Atlanta

Reckless drivers block traffic, spin donuts on Downtown Connector

ATLANTA — A group of reckless drivers took over the downtown connector for several minutes early Sunday morning, spinning in circles and burning rubber as traffic backed up behind them.

“It’s a hazard, it’s a dangerous activity and they had no right to close the freeway,” said Atlanta Police Deputy Chief Michael O’Connor.

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Police officers were in the area but the street racers broke up quickly and got away.

“Once we arrived, and they saw our blue lights, everybody took off. If we were able to identity the offenders, they would be charged appropriately,” O’Connor said.

Atlanta police now have a designated unit to investigate street racing complaints on weekends. Last weekend they wrote 160 citations for street racing and noise violations.

“It has decreased but it continues to be a problem in small pockets, and we continue to address those issues as they come up,” O’Connor said.

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Atlanta City Councilman Michael Julian Bond says a close friend of his, Jaye Mia Sanford, recently was killed after her car was struck by street racers in her DeKalb neighborhood.

“A week ago Saturday she was hit head on by street racers literally blocks from her house. She later died that evening from her injuries,” Bond said.

Bond says many participating in dangerous illegal street racing come to Atlanta from out of state. He says money is often up for grabs for the winner of a race or stunt competition.

“This isn’t fun and games. This is trying to live out the movie fantasy of ‘The Fast and the Furious’ or ‘Grand Theft Auto.’ This is illegal activity that has real world and deadly consequences,” Bond said.

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The councilman and others are asking state lawmakers to grant Atlanta police authority to seize vehicles of drivers who repeatedly violate street racing laws.

“We want to send a clear message to those engaged in this illegal behavior that we are not going to tolerate it,” he said.