Aggressive Driving Situation Results in Two Gunshots in Georgia Family’s Vehicle

According to reports out of DeKalb County, Knokeisha Jones has been accused of firing multiple shots at a car with a family inside. The alleged victims - a man, his wife, and three small children - were in Brookhaven when Jones cut the vehicle off and then brandished a firearm.

The police discovered two bullet holes in the family's vehicle.

Jones was arrested on several different charges - including aggravated assault and cruelty to children. The predicate crime before this situation occurred was definitely the criminal offense of aggressive driving.

If you drive in the Metro Atlanta area, then you are familiar with just how aggressive drivers in our state can be. It is such a widespread problem that Georgia legislature wrote it into criminal law. As a Georgia DUI Lawyer, I will outline this law in today's post.

Aggressive Driving in Georgia

Aggressive Driving in Georgia is defined by the Georgia Code in O.C.G.A. §40-6-397 as:

When a person drives with the intent to annoy, harass, molest, intimidate, injure, or obstruct another person, including without limitation violating Code Section 40-6-42 [overtaking and passing], 40-6-48 [improper lane change or usage], 40-6-49 [following too closely], 40-6-123 [failing to signal], 40-6-184 [driving too slowly], 40-6-312 [lane usage by motorcycles], or 40-6-390 [reckless driving] with such intent.

Aggressive driving shares many similarities with the offense of reckless driving in Georgia. The law behind aggressive driving requires a deliberate, intentional act directed at a specific person. The key difference between aggressive driving and the reckless driving is that reckless driving is not directed toward a specific person but, instead, shows a reckless disregard for all people or property generally.

Any person convicted of aggressive driving shall be guilty of a high and aggravated misdemeanor in Georgia. A high and aggravated misdemeanor in Georgia is punishable by a fine up to $5,000 or by incarceration for up to 12 months, or both. 

Moreover, an aggressive driving charge can lead to a points suspension of your driver's license if 15 or more points are accumulated in any consecutive 24-month period.  An aggressive driving conviction adds 6 points to your license.  

Practice Note

Simply, the criminal offense of aggressive driving refers to selfish and unsafe driving behavior that shows the deliberate disregard for the safety of other drivers.

Aggressive driving examples include:

• Weaving in and out of traffic,
• Changing lanes without signaling,
• Passing in no-passing zones or emergency lanes,
• Forceful merging,
• Failing to yield,
• Cutting off other drivers at close range,
• Speeding,
• Inappropriate gesturing and hand signals,
• Inappropriate use of horns,
• Flashing headlights,
• And tailgating.

If you or a loved one has been accused of committing a serious traffic violation, contact our offices today. A Georgia DUI Attorney can help you today.