Clayton superintendent cited for running stop sign

By MEGAN MATTEUCCI

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Clayton County’s new school superintendent learned he’s not in California any more Saturday night when he got welcomed to Georgia with a traffic ticket.

Forest Park Police pulled over Superintendent Edmond Heatley for running a stop sign, Major Chris Matson said.

Officers temporarily detained Heatley while they verified his California drivers’ license, police said.

“California licenses cause complications,” Matson said.

Heatley, who took over as superintendent July 1, had not switched his out-of-state license to Georgia, police said. Officers took Heatley’s fingerprints and photographed him before releasing him.

He promised to get a new license.

“He had only another day to do so,” Matson said.

Heatley also drove off with a traffic ticket for running a stop sign.

Police say Heatley could have been arrested. Under the Interstate Drivers’ License compact, states share driving record information. California does not belong to that compact, which means any one stopped for a traffic citation with a California license could go to jail, Clayton County Police spokesman Officer Kevin Hughes said.

Heatley could not be reached for comment Saturday night. Clayton schools spokesman Charles White and board chairwoman Alieka Anderson said they were unaware of the traffic stop.

Heatley previously served as superintendent of the Chino Valley (Calif.) Unified School District.