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Appellant loses bid to reverse denied alcohol‑server badge after board hears DUI conviction evidence
Summary
After an adjudicative hearing, the Spalding County Board of Commissioners upheld denial of an alcohol-server badge for Lynette Hampton, citing a recent DUI conviction and the county ordinance’s two‑year disqualification window. The board entered the certified conviction into evidence before voting 4‑0 to deny the appeal.
A woman seeking reversal of a denied alcohol‑server badge told the Spalding County Board of Commissioners she did not know the permit was required and urged leniency, but commissioners said the county ordinance and documented conviction left them no choice.
“My name is Lynette Hampton. I live at 1101 West Taylor Street in Griffin, Georgia. I didn't even know that was a thing for the past 14 months,” Hampton told the board after being sworn in. Director David Allen explained the background‑check process that led to the denial and said staff had a certified copy of the applicant’s conviction to enter into the record.
County Attorney Windham administered the oath and guided the adjudicative hearing process. Staff described the alcohol‑server permit ordinance and the disqualification rules; the relevant provision cited a two‑year window from the date of a qualifying conviction. Commissioners and staff confirmed Hampton’s conviction was recorded in November and that the ordinance’s timeline therefore made her ineligible under the existing standard.
During deliberations, one commissioner noted a state alternative‑court program—if a case is moved and dismissed that could change eligibility—but commissioners emphasized that undoing the conviction or moving it to state court is an outside legal remedy and not a basis to reverse the administrative denial tonight. Staff entered the certified copy of the conviction as County Exhibit A for the board to consider.
Commissioner James Dutton moved to deny the appeal; a second was recorded, and the motion carried 4‑0. Chair (speaker 1) announced the motion carried and the denial was upheld.
What’s next: the board treated this as an adjudication and the applicant was informed of her procedural options, including seeking post‑conviction relief through the courts. The county did not vote to alter its ordinance at the meeting.
