Georgia CommonsSenate · Passed · 2025-2026 Regular Session
SB 160: Reckless Stunt Driving; a motor vehicle involved in a second offense of reckless stunt driving; replace the forfeiture penalty
Last action May 6, 2026 · Act 418
Senate Bill 160 creates a new limited driving permit that lets some Georgia drivers whose licenses are suspended for reckless stunt driving keep driving legally if they install a speed-limiting device in their car, and sets up licensing rules for the companies that install and monitor those devices.
The summaries below were written by an AI model (claude-sonnet-5) from the text of the bill and are not part of it. Quote the text, not the summary. The stored text is the Enrolled version, the latest the General Assembly's website lists.
In plain language
Under current Georgia law, a person convicted of reckless stunt driving (O.C.G.A. § 40-6-390.1) has their license suspended, and after a waiting period could apply for early reinstatement. This bill removes that early reinstatement option for first and second offenses and instead lets eligible drivers apply for a new 'intelligent speed assistance device limited driving permit,' which requires installing a monitoring device that prevents the car from exceeding a set speed. The bill lays out who can and cannot get this permit, the fees involved ($32 for issuance and renewal), grounds for revoking the permit, and a right to a hearing if a permit is denied or revoked. It also expands the state's existing ignition interlock device law to cover these new speed devices, renaming it the 'Intelligent Speed Assistance Device and Ignition Interlock Device Providers Act,' and requires companies that install and monitor the devices to be licensed by the Department of Driver Services. It also updates probation monitoring definitions to include these devices. The changes take effect July 1, 2028.
What the bill does
- Removes the current option for early reinstatement of a suspended license after 120 days (first offense) or 18 months (second offense) for reckless stunt driving convictions.
- Creates a new 'intelligent speed assistance device limited driving permit' that lets eligible suspended drivers keep driving if a speed-limiting device is installed in their vehicle.
- Sets eligibility rules that bar the permit for drivers under 21, commercial license holders, and those suspended for accidents causing injury or death.
- Requires companies that install and monitor these devices ('provider centers') to be licensed by the Department of Driver Services, similar to existing ignition interlock device rules.
- Allows the Department of Driver Services to revoke the new permit for traffic violations, tampering with the device, or missing required monitoring, with a right to a hearing.
- Adds a penalty allowing a one-year driving privilege revocation if a court finds someone violated the terms of their permit while on probation.
Who it affects
People convicted of reckless stunt driving whose licenses are suspended, companies that install and monitor ignition interlock and speed-limiting devices ('provider centers'), county and municipal governments that may buy or lease these devices, probation officers, and the Department of Driver Services, which will run the new permit and licensing systems.
Why it matters
Drivers convicted of reckless stunt driving would lose the option to get their license back early through a waiting period, but could instead drive legally sooner by installing a monitored speed-limiting device, at a cost of fees for the permit and the device itself. Companies that provide these devices would face new state licensing and background check requirements.
Key provisions
- Section 1 defines 'intelligent speed assistance device' and 'provider center' in the driver's license definitions section (O.C.G.A. § 40-5-1).
- Section 2 removes early reinstatement options for first and second reckless stunt driving convictions and replaces them with eligibility for the new limited permit, keeping restoration fees of $210 (first offense) and $310 (second offense).
- Section 3 creates a new Code section (40-5-64.2) setting permit eligibility, a $32 issuance and renewal fee, one-year validity, revocation grounds, hearing rights, and electronic notice procedures.
- Section 5 adds a new article to Title 42 letting counties, municipalities, or private entities buy or lease the devices, sets installation fee rules, bars officials from steering people to specific provider centers, and creates a misdemeanor for tampering with a device.
- Section 6 revises Chapter 12A of Title 43 to rename it the 'Intelligent Speed Assistance Device and Ignition Interlock Device Providers Act' and extends existing licensing, bonding, insurance, and background check requirements to speed-device providers.
- Section 7 sets the effective date as July 1, 2028.
From the bill
“'Intelligent speed assistance device' means a constant monitoring device certified by the commissioner to be installed within a motor vehicle to actively monitor and prevent the operator from exceeding a preset speed.”
“Any person tampering, circumventing, or otherwise misusing the device is guilty of a misdemeanor and may be subject to civil liability.”
Discussed in meetings (7)
The House and Senate meetings that took this bill up, from their machine transcripts. Each account was written by Georgia Commons with AI and is not part of the record; the video is what was said.
House Motor Vehicles Committee, February 3, 2026
From 0:11:09 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel
Summary by Georgia Commons: The chair announced that SB 160 would not be heard and would be held until the following week because last-minute changes were still being prepared. No presentation, debate or vote followed.
House Motor Vehicles Committee, February 24, 2026
From 0:36:56 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel
Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor presented a substitute for SB 160, describing an optional limited driving permit for eligible people whose licenses are suspended for reckless stunt driving, provided their vehicles have intelligent speed-assistance devices. The sponsor said the devices prevent travel above a preset speed and can use GPS-based local limits. The sponsor cited continuing dangerous incidents and said the proposal had been revised following a prior veto. The sponsor said the Department of Driver Services would oversee rules and device certification, with implementation delayed until July 1, 2028. In response to fee questions, the sponsor said the application fee was changed from $25 to $32 to match ignition-interlock fees, with device costs separate. No device price was given. The sponsor said local governments could address costs for people unable to afford them. Another member asked whether the proposal changed vehicle seizure penalties. A legal adviser distinguished existing second-offense vehicle forfeiture from the bill's license restrictions, and the discussion concluded that forfeiture rules would remain unchanged. The sponsor said existing suspension periods would also remain unchanged. The committee approved the substitute by voice vote, with no numerical tally announced.
House Rules Committee, February 25, 2026
From 0:46:04 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel
Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor said SB 160 would allow someone whose license was suspended following a reckless stunt driving conviction to apply for a driving permit requiring an intelligent speed assistance device on the vehicle. The sponsor compared the device to a speed governor and said the permit process closely followed existing ignition interlock law. No scheduling decision was shown.
House Rules Committee, March 16, 2026
From 0:41:36 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel
Summary by Georgia Commons: The committee placed SB 160 on the floor calendar without objection. There was no discussion of the bill's substance.
House floor session, March 16, 2026 (legislative day 32)
From 1:35:16 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel · Confirmed by the 2026 House Journal, p. 2651
Summary by Georgia Commons: The presenter said SB 160 would let certain people whose licenses were suspended for reckless stunt driving seek limited driving permits by installing speed-limiting devices. The presenter described continuing injuries from stunt-driving events and said the proposal aimed to improve safety while allowing people to travel to work. The presenter said the Department of Driver Services would set rules and certify devices, and that revisions followed discussions with the governor's office after an earlier veto. The minority leader asked why drivers under 21 and commercial license holders were excluded. The presenter cited discussions with the governor's office and younger drivers' lack of experience, without separately explaining the commercial-license exclusion. Asked about the July 2028 effective date, the presenter said implementation required time. The presenter believed multiple device suppliers were available. Another member asked why the House version restored a forfeiture penalty that the Senate version had replaced, but received no substantive explanation. The House adopted the committee substitute and passed the bill 130-26.
Senate floor session, March 25, 2026 (legislative day 37)
From 7:09:45 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel · Confirmed by the bill's status history (Senate Agreed House Amend or Sub)
Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor said the House substitute to SB 160 addressed implementation concerns following an earlier veto. The sponsor described an optional speed-limiting device for people whose licenses were suspended for reckless stunt driving, allowing a limited permit for necessary trips. The sponsor said the device used GPS to prevent exceeding speed limits, detected tampering and would operate through a framework similar to ignition interlocks. The sponsor said the revised structure tied the program to the driver's license rather than the vehicle, aligned fees with ignition interlocks and delayed implementation until July 1, 2028. Asked about cost, the sponsor estimated about $400 for installation plus a lease, said installation likely would not be refunded and emphasized participation was optional. Another member supported the approach as preventing harm rather than simply increasing punishment. The Senate agreed to the House substitute 49 to 0.
Status timeline
- Effective Date
- Act 418
- Senate Date Signed by Governor (Senate)
- Senate Sent to Governor (Senate)
- Senate Agreed House Amend or Sub (Senate)
- House Passed/Adopted By Substitute (House)
- House Third Readers (House)
- House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (House)
Show full history (18 actions)
- House Withdrawn, Recommitted (House)
- House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (House)
- House Second Readers (House)
- House First Readers (House)
- Senate Passed/Adopted (Senate)
- Senate Third Read (Senate)
- Senate Read Second Time (Senate)
- Senate Committee Favorably Reported (Senate)
- Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
- Senate Hopper (Senate)
Sponsors
- Kay Kirkpatrick (R, SD-32)
- John Albers (R, SD-56)
- Emanuel Jones (D, SD-10)
- Randy Robertson (R, SD-29)
- Sonya Halpern (D, SD-39)
- Rick Williams (R, SD-25)
- Steve Gooch (R, SD-51)
- Brian Strickland (R, SD-42)
- Jason Anavitarte (R, SD-31)
- Bill Cowsert (R, SD-46)
- Chuck Payne (R, SD-54)
- Nan Orrock (D, SD-36)
- John F. Kennedy (R, SD-18)
- Russ Goodman (R, SD-8)
- Josh McLaurin (D, SD-14)
- Sam Watson (R, SD-11)
- Jason Esteves (D, SD-35)
- Alan Powell (R, HD-33)
Votes
- Senate voteMarch 4, 2025
53 yea, 1 nay (0 not voting, 2 excused)
- House voteMarch 16, 2026
130 yea, 26 nay (5 not voting, 15 excused)
- Senate voteMarch 25, 2026
49 yea, 0 nay (1 not voting, 4 excused)
Topics
- reckless stunt driving
- driver's license suspension
- speed limiting devices
- ignition interlock providers
- traffic safety