ATL Standard

In Atlanta, the City Council has been pushing for stricter penalties through the proposition of "Erica's Law," a bill designed to impose lifetime license suspensions on those who repeatedly commit drunk driving and 'super speeding' offenses. The recently passed resolution asks the Georgia General Assembly to adopt stronger laws against speeding and drunk driving as part of an effort to reduce traffic-related incidents within the city.

As per a report by Axios, "Erica's Law" is named after Erica Pines, an Atlanta resident and previous city employee who was critically injured in a vehicular accident on July 28. Her injuries were so severe that they necessitated multiple surgeries, with a prognosis of a 50% chance of reduced mobility. These factors contributed significantly to the motivation behind this law.

Furthermore, the Axios report explains that the council's request for harsher laws aligns with ongoing investigations into Brittany Glover's fatal hit-and-run case from September 19, 2022. During a meeting held on November 20, Council member Keisha Sean Waites shared that over $25,000 had been raised towards information relating to this case.

Fox 5 reported that Pines' incident involved a driver who had previously been cited for reckless driving before critically injuring her. Initially charged with reckless driving and making an improper lane change at the scene, further investigation revealed this was not his first citation for reckless conduct—an alarming revelation in Pines' case.

According to Fox 5 News reports, Pines expressed her frustration stating: "There's nothing to deter him from doing this again. I went in an ambulance, all the witnesses said that they were road racing, and he was simply given a ticket and allowed to go on about his business."

Reacting to "Erica's Law", State Rep. Stacey Evans told Fox 5: "I am supportive of looking for solutions. But, an immediate five-year suspension on a first offense is a hard pill to swallow. And I think would be a hard pill for the entire legislature."

Finally, Axios stated that the upcoming session of the Georgia General Assembly in January will be crucial as it marks the timeline for discussion on the Atlanta City Council's proposition. A decision regarding its potential enactment is expected by late March.