Midtown Atlanta Reports Drag Racing Over Fourth of July Weekend

Atlanta Police Car

Atlanta, Ga. - As an Atlanta DUI Lawyer, I spent a good amount of time focusing on the reports of drag racing on Atlanta's streets during the past several months of quarantine.
According to reports from this past holiday weekend, a midtown overpass was the site of street racing once again. The overpass near the Brookwood Amtrak station is currently covered in tire marks.

Officers with the Atlanta Police Department stated that there were no arrests or citations given during the incident that occurred on Sunday night. In today's post, I will outline the law behind the offense of street racing in the state of Georgia.

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

Racing and reckless driving charges are often accompanied with charges of DUI in Atlanta. If you have been arrested or cited in connection with a DUI or an incident of reckless driving, call our offices now.