Senate Press Office
201 Paul D. Coverdell Legislative Office Building

18 Capitol Square

Atlanta, Georgia 30334

PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: For Information Contact:

March 28, 2008 Jeremy Arieh, Deputy Director
Kallarin Richards, Communications Specialist

404.656.0028

Wiles’ unlicensed driver bill sees final passage

ATLANTA – Legislation that increases penalties for those who drive without a license received final passage in the Senate today. State Sen. John Wiles (R-Kennesaw) authored Senate Bill 350 in response to a growing number of auto accidents, injuries and fatalities in Georgia caused by individuals who have never obtained a driver’s license. The bill now goes to the Governor’s desk to be signed into law.

“I am pleased to see that a majority of the General Assembly supports this effort to help save lives,” Sen. Wiles said. “We have seen too many accidents caused by unlicensed drivers in this state, including a fatal head-on collision in Marietta recently that involved an unlicensed driver. Action must be taken to curb this blatant disregard for the laws of our state.”

SB 350 will increase the penalties for those found operating a vehicle without a valid driver’s license or on a suspended or revoked license. Under the new law, an individual found driving without being licensed or driving on a suspended, disqualified or revoked license could be sentenced to at least two days imprisonment for the first offense. Any second or third offense within five years, and that individual would be subject to at least ten days imprisonment and a fine of at least $1000. A fourth or subsequent offense within five years would be treated by the courts as a felony. The new penalties would not apply to those who accidentally leave a wallet or forget a purse at home, or those driving on an expired license.

“The lives of Georgia citizens should not be put in jeopardy when we can swiftly and comprehensively correct this problem, and this legislation is a step in that direction,” added Sen. Wiles.

Today’s passage of SB 350 is the result of a two-year effort for Sen. Wiles to pass legislation that will make Georgia’s highways and roads safer.

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Sen. John Wiles represents the 37th Senate District, which includes a portion of Cobb County. He may be reached by phone at 404.657.0406 or by e-mail at john@johnwiles.com.