The Peach State is cracking down harder on illegal drag racing — and not just when it comes to the drivers.

Senate Bill 10, which went into effect July 1, imposes harsher penalties on people associated with illegal drag racing.

Also known as street racing, these unlawful competitions feature modified cars traveling at high speeds in secret locations. The races are often promoted and documented on social media, and participants illegally block off roads, streets and even highways to conduct the events.

Atlanta has become a hub for these races, many of which are publicly shared and promoted online despite their illicit nature. 

Some experts say the recent surge in street racing can be attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic. In February 2020, less than a month before pandemic-related shutdowns, the Atlanta Police Department reported 36 calls related to illegal drag racing. That October, the department received 568.

Three years ago, Sen. Emanuel Jones was approached by DeKalb County resident Bobbie Sanford, who lost her daughter-in-law, Jaye Sanford, in a street racing-related crash in November 2020. The mother of two was driving with her teenage daughter when a racer slammed head-on into their vehicle. 

“It is still something that I’m very, very passionate and very concerned about,” Bobbie Sanford told State Affairs. “I’ve had experiences at my own workplace where they’ve come [to race] on the parking lot. … It’s a continuous reminder of the harm and the damage and the hurt that can come from people not thinking about lives.”

When Sen. Jones dug deeper into the issue, he realized the problem was much bigger than he’d thought. He first introduced legislation three years ago, and Gov. Brian Kemp signed the bill into law in 2021. 

Named in honor of Jaye Sanford, the 2021 bill mandated a minimum of 10 days in jail for a street-racing conviction and required those convicted three times in five years to forfeit their vehicles.

“This illegal activity is very dangerous,” Gov. Kemp said at the bill-signing ceremony. “Our goal is simple: to protect every family in every community.”

However, Sen. Jones felt this bill, a version of his initial proposal, did not “go far enough” to change the behavior of those involved in these events. This year, Jones led the charge to make the changes he had initially envisioned. 

Spectators of these races can now face misdemeanor charges and a minimum fine of $250. For drivers, the maximum fine has increased from $250 to $1,000. For a fourth offense, drivers can be forced to pay up to $7,500.

“I think on this issue, we lead the nation in terms of what we’ve been able to do and put on the books related to drag racing and land tracks,” Sen. Jones told State Affairs. “We’re not just going after the drivers of these automobiles — we nab those … [who are] knowingly present and actively participating.” 

The law also imposes restrictions on those trying to obtain Class D driver’s licenses if they have been convicted of “reckless stunt driving.”

Although Sanford believes Georgia lawmakers should still work to improve their methods for preventing illegal street racing, she is happy with the progress that’s been made.

“I think that the continuance of this and the stiffer penalties are helping people to realize that this is a very serious matter and that lives can be lost and families destroyed,” Sanford said. “I’m very pleased that it has not been forgotten and that there is continued work being done to make this law an even [stiffer] one.”

You can reach Nava Rawls at [email protected] or on X @navarawls.