The Georgia State Senator is submitting a invoice in opposition to unlawful drag racing

“We have lost too many lives and suffered too many injuries from people who drive carelessly and ignore the interests of others.”

ATLANTA – In recent months around Metro Atlanta, law enforcement agencies have reported an increase in drivers dragging or illegally drag racing on city streets and highways.

A US state senator has now tabled a bill aimed at such reckless driving after the death of an innocent mother in DeKalb County.

Jaye Mia Sanford would have turned 53 last Thursday. Her family said she died in November, leaving her two children and her husband behind.

“A few blocks from her house to get home on a Saturday night,” said Bobbie Sanford when speaking of the crash that killed her daughter-in-law, who she calls her daughter in love.

The accident occurred on November 21 along Columbia Drive. Sanford was driving when a DeKalb County police report showed a car had crossed into her lane and hit her car head-on. Her family claims it is illegal street racing.

The report says that Clayton County’s Darius Maurice Hines was driving the vehicle that hit Sanford’s car. The report also describes that a witness saw a silver Dodge Challenger and a white vehicle race. Then the Challenger crossed the north lanes into the south lanes, where it met Sanford’s car.

DeKalb County Police responded to the crash scene.

On Friday, the 11Alive division sent a statement on the case: “There is currently no evidence of drag racing. The driver who caused the accident is being held at Grady Hospital. He is charged with drug possession and vehicle murder.” and reckless driving. This matter continues to be actively investigated. “

As the investigation continues, Sanford’s family wants to make sure other families do not suffer similar losses.

“I think we’ve lost too many lives and suffered too many injuries from people who drive carelessly and ignore the interests of others,” said Bobbie Sanford.

“The result is what you see in Senate Bill 10,” Senator Emmanuel Jones said as he described how he wrote the bill in memory of Sanford.

Jones filed his bill at the state Capitol on Thursday. If required by law, it would be an offense to promote, advertise or participate in an event where drivers resist or illegally race on the road.

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The bill also calls for special “high performance” license plates required for cars made or modified with 650 horsepower or greater.

Under SB10, relocating the drag would result in 8 points on a driver’s license. In Georgia, 15 points lead to a license ban within 24 months.

Drag-drag and illegal street racing would also be viewed as “major and aggravated offenses” with fines of up to $ 2,500, and cars would be confiscated at the driver’s expense until a dispute is resolved.

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“Property is damaged, lives are needlessly lost, and as a legislature we have to come to terms, we have to get this under control and we have to give law enforcement the tools to get it done. That is exactly what this bill does,” Jones said.

Looking at her daughter in love, Bobbie Sanford agrees.

“Maybe some of these people who want to do road racing should stop and see if there will be any consequences for continuing to act that way,” she said.