail and six months on probation after his conviction.

His alleged violation of probation, if proven, could lead to more penalties, including fines, time in jail, and lengthened probation.

If you or someone you care about has been arrested for driving under the influence (DUI) in Georgia, an experienced Fulton County DUI attorney can defend your case and protect your rights.

DUI Probation in Georgia

When a person is placed on probation as the result of a Georgia DUI offense, the court will set very specific rules and guidelines that must be followed, or further criminal charges could result.

In most DUI cases, persons convicted are placed on 12 months of probation or more. Probation can be expensive, with monthly supervision fees. There are also strict requirements associated with random drug and alcohol screenings which a required part of the process.

Avoiding Probation Violations

There are many ways a person can violate probation, and often these are accidental and unintentional. These include a person who:

• falls behind payments on probation fees;
• falls behind on community service; or
• misses a drug or alcohol class.

These are considered "technical" violations, as you did not commit a new crime by doing them. However, even these technical violations can land you back in jail, as it did for the former congressional candidate discussed above.

More serious violations occur when a person commits a new offense while serving a probation sentence. Even minor things such as a speeding ticket could be considered a violation of your probation. More serious crimes will be treated with more serious punishments. This means that you could face charges on the new criminal offense as well as punishment for the violation of your DUI probation.

Defending Your Case

With the help of experienced DUI attorneys, you can defend your case by showing:

• the violation was unintentional and can be rectified;
• you did not commit a violation of the probation requirements;
• mitigating circumstances existed that led to the violation; or
• a negotiated plea may relive the worst of the possible sanctions imposed by the Georgia court.

Consult a Fulton County DUI Attorney

A probation violation can be a serious issue that can have a significant impact on your freedoms. With the help of an experienced Fulton County DUI attorney, you can present a strong defense to protect your constitutional rights. Contact us today for a free consultation of your case.