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Driver Drunkenly Hits Police Car in Fayetteville

Posted by Richard Lawson | Aug 15, 2020 | 0 Comments

Fayette County Courthouse

Fayetteville, Ga. - According to reports out of Fayette County, an Atlanta driver was allegedly under the influence when he hit a local police officer's squad car.

The accident occurred on Georgia 92 last weekend. He is facing charges of reckless driving, obstruction, criminal interference with government property, fleeing or attempting to elude, DUI, driving with a suspended license, and aggravated assault. All of these charges occurred when the suspect attempted to flee a traffic stop and slamming head-on into a patrol car.

As a Fayette County DUI Lawyer, I will outline the law behind one of the offenses faced by the suspect above - fleeing or attempting to elude police.

Fleeing or Attempting to Elude in Georgia

Georgia Law defines Fleeing or Attempting to Elude in Georgia in O.C.G.A. §40-6-395. There are many different criminal acts that are encompassed by the statute itself. The first part of the statute states:

It shall be unlawful for any driver of a vehicle willfully to fail or refuse to bring his or her vehicle to a stop or otherwise to flee or attempt to elude a pursuing police vehicle or police officer when given a visual or an audible signal to bring the vehicle to a stop. The signal given by the police officer may be by hand, voice, emergency light, or siren. The officer giving such signal shall be in uniform prominently displaying his or her badge of office, and his or her vehicle shall be appropriately marked showing it to be an official police vehicle.

Violating this part of the law is classified as a misdemeanor offense. This means that if convicted of willfully failing or refusing to bring his or her vehicle to a stop will face a penalty of up to 12 months in jail as well as fines up $1,000. 

The second part of the statute explains situations that cause the offense of fleeing an officer to taken more seriously:

In addition, if the accused driver, while fleeing or attempting to elude a pursuing police vehicle or police officer in an attempt to escape arrest for any offense:

(i) Operates his or her vehicle in excess of 20 miles an hour above the posted speed limit;

(ii) Strikes or collides with another vehicle or a pedestrian;

(iii) Flees in traffic conditions which place the general public at risk of receiving serious injuries;

(iv) Is DUI over .08 grams

(v) Leaves the state.

If convicted of this part of the statute, then the driver will be facing a felony. Felony penalties include up to 5 years in prison.

The third part of the statute covers the impersonation of a law enforcement officer:

It shall be unlawful for a person: (1) To impersonate a sheriff, deputy sheriff, state trooper, agent of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, agent of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, police officer, or any other authorized law enforcement officer by using a motor vehicle or motorcycle designed, equipped, or marked so as to resemble a motor vehicle or motorcycle belonging to any federal, state, or local law enforcement agency; or (2) Otherwise to impersonate any such law enforcement officer in order to direct, stop, or otherwise control traffic.

Practice Note

Call our offices now if you or a loved one has been arrested. We can help you with your case and let you know which options are available to you.

About the Author

Richard Lawson

Managing Partner at Lawson & Berry:

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