Hardship permits can only be given by a judge and only in extreme circumstances. We don't see them much around here because "you can always take MARTA."
If the person's job requires driving, such as pizza delivery, sales calls, etc., he's going to lose it anyway because no company will accept the liability issues arising from allowing an employee to drive on a hardship permit after being busted for DUI. So then he doesn't need the hardship permit after all.
Not much of a right, at least not in this state.
You have a fan here. I agree with your take. Any government that grants rights can take those rights away just as well. Moreover they use the word "Privilege" for a reason. Congress can suspend privileges, they certainly should not be able to suspend what the DOI called inalienable rights. Although the courts seem to have that power, see Kelo, Roe and Doe v Bolton.
Back when I was a car dealer in Atlanta I saw them all the time. And the worst part about Ga. was that none of the mandatory insurance laws were enforced alway. Everybody and his brother in those day's had a fake insurance card and I'd say it's the same today.