Georgia Officer Falsely Reports Car as Stolen After Hit and Run

According to reports, an officer has been arrested on charges of violation of oath, false statements, and leaving the scene of an accident in Georgia.

Nicole Reeves has been accused of reporting her personal vehicle as stolen after getting into an accident, abandoning the car, and leaving the scene. Authorities found her abandoned vehicle, and she called to report it stolen 20 minutes after it was recovered.

Reeves has been placed on administrative leave without pay, the department said. As a Georgia DUI Lawyer, I will outline the law behind hit and run in today's post.

Hit and Run in Georgia

Hit and run in Georgia is defined by the Georgia Code as a violation of the legal responsibilities that any driver who is in an accident must complete.

The law is as follows:

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.

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.

Hit and run is a very serious offense and can be classified as either a misdemeanor or a felony.

Practice Note

If you or a loved one has been arrested, contact a Georgia DUI Attorney now.