Third Suspect Arrested in Georgia Interstate Racing Incident

Clayton County police officers have arrested a third suspect in the racing incident that made headlines this past week on I-285.

The third arrest is that of a teenage driver. According to reports, he was arrested on charges of both reckless driving and racing in Georgia.

The video shows numerous drivers blocking traffic on the highway near Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta Airport. The drivers were engaging in racing, doughnuts, and burnouts on the highway.

“These offenders may have thought this stunt was a few minutes of fun on a weekend, but the consequences will last much longer,” the spokesperson for Clayton County Police stated in a news release. “We will continue to combat this deviant behavior.”

As a Georgia DUI Lawyer, I handle all types of traffic violations - not only DUI in Georgia. In today's post, I will outline the offense of reckless driving. Reckless Driving in Georgia is a DUI related offense - meaning that it is an offense that can lead to a DUI investigation.

Reckless Driving in Georgia

Reckless Driving in Georgia is defined by Georgia 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.

Examples of reckless driving include:

• Excessive Speeding
• Tailgating
• Illegal passing
• Weaving in and out of traffic
• Ignoring traffic control devices
• Racing other vehicles on a public roadway

Practice Note

Call our offices today if you have been cited or arrested in the state of Georgia.