Proposal Would Make Driving Without License a Felony in Georgia

ATLANTA (AP) -- A bill approved by a Senate committee would make driving without obtaining a license in Georgia punishable with jail time.

Senator John Wiles -- a Republican from Kennesaw -- sponsored Senate Bill 15, which was approved by the committee yesterday. Drivers would face a felong for a third offense of driving without a license within a five-year period. Wiles says he has been approached by judges who complain about people who repeatedly appear in their courtrooms on the violation.

He noted that a Cobb County sheriff's deputy was killed in a hit-and-run on New Year's Eve by a man who did not have a license. The man apparently was in the country illegally, but Wiles says his bill is not designed to target illegal immigrants.

The bill now goes to the Rules Committee for consideration of a full vote by the Senate. The bill would make the first offense of failing to obtain a license two days in jail, with the second offense ten days in jail. The third would be a felony of one to five years in prison.

Edited by:	Created: 1/23/2007 9:00:32 AM Updated: 1/23/2007 9:01:28 AM Suggest News Tips & Story Leads Submit Video & Pictures