Atlanta Driver Leads Police Chase Through the City

Atlanta Capitol Building

Atlanta, Ga. - A driver is facing 22 charges after being accused of leading a police chase through the city in a stolen vehicle this past weekend.

Officers for the Atlanta Police Department spotted the stolen vehicle. The driver sped away, and as a result of Atlanta's no chase policy, he got away. Days later however, officers with the Georgia State Patrol spotted the vehicle again. On Saturday, APD officers and Georgia State Patrol troopers worked together to slow the vehicle. APD used Stop Sticks (a commonly used tire-deflation device) so that troopers could bring the vehicle to a stop. Before the mechanisms were used, the driver hit another vehicle with the stolen car before continuing the chase.

The driver is facing charges of theft by taking along with fleeing or attempting to elude in Georgia.  He is also facing hit and run charges.

Many times these charges are charged in conjunction with a charge of DUI in Georgia. As a Georgia DUI Lawyer, I will focus today's post on the offense of hit and run.

Hit and Run in Georgia

Hit and Run in Georgia is defined by Georgia Law in O.C.G.A. §40-6-270 as:

(a) The driver of any vehicle involved in an accident resulting in injury to or the death of any person or in damage to a vehicle which is driven or attended by any person shall immediately stop such vehicle at the scene of the accident or shall stop as close thereto as possible and forthwith return to the scene of the accident and shall:

(1) Give his or her name and address and the registration number of the vehicle he or she is driving;

(2) Upon request and if it is available, exhibit his or her operator's license to the person struck or the driver or occupant of or person attending any vehicle collided with;

(3) Render to any person injured in such accident reasonable assistance, including the transporting, or the making of arrangements for the transporting, of such person to a physician, surgeon, or hospital for medical or surgical treatment if it is apparent that such treatment is necessary or if such transporting is requested by the injured person; and

(4) Where a person injured in such accident is unconscious, appears deceased, or is otherwise unable to communicate, make every reasonable effort to ensure that emergency medical services and local law enforcement are contacted for the purpose of reporting the accident and making a request for assistance. The driver shall in every event remain at the scene of the accident until fulfilling the requirements of this subsection. Every such stop shall be made without obstructing traffic more than is necessary.

(b) If such accident is the proximate cause of death or a serious injury, any person knowingly failing to stop and comply with the requirements of subsection (a) of this Code section shall be guilty of a felony and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punished by imprisonment for not less than one nor more than five years.

Practice Note

As the statute states hit and run can be classified as either a misdemeanor or a felony. In either sense, our lawyers can handle your case. Call us now if you have been arrested.