Juvenile Traffic Court

A juvenile traffic offense consists of a violation by a child, under the age of 17, of a law or local ordinance governing the operation of a moving motor vehicle upon the streets or highways or upon the waterways of Georgia; or any other motor vehicle traffic law or local ordinance if a child is detained for its violation or is transferred to Juvenile Court.

The following offenses are considered delinquent offenses and shall not be handled as juvenile traffic offenses: aggressive driving, reckless driving, a speeding offense punishable by four or more points, homicide by vehicle, manslaughter resulting from the operation of a vehicle, any felony in the commission of which a motor vehicle is used, racing on highways and streets, using a motor vehicle in fleeing or attempting to elude an officer, fraudulent or fictitious use of a driver's license, hit and run or leaving the scene of an accident, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, and any offense committed by an unlicensed driver under 16 years of age.

Cherokee County Juvenile Traffic Court is typically held once per month. During arraignments, the juvenile can either admit to the offense or deny the offense and set the case for trial. At the trial, the State must prove the case against the juvenile by presenting witnesses and evidence. The law does not allow jury trials in Juvenile Court, so the final decision is made by the judge.

Certain offenses will require the juvenile to participate in the Cherokee County Teen Driving Impact Panel (TDIP.) This program is dedicated to reducing traffic violations and deaths in our community. Teen drivers are educated on the consequences of decisions made while behind the wheel of a vehicle. The class is held in conjunction with the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office and Cherokee County Juvenile Court. This class is open to juveniles in Cherokee County with a traffic violation. For more information on the TDIP Program, contact April Timms at 678-493-6256 or altimms@cherokeecountyga.gov.