Atlanta, Ga. - According to the Atlanta City Council and the Atlanta Police Department, there have been new developments in the fight against street racing and reckless driving within the City of Atlanta.
A new ordinance has been approved that makes even attending or viewing street racing events a city-level crime. Street racing bystanders can now face up to $1,000 in fines and spend up to 6 months in jail.
The ordinance states: “In addition to prohibiting and penalizing street racing and reckless driving exhibitions, it is also necessary to prohibit and penalize the organization of, and participation in, such activities, which draw large numbers of spectators, causing a disturbance of the peace and a threat to public safety.”
As an Atlanta DUI Lawyer, I specialize in violations related to DUI in Atlanta - this includes street racing and reckless driving. Both of these offenses (amongst other traffic violations) commonly lead to in-depth investigations by officers which can in turn lead to DUI or drug possession charges. See below for the law regarding street racing.
Street Racing
O.C.G.A. §40-6-186 defines the offense of street racing as:
Georgia law prohibits any vehicle on a highway of this state from participating in any race, speed competition or contest, drag race or acceleration contest, test of physical endurance, exhibition of speed or acceleration, or for the purpose of making a speed record.
By law, the term racing is defined as the use of one or more vehicles in an attempt to out-gain, outdistance, or prevent another vehicle from passing, to arrive at a given destination ahead of another vehicle or vehicles, or to test the physical stamina or endurance of drivers over long-distance driving routes.
Drag racing is also legally defined as the operation of two or more vehicles from a point side by side at accelerated speeds in a competitive attempt to outdistance each other or the operation of one or more vehicles over a common selected course from the same point to the same point for the purpose of comparing the relative speeds or power of acceleration of such vehicle or vehicles within a certain distance or time limit.
If convicted of racing, the penalties can include any punishments allowed under the misdemeanor sentencing statute. These punishments range from fines of $1000 plus court costs, license suspension, community service, jail-time, probation to more.
Practice Note
If you or a loved one has been arrested or cited for a serious traffic violation such as street racing, reckless driving, DUI, or all of the above, call our offices now.
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