In basic terms, a nolo plea is where a person decides not to contest the charge and just accepts a punishment. Georgia residents age 21 and up are allowed to plead nolo contendere once every 5 years.Submit Your Plea​​ You can: plead guilty and pay the fine, plead not guilty and request a jury trial, or plead Nolo Contendere ("No contest"). Legally speaking, a no contest plea has the same effect as a guilty plea on a conviction when it comes to sentencing. A defendant can still plead nolo, but they will face the same license consequences as if they had pleaded guilty. Nolo Contendere translates to No Contest. A nolo plea lies somewhere between a Guilty and a Not Guilty plea. Guilty is an actual admission of guilt. Pleading "No Contest" is merely acknoweldging that the State has enough evidence to convict you without you pleading guilty. How Does a Guilty Plea Impact Legal Proceedings Differently Than a No Contest Plea?