STATE v. BECK (2002)

The State appeals from the grant of Beck's general demurrer challenging the constitutionality of OCGA § 40-6-391(a)(2).   See OCGA § 5-7-1(a)(1).   We reverse.

Beck was arrested for driving under the influence of drugs and possession of marijuana.   OCGA §§ 40-6-391(a)(2) and 16-13-2.   He filed a general demurrer challenging the constitutionality of OCGA § 40-6-391(a)(2), arguing that in light of this Court's decision in Love v. State, 271 Ga. 398(3), 517 S.E.2d 53 (1999), OCGA § 40-6-391(a)(2) must be considered unconstitutional as a violation of equal protection.   The trial court accepted that argument and granted the demurrer.

The gravamen of Beck's general demurrer is that the statutory scheme produces disparate treatment between those who are charged with driving under the influence of a drug in violation of OCGA § 40-6-391(a)(2), whom the State must prove to be “less safe to drive,” and those charged with driving under the influence of a legally-possessed drug in violation of OCGA § 40-6-391(b), whom the State must prove have been “rendered incapable of driving safely.”   However, in the recent case of State v. Kachwalla, 274 Ga. 886, 561 S.E.2d 403 (2002), this Court addressed the same argument grounded in Love, supra, and found that “ ‘less safe to drive’ and ‘rendered incapable of driving safely’ set the same standard of impairment necessary to establish that a driver is driving under the influence of alcohol or other intoxicating substance․” Kachwalla, supra at 890, 561 S.E.2d 403.   Thus, there is no disparity in the treatment of those charged under the two different Code subsections, and here, as in Kachwalla, “the trial court erred when it concluded that OCGA § 40-6-391(a)(2) violates the equal protection clauses of the U.S. and Georgia constitutions.”  Id.  See also State v. Pittmon, 275 Ga. 139, 562 S.E.2d 185 (2002).

Judgment reversed.

HINES, Justice.

All the Justices concur.