Sandy Springs passed a law Tuesday banning illegal street racing and reckless driving contests, and offenders could be hit with more serious charges beyond a simple fine.
Police plan to arrest drivers, spectators and organizers of the activities, Sandy Springs Police Chief Ken DeSimone told City Council members during the Tuesday meeting. The maximum penalty for illegal street racing is a $1,000 fine and six months in jail. Violators will be required to appear in court under the new law.
Sgt. Sal Ortega, police public information officer for the department told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution that law enforcement will also impound cars and notify insurance companies of the driver’s violation.
Ortega said the police department is exploring the possibility of increased charges against offenders using Georgia Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act. The department is considering coordinating with other police jurisdictions to investigate whether the street race organizer held events at more locations and partnered with others for those activities, he said.
The Georgia Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act against a street racer would carry much heavier potential consequences.
“It’s never been done in racing,” Ortega said of state law. “It’s a possibility that we are trying to explore.”
Ortega said T-shirts and other merchandise has been sold at illegal street racing events.
“Technically they are making money to further their enterprise,” he said.
Late at night on Jan. 22, Police received multiple calls from downtown Sandy Springs residents complaining about loud drag racing noise. Responding officers found about 150 cars laying drag and doing doughnuts in the parking lot in front of Whole Foods, police said. The vehicles started fleeing as officers arrived but participants were later arrested, Ortega said. Police were able to gather information on organizers through social media chatter.
Ortega said several arrests were made during two other illegal street racing activities. In late October, racers blocked Abernathy Road near Glenridge Drive. And a month later on Thanksgiving night, 60-100 drivers performed doughnuts and other stunts on Roswell Road near Vernon Woods following an event at Xhale City Smoke & Vape shop, Ortega said.
Sandy Springs joins several cities in the Atlanta metro area that have passed laws banning illegal street racing activities. Roswell approved the law in January. Also nearby, Chamblee, Brookhaven and Doraville have banned the activity.
Although Sandy Springs has had fewer illegal racing contests than other communities, DeSimone said the city is taking proactive measures.
“Whenever you mix high speed and driver antics, it is a recipe with a high potential to injure people and even kill someone,” he said in a statement. “With this ordinance, we want to get the word out that street racing won’t be tolerated in our city.”
