Grady Newsource DUI Bill 1/26/12

Описание: A new proposed bill may give Georgians convicted of DUI a chance to wipe the slate clean. Newsource reporter Brandon Burton got mixed reactions about the proposal

It only takes one drink to get a DUI. But a new proposal sponsored by Georgia state rep Culver Kidd would allow for the possibility to have a DUI removed from your record. All it would take is five years of no driving offenses. One Athens man arrested for DUI last year described what life is like afterwards.

"You can't really drive anywhere, you have to rely on people for transportation. You have to be at probation all the time, you have to pay lots of fines, you have to take a DUI class... you have do all this stuff just in order to get your license back," DUI offender Patrick Heck said.

Heck says people who show a willingness to drive responsibly should get an opportunity to start fresh.

"I definitely think that after 5 years if you haven't done anything basically wrong on your driving record you should be able to have that expunged because it makes it look bad when you're applying for a job or just anything in general," Heck said.

UGA chief of police Jimmy Williamson says drinking and driving is all about accountability and making the right choice before an arrest happens.

"I havent gotten a DUI, don't plan on getting a DUI. I make these decisions every night not to get one. I mean I drink alcohol, I just make smart decisions. So you know, I don't know why those other people can't make those smart decisions and if you make that mistake, you're held accountable and I don't know why there is this big push to wipe the slates clean because you made a mistake," UGA chief of police Jimmy Williamson said.

Regardless of what happens with the new proposal, one thing about drinking and driving is still crystal clear. If you've been drinking, don't get behind the wheel. I'm Brandon Burton, Grady Newsource.

The number of DUI arrests in Georgia in 2011 is still unknown