Councilwoman Cleta Winslow pleads guilty to DUI charge, receives fine and probation

• Joeff Davis
• Atlanta City Councilwoman Cleta Winslow at Mayor Kasim Reed's 2014 inauguration.

Atlanta City Councilwoman Cleta Winslow today pleaded guilty to a charge related to her drunk-driving arrest last year and will be placed on probation and ordered to pay a fine.

Winslow, who originally faced five misdemeanor charges related to her May 2013 DUI arrest, this morning accepted a plea bargain in Fulton County State Court. She admitted wrongdoing to a single count of DUI less safe - an offense typically reserved for impaired drivers with a blood alcohol content (BAC) level that's less than 0.08. All other charges were merged into that charge.

"I've learned my lesson," Winslow said in court. "I'm doing things differently."

As a first-time offender, a staffer for Fulton Judge Susan Eldein tells CL that the veteran councilwoman will be required to pay a $700 fine, participate in 40 hours worth of community service, partake in alcohol and drug evaluation, attend a Mothers Against Drunk Driving panel, and complete a DUI risk reduction program. She'll also be placed on non-reporting probation for 12 months provided that she fulfills all of the sentence's requirements.

Last May, Atlanta Police pulled Winslow's gray Honda Accord over a few blocks from her West End residence after she allegedly committed several traffic violations. The APD officer who conducted the traffic stop says the councilwoman admitted to drinking "two dirty martinis" at Elliott Street Pub, seemed inebriated, and refused a sobriety test. She was taken into custody and released the next day on a $3,355 bond.

After pleading not guilty to her drunk-driving charges, her case was moved to Fulton state court. She faced five misdemeanors for driving under the influence, reckless driving, failure to obey stop sign, failure to obey signs or control devices, and driving on the wrong side of road. Her initial December court appearance was rescheduled due to an undisclosed medical emergency.

Winslow tells CL that she had already been taking DUI classes prior to today's court appearance. Following her May arrest, she says she has tried to make "wise choices" to hopefully earn her license back.

"This is the first time that I've personally went before a judge," Winslow tells CL. "I'm doing everything I'm supposed to do. Now I'm back to doing the business of the people."

The veteran councilwoman, who won re-election last November, has represented Downtown, Castleberry Hill, Mechanicsville, Pittsburgh, West End, and other southwest Atlanta neighborhoods on City Council since she took office more than two decades ago.