Driver Crashes into Jonesboro Motel

Clayton County Courthouse

Jonesboro, Ga. - Clayton County officials are investigating a serious accident that occurred early this morning.

According to investigators and officers, authorities responded to an accident that occurred around 1:00AM on Old Dixie Road. A driver had crashed into a local motel. The driver had been shot which is what led to the collision. No one at the motel was injured, however, the driver has been taken to a local hospital in what has been described as a very serious condition.

Authorities are unclear as to what led to the man being shot, and as of right now, no one has been arrested. As a Georgia DUI Lawyer, I've noticed a lot of stories recently where a driver or a passenger in a vehicle has been shot or threatened with a firearm on Georgia roadways as a result of road rage. I am not sure if this was the case here, but in today's post, I will outline the law on the crime of aggressive driving.

Aggressive Driving in Georgia

The Georgia Code defines the crime of aggressive driving in Georgia in O.C.G.A. §40-6-397 as:

A person commits the offense of aggressive driving when he or she operates any motor vehicle with the intent to annoy, harass, molest, intimidate, injure, or obstruct another person, including without limitation violating Code Section 40-6-42, 40-6-48, 40-6-49, 40-6-123, 40-6-184, 40-6-312, or 40-6-390 with such intent.

Aggressive driving refers to any sort of selfish, unsafe and risky driving behavior that shows disregard for the safety of other drivers.

If the facts above that have been reported are true, then this was probably the driver's driving behavior toward the other vehicles around him before he pulled the gun. 

Some common examples of aggressive driving behaviors 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.

Aggressive driving is a misdemeanor of a high and aggravated nature in Georgia. This means that the offense falls into the middle ground between a misdemeanor and a felony. An aggressive driving conviction can result in up to 12 months of jail time as well as fines up to $5,000.

Practice Note

Offenses such as aggressive or reckless driving in Georgia are often seen in DUI cases in Georgia. If you or a loved one has a DUI case open in Georgia courts, call our offices today. It is important to have experienced legal counsel on your side.