Decatur City Commission Cracks Down On Street Racing

DECATUR, GA — The city of Decatur is now the latest DeKalb County city to try and put an end to street racing and reckless driving.

The Decatur City Commission passed an ordinance at its Monday meeting, prohibiting and penalizing illegal street racing, reckless driving and unauthorized vehicle caravans, according to city documents.

The ordinance applies to organizers and participants in street racing, which often draws in hundreds of spectators. Participants may include passengers, promoters, race starters and anyone else playing a role in the activities.

Violators are subject to up to $1,000 in fines and/or imprisonment up to six months, the ordinance reads. Additionally, any vehicles used in street racing activities may be impounded and held until final adjudication of the vehicle owner's case.

Street racing and related activity have been on the rise across the country since the COVID-19 pandemic began last year, and Decatur has also experienced an increase in street racing, Deputy Chief Scott Richards said in city documents.

Since May 2020, the city of Decatur has experienced a total of 41 incidents and/or complaints involving street racing, Richards said.

"Street racing and reckless driving exhibitions occur every weekend across cities and/or counties in the metro-Atlanta area. Many jurisdictions have experienced serious motor vehicle injury accidents as well as shootings during the exhibitions," Richards said. "This activity is an immediate threat to public safety and a nuisance to the community."

The cities of Atlanta, Brookhaven, Chamblee, Doraville, Roswell, Sandy Springs and others have passed similar laws in the past year, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported.

It's not just local municipalities that are cracking down on street racing. Two bills are moving through the state legislature that would impose stricter punishments for street racers, organizers and attendees: Senate Bill 10 and House Bill 534.

If either of these bills pass, they would not go into effect until July 1. Richards said the city's ordinance — which went into effect immediately — will bridge the gap between now and July 1, should one or both bills become law.