Gov. Kemp Calls On 6 Atlanta Agencies To Help Stop Street Racing

MIDTOWN, GA — Gov. Brian Kemp thanked several agencies through Twitter on Sunday for working over the weekend to crack down on Atlanta’s street racing problem.

Kemp said the Georgia State Patrol, Cobb Police Department, Gwinnett Sheriff's Office, DeKalb County Police Department and the Clayton County Police Department, along with Atlanta Police, made 175 traffic stops.

"We will not tolerate illegal street racing in our capital city," Kemp tweeted.

He said the traffic stops led to:

• 7 DUI arrests
• 166 citations
• 119 warnings
• 6 pursuits
• 15 vehicles impounded
• 7 wanted persons apprehended
• 12 reckless driving charges



Thank you to @ga_dps, @Atlanta_Police, @cobbpolice1, @GwinnettSO, @DeKalbCountyPD, and @ClaytonCountyPD for your hard work last night in Atlanta patrolling our roads. We will not tolerate illegal street racing in our capital city! pic.twitter.com/ANC17eTTnZ
— Governor Brian P. Kemp (@GovKemp) September 20, 2020



A spokesman for the Atlanta Police Department, Officer Steve Avery, told WXIA that they are addressing an ongoing street racing problem. Atlanta police said as of last week, they have made a total of 459 arrests related to street racing since late February of this year.

In August, an Atlanta Police recruit was accused of participating in street racing and then leading troopers on a high-speed chase. The recruit had only been in the academy since December.

APD, in partnership with several state and local law enforcement partners, conducted a weekend-long operation in May, that resulted in the arrest of 44 people for activities related to illegal street racing.

The Atlanta City Council approved legislation stating that people who watch or record could be fine or even face jail time. They can earn themselves a $1,000 fine and jail time up to six months.