SB160: SB160 Reckless Stunt Driving; a motor vehicle involved in a second offense of reckless stunt driving; replace the forfeiture penalty

Georgia currently suspends a driver's license automatically after a conviction for reckless stunt driving (O.C.G.A. § 40-6-390.1), with longer suspensions for repeat offenses. This bill creates a new option for people with a first or second suspension: an 'intelligent speed assistance device limited driving permit.' The device is a monitor installed in the car that actively prevents the driver from going over a set speed. The bill sets the permit fee at $32, limits eligibility (must be 21 or older, licensed, not a commercial driver, and not suspended for an injury or fatal accident), and lays out how the permit can be revoked, including after tampering or a new moving violation. The bill also creates rules for 'provider centers,' the businesses that install, maintain, and monitor these devices and existing ignition interlock devices, covering licensing, insurance, bonding, background checks, and fines for violations. It extends the existing electronic monitoring definition in probation law to include these devices and lets counties, cities, or private companies buy or lease them. The changes would take effect July 1, 2028.

• Creates a new 'intelligent speed assistance device limited driving permit' that people with a first or second reckless stunt driving suspension can apply for, subject to eligibility rules and a $32 fee.
• Requires the Department of Driver Services to revoke this permit if the holder is convicted of a moving violation, tampers with the device, or fails required monitoring.
• Sets up a licensing system for 'provider centers' that install and monitor these devices, requiring insurance, a $10,000 surety bond, background checks, and a $250 application fee.
• Adds intelligent speed assistance devices to the list of tools that count as 'electronic monitoring' for people on probation.
• Lets counties, municipalities, or private companies purchase or lease the devices, and requires local governments using private vendors to accommodate indigent participants.
• Authorizes administrative fines up to $1,000 per violation against provider centers that break the licensing rules, and makes tampering with a device a misdemeanor.

People convicted of reckless stunt driving whose licenses are suspended, businesses that want to operate as licensed provider centers installing speed-limiting devices, county and municipal governments, probation officers and courts, and the Department of Driver Services, which administers permits and licensing.

Drivers suspended for reckless stunt driving would gain a path back to limited driving sooner if they accept a device that caps their speed, rather than waiting out the full suspension. The bill also creates a regulated industry around these devices, similar to existing ignition interlock rules for DUI offenders.

• Section 1 adds definitions for 'intelligent speed assistance device' and 'provider center' to Georgia's driver's license code (O.C.G.A. § 40-5-1).
• Section 2 revises the reckless stunt driving suspension law (O.C.G.A. § 40-5-57.2) to reference the new limited permit option and updates restoration fees for first and second offenses.
• Section 3 creates O.C.G.A. § 40-5-64.2, setting eligibility rules, a $32 fee, one-year validity with limited renewal, and revocation and hearing procedures for the new permit.
• Section 4 adds intelligent speed assistance devices to the definition of electronic monitoring for probation purposes (O.C.G.A. § 42-3-111).
• Section 5 creates a new article in Title 42 covering provider center operations, fees, prohibited referral arrangements, device certification standards, warning labels, and probation revocation consequences.
• Section 6 rewrites Title 43's ignition interlock provider chapter to also cover intelligent speed assistance device providers, including licensing, bonding, insurance, background checks, and fines up to $1,000 per violation.
• Section 7 sets the effective date as July 1, 2028.

1. 2026-05-06Effective Date 2028-07-01
2. 2026-05-06Act 418
3. 2026-05-06Senate Date Signed by Governor (Senate)
4. 2026-04-10Senate Sent to Governor (Senate)
5. 2026-03-25Senate Agreed House Amend or Sub (Senate)
6. 2026-03-16House Passed/Adopted By Substitute (House)
7. 2026-03-16House Third Readers (House)
8. 2026-02-24House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (House)

• Kay Kirkpatrick (R, SD-032)Primary sponsor
• John Albers (R, SD-056)
• Emanuel Jones (D, SD-010)
• Randy Robertson (R, SD-029)
• Sonya Halpern (D, SD-039)
• Ricky Williams (R, SD-025)
• Steve Gooch (R, SD-051)
• Brian Strickland (R, SD-042)
• Jason Anavitarte (R, SD-031)
• Bill Cowsert (R, SD-046)
• Chuck Payne (R, SD-054)
• Nan Orrock (D, SD-036)
• John Kennedy (R, SD-018)
• Russ Goodman (R, SD-008)
• Josh McLaurin (D, SD-014)
• Sam Watson (R, SD-011)
• Jason Esteves (D, SD-035)
• Alan Powell (R, HD-033)

1. PassedSenate voteMarch 4, 2025

   53 yea, 1 nay (0 not voting, 2 absent)

   Passage: Senate Vote #148

2. PassedHouse voteMarch 16, 2026

   130 yea, 26 nay (5 not voting, 15 absent)

   Passage: House Vote #708

3. PassedSenate voteMarch 25, 2026

   49 yea, 0 nay (1 not voting, 4 absent)

   Agree To House Substitute: Senate Vote #818

• reckless stunt driving
• driver's license suspension
• speed limiting devices
• probation monitoring
• vehicle safety technology