Nearly 30 drunken driving cases in coastal Georgia have been dismissed after four former Georgia State Patrol troopers failed to appear in court following their termination in an investigation into what has become known as the “PIT for Pay” scandal.

Court records show 27 DUI prosecutions in Chatham County Recorder’s Court were dismissed after the former troopers, who had been subpoenaed as witnesses, did not appear for scheduled hearings. Without the arresting officers available to testify, prosecutors were unable to move forward with the cases.

The four troopers were fired in April after a Georgia Department of Public Safety investigation found they allegedly pursued personal injury claims against motorists following police pursuits in which they had performed Precision Immobilization Technique (PIT) maneuvers. Investigators said the troopers provided crash reports to a private attorney, who then sought insurance settlements from the drivers involved in the pursuits.

The internal investigation concluded the practice violated department ethics and conflict-of-interest policies. State investigators found the alleged scheme generated more than $83,000 in settlements after attorney fees, according to agency records.

The dismissals are expected to have continuing legal consequences. Additional DUI cases involving the former troopers remain on court calendars in the coming weeks and months, and prosecutors have indicated more cases could be dismissed if the former officers are unavailable or their credibility becomes an issue.

The four former troopers are also under investigation by the Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Council, which will determine whether they will be allowed to retain or regain their law enforcement certification in Georgia.

The Georgia Department of Public Safety has emphasized that the alleged misconduct involved only a small number of officers and does not reflect the standards of the agency as a whole. The investigation into the former troopers’ actions and related insurance claims remains ongoing.