Drivers Arrested for Street Racing in Atlanta Now Facing Longer Time

Atlanta Police Car

Atlanta, Ga. - According to the Atlanta Police Department, drivers who are arrested for street racing will now be facing immediate strict consequences.

Before if a driver was arrested on street racing charges, he or she was able to immediately bond out of jail. As of this week, city officials have made it so that the driver will need to appear in front of a judge after 24-48 hours in jail.

These changes have been made after close to 500 arrests for street racing have been made in the City of Atlanta.

As a Georgia DUI Lawyer, I will focus on the law behind the offense of street racing in the state of Georgia. This offense is closely related to DUI in Georgia.

Street Racing in Georgia

O.C.G.A. § 40-6-186 of the Georgia Code defines the offense of racing in Georgia as:

Georgia law prohibits any vehicle on a highway of this state from participating in any race, speed competition or contest, drag race or acceleration contest, test of physical endurance, exhibition of speed or acceleration, or for the purpose of making a speed record.

Racing is legally defined as the use of one or more vehicles in an attempt to out-gain, outdistance, or prevent another vehicle from passing, to arrive at a given destination ahead of another vehicle or vehicles, or to test the physical stamina or endurance of drivers over long-distance driving routes.

Furthermore, drag racing is legally defined as the operation of two or more vehicles from a point side by side at accelerated speeds in a competitive attempt to outdistance each other or the operation of one or more vehicles over a common selected course from the same point to the same point for the purpose of comparing the relative speeds or power of acceleration of such vehicle or vehicles within a certain distance or time limit.

If convicted of racing, the penalties can include any punishments allowed under the misdemeanor sentencing statute. These punishments range from fines of $1000 plus court costs, license suspension, community service, jail time, probation to more. A racing conviction can also lead to the suspension of your Georgia Driver's License.

Practice Note

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