Driver Arrested for August Road Rage Shooting in Douglasville

City of Douglasville

Douglasville, Ga. - A road rage shooting was reported in August, and just this past week, the suspected driver responsible for the shooting has been arrested.

According to reports, the driver was traveling westbound on Interstate 20 when he began flashing his high beams and shooting at a victim's vehicle. He has been accused of firing rounds at the same vehicle two different times in the same incident. He then exited the interstate and sped away.

Police were able to identify the man and executed a search warrant on his home last week. He was arrested and is now being held at the Douglas County Jail without bond.

As a Georgia DUI Lawyer, I will focus today's post on the initial offense committed by the driver - aggressive driving.

Aggressive Driving in Georgia

The Georgia Code defines aggressive driving in Georgia as: “driving 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.” O.C.G.A. §40-6-397.

According to the statute, aggressive driving just needs to target another person - not just a driver. The aggressive driving could be directed at pedestrians or passengers in other vehicles or even passengers in the same vehicle as the aggressive driver. 

The law outlining aggressive driving is a relatively new law - the offense itself is a new offense. In fact, there are only a few reported cases. This is why we see so many more charges of reckless driving in Georgia. Reckless driving is simply defined as driving in a manner where there is a reckless disregard for all people or property. 

If  convicted of aggressive driving, you're guilty of a Georgia misdemeanor of a high and aggravated nature. This means that the punishment could include a fine up to $5,000, jail time of up to 12 months, or both. This is the same classification of crime as a DUI in Georgia.

A conviction for aggressive driving will also add six points to your license. This could lead to a points suspension of your Georgia driver's license if you have accumulated fifteen or more points in a consecutive 24-month period. If you're a driver under 21 years old, any offense that is four points or more will suspend your Georgia driver's license for a six-month period. 

Practice Note

Aggressive driving is a very serious offense. If you or a loved one has been arrested for a serious traffic violation such as aggressive driving or DUI in Georgia, call our offices now.