Motorcyclist Eludes Police on Georgia 400

Sandy Springs police clocked a motorcyclist traveling at 172 MPH on Georgia 400 last weekend. On April 11^th, police reported that they were unable to catch up to him, and therefore, the motorcyclist succeeded in getting away from police.

Sergeant Sal Ortega with the Sandy Springs Police Department made the following statement to news outlets: “Our officer didn't have a chance to catch him. Those speeds, that's an arrest. You're talking about reckless driving.”

According to local law enforcement and police departments, speeding and other traffic violations have been a huge issue since the Shelter in Place Order was established and enforced. The result has been obvious – less traffic on the roads has led to drivers taking advantage. A local mayor has even compared the speeds on both Georgia 400 and Interstate 285 to a NASCAR event.

Traffic violations, such as speeding in Georgia, can lead to more serious charges. For example, if a driver is pulled over for speeding or failure to maintain lane in Georgia, and then the officer notices anything that might lead him to certain suspicions a more in-depth investigation. This in turn can lead to more serious charges such as DUI in Georgia.

As a Georgia DUI Lawyer, I will outline the offense of reckless driving in Georgia. This charge is applicable as speeds as high as 172 MPH surpass the offense of speeding. As stated by the police department above – this type of traffic violation results in arrest.

Reckless Driving in Georgia

Reckless driving in Georgia is defined by law in O.C.G.A.§40-6-390 as:

(a) Any person who drives any vehicle in reckless disregard for the safety of persons or property commits the offense of reckless driving.

(b) Every person convicted of reckless driving shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punished by a fine not to exceed $1,000.00 or imprisonment not to exceed 12 months, or by both such fine and imprisonment, provided that no provision of this Code section shall be construed so as to deprive the court imposing the sentence of the power given by law to stay or suspend the execution of such sentence or to place the defendant on probation.

Reckless driving is a serious traffic violation - however, it is unfortunately becoming a more common charge. A conviction for reckless driving is 4 points on your driving history. This means that if you are convicted of reckless driving and you are under the age of 21 and convicted of reckless driving, you will lose your license. 

Driving at high speeds, weaving, and other driving that leads to accidents often result in a reckless driving charge. In this case, police are claiming that Ridgley drove recklessly in his attempt to flee the officers.

Practice Note

There are many different traffic violations that can lead to a DUI arrest in the state of Georgia. If you have been arrested, please contact our offices now. We can consult with you about your case now.