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Laws pertaining to someone blocking traffic

Best thing you can do is get front and rear facing cameras. Leave audio on. Let them tell the story if someone starts beating on your vehicle and it results in you taking action. Also a two man crew would be better to allow for a third, mobile phone camera for side angles.
 
Im not an attorney, but I had a discussion with nice police officer last year whilst working in Savannah. I watched someone step out between two cars and get bumped by a passing car. Just enough to get attention. The cop just laughed and said I bet he will look next time. I asked him, from conventional knowledge, the pedestrian has the right of way always, right? NOPE. If a pedestrian is in traffic and gets run over, its his own fault. Now if a pedestrian is in a legal cross walk with a crossing symbol to cross, hes legal. If there is a physical person there to guard the crossing, hes legal. If there is a stop sign that says drivers must stop for pedestrians in crosswalk, you must stop if you are driving. Besides that, if someone gets hit in traffic....thats tough ****. I'm not advocating hit someone because you can, but you can, legally. Avoidance is the best solution. If you get trapped, its survival of those with the most will to survive. Good Luck.
 
Im not an attorney, but I had a discussion with nice police officer last year whilst working in Savannah. I watched someone step out between two cars and get bumped by a passing car. Just enough to get attention. The cop just laughed and said I bet he will look next time. I asked him, from conventional knowledge, the pedestrian has the right of way always, right? NOPE. If a pedestrian is in traffic and gets run over, its his own fault. Now if a pedestrian is in a legal cross walk with a crossing symbol to cross, hes legal. If there is a physical person there to guard the crossing, hes legal. If there is a stop sign that says drivers must stop for pedestrians in crosswalk, you must stop if you are driving. Besides that, if someone gets hit in traffic....thats tough ****. I'm not advocating hit someone because you can, but you can, legally. Avoidance is the best solution. If you get trapped, its survival of those with the most will to survive. Good Luck.

I concur. Had a former co-worker that hit and killed a pedestrian in Savannah who was not in a cross walk. Guy was clearly jaywalking and darted out in front of the car.. No charges were filed against the co-worker. Was told that if they were not in a cross walk or any legal crossing, the driver will not be at fault. Savannah has cross walks everywhere downtown now.

If they are in the street unofficially protesting with no permit or escort or setting up roadblocks, I wouldn't purposely go at them, but if my life depended on it, I'm mashing the horn and gas pedal...
 
Does anyone know what your rights are once a protestor has blocked traffic? Obviously avoiding conflict is always the best option, but at what point can you just put it in drive and go?
We work in Atlanta alot, or should I say, did. I would like to give my guys direction about what to do if they get caught in one of these spontaneous, peaceful road closures where vehicles and drivers are innocently attacked by peaceful protesters. The image of Reginald Denney is hard to ignore.


Pedestrians do not have the right of way unless in a crosswalk or if a police officer is directing traffic and waves them across. Also pedestians must yield to signs that apply to them. So if the crosswalk is not actively light for them they are supposed to yield. 40-6-91 "Right of Way in Crosswalks".

Now in regards to your statement "at what point can you just put it in drive and go?" basically you're no longer just a driver when an unfortunate incident happened. You have actively decided to take another person's life. So you better be defending your own and be able to convince a jury they'd do the same thing if put in a similar situation.

Also keep in mind if a single person attacks you and you hit them, but then plow through a whole bunch of other people you're gonna have a bad time both on scene and in court.

IF AT ALL POSSIBLE BE THE BIGGER PERSON AND DE ESCALATE THE SITUATION IF POSSIBLE. It shows a much higher level of tactical thinking and any real fighter or badass knows the best fight is the one you don't have to fight.

WARNING PERSONAL BIAS HERE: Keep in mind you're asking about Atlanta. So although GA code has a specific section pertaining to your question the Atlanta DA will probably just decide your fate based upon public feeling and how much they need to deflect voters away from the investigations they are currently under.

I am, not a lawyer. Research your own answers and form your own opinions.
 
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