Gwinnett County school officials and court records say a district bus driver identified as David Atkins is facing DUI allegations tied to off-duty incidents. Court filings describe a November 2025 case alleging Atkins drove his personal vehicle while under the influence of drugs, and records also list a separate DUI-alcohol charge from 2024. The district says Atkins is no longer employed and that families have been notified.
What the records and district say
According to Atlanta News First, court records show the November 2025 case centers on alleged drug impairment while driving, and the 2024 DUI-alcohol case has been transferred to state court. The district told the outlet that Gwinnett County Public Schools requires employees to self-report arrests, conducts background checks before hiring and follow-up driving-history checks on bus drivers, and carries out random drug and alcohol testing as required under federal law. GCPS said it has removed Atkins from bus routes and is reviewing the circumstances around the cases.
Parents react
Parents did not exactly find the news reassuring. “It makes me feel nervous,” one parent told Atlanta News First. The outlet reported that its sources said Atkins drove routes for Sugar Hill Elementary, Lanier Middle and Lanier High and had been behind the wheel of a school bus as recently as this week. The notice sent to families, according to the report, says the district is examining its procedures and how to strengthen oversight. Officials have not yet released a court date, and Atlanta News First reported that Atkins did not respond to its requests for comment.
Scale and safety steps
Gwinnett County Public Schools is Georgia’s largest school district; its news releases say the system transports more than 128,000 students each day and operates a sizable bus fleet that requires constant maintenance and oversight. Gwinnett County Public Schools highlights annual transportation preparations and ongoing driver training as part of that work.
Federal rules on testing
Federal regulations require employers to include commercial drivers in random drug and alcohol testing pools and to meet minimum yearly testing rates, including random controlled-substance testing rates set under Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration rules. Those standards, detailed in 49 CFR §382.305, mandate unannounced selection methods along with procedures for reasonable-suspicion and post-accident testing. The Legal Information Institute outlines the random-testing rates and selection rules that apply to Department of Transportation-covered drivers.
Local context
Gwinnett has dealt with a series of troubling transportation cases in recent years, including drivers accused of sexual misconduct and facing assault allegations, and the district has publicly removed employees after investigations. Those earlier cases, covered by local news outlets, help explain why some families reacted so strongly when they learned of the latest charges. In one 2023 case that resulted in an arrest and firing, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported that a former Gwinnett bus driver was accused of inappropriate behavior in front of students.
Legal implications
In Georgia, a DUI conviction can carry fines, jail time and a driver’s license suspension under O.C.G.A. §40-6-391. Commercial drivers face stricter per se alcohol limits along with separate employer reporting obligations. Certain drug and alcohol violations must be reported by employers to the FMCSA Clearinghouse, and a driver can be removed from safety-sensitive duties until completing the return-to-duty process, according to federal guidance. See HG.org and the FMCSA enforcement notice on clearinghouse reporting for additional detail on those requirements.
Next steps
Court records reviewed by Atlanta News First indicate the November 2025 case remains open and active, and families at the affected schools are waiting for more information while the district completes its internal review. This story will be updated as new court filings, GCPS notices or official statements are released.
