Ticketing begins for GA 400 shoulder violators | News

SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. -- Drivers who use GA 400's shoulder when they're not supposed to will start getting ticketed Wednesday morning.

Sandy Springs Police "will immediately begin 'aggressive enforcement' of the GA 400 flex lane that extends from Holcomb Bridge Road south to the North Springs Marta Station exit," Officer Forrest Bohannon said in a statement. 

RELATED | Firsthand view of traveling on GA 400 shoulder

For the past month, drivers have been allowed to use the shoulder of southbound GA 400 as an extra lane to ease traffic during the morning commute.

It's only supposed to be used weekdays between 6:30 a.m. and 9:30 a.m.

"However it is being used outside of those times," Bohannon told 11Alive News several weeks ago.

"The need for aggressive enforcement stems from drivers abusing the lane usage during non flex-lane hours and the concern that such activity affects timely emergency vehicle response to accident or other emergencies on GA 400," she said Wednesday. She cited a delay in emergency responders reaching an overturned vehicle on June 1 because of drivers using the shoulder when they weren't supposed to.   

Under a 30 day grace period, violators were stopped and given warnings. Going forward, fines for illegally driving on the shoulder will be set by the courts.