What are H.E.A.T. Teams in Georgia?

Impaired drivers account for almost 1/3 of the traffic deaths on Georgia roads each year. To lower the number of fatalities in Georgia, the Department of Highway Safety implemented the Highway Enforcement of Aggressive Traffic (HEAT) campaign. The Department of Highway Safety in Georgia developed HEAT teams to catch aggressive and impaired drivers. The leading causes of fatal accidents in the state of Georgia are from speeding and impaired driving. Therefore, HEAT programs were established to save lives. They are formed out of many jurisdictional agencies throughout the state, and there are 15 different law enforcement agencies so far. 

Along with trying to prevent accidents by stopping aggressive driving, HEAT strives to educate the public about the dangers of driving impaired. 

One county where the benefits of having a HEAT program can be easily seen is in Glynn County, Georgia. Glynn County includes Brunswick, St. Simons, Jekyll, and Sea Island. Glynn County's beautiful scenery attracts thousands of tourists every year, and there was a need for HEAT to be implemented. The county police department has a HEAT squad made up of three officers that began in 2008. The three officers devote all of their time by focusing on dangerous driving (impaired driving and speeding). In 2016 alone, they made 269 DUI stops, 2,121 speeding spots, and 688 stops for seatbelt violations. Their success is what prompted the GDHS to give them a $30,000 grant specifically for the HEAT program. 

Other HEAT teams include:

• Athens-Clarke County Police Department
• DeKalb County Police Department
• Newton County Sheriff's Office
• Georgia State Patrol
• Henry County Police Department
• Lowndes County Sheriff's Office
• Marietta Police Department
• Richmond County Sheriff's Office

More teams are coming on board daily with the goal of having HEAT programs everywhere in Georgia.

Contact Us

If you have been charged with aggressive driving, whether it was speeding, driving impaired, or DUI, we can help. The Law Offices of Lawson and Berry has over 20 years of defense experience and know how to help you with your case. Because HEAT team members are highly trained, and that is why you need an expert attorney to fight your case. Our Georgia DUI Lawyers are highly trained and understand all the technicalities that have to be followed. Don't jeopardize your future by trying to represent yourself; contact us today for a free case evaluation. Never suffer through severe Georgia DUI Penalties without first seeking our help.