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You see it all the time, someone runs into the gas station to grab a cup of coffee and leaves their car running. Bibb County deputies say that's just asking for someone to steal it and it's against the law. Now police around the state are using an old law to crack down on car thefts.
Police in Forest Park, Georgia, just outside of Atlanta, say they warned people repeatedly about leaving their cars running unattended. They went door to door, left fliers and even handed out warnings. But when people didn't listen, they started ticketing them. Bibb County deputies say they don't blame them.
Jan Ledford spends her mornings serving up donuts to Central Georgians but in between customers she says she catches people running into the shop leaving their cars running outside.
JAN LEDFORD, MACON:
"Then they keep turning around looking to make sure their car ain't gone nowhere."
She sees about 20 people do it every morning. It's a time saving move but it's illegal in Georgia.
CHARLES SCOTT, MACON:
"I don't think a lot of people are aware of it because I see it a lot of times."
It's a habit Krispy Kreme regular Tommy Higdon just can't shake. Higdon says the move saves on gas but getting slapped with a ticket could cost him a lot more. Police in Forest Park fine offenders $168.
CHARLES SCOTT, MACON:
"Ooh that's a lot. I think they better start taking the keys out!"
To Ledford, the time saved isn't worth the car she'd lose if someone took off with it.
JAN LEDFORD, MACON:
"Hey, I'm proud of my car and I ain't fixin to get out and leave it running!"
Assistant Solicitor-General Rebecca Grist says she's never seen a ticket issued for an unattended running car, but that doesn't mean a judge wouldn't take the violation seriously.
REBECCA GRIST, ASST. SOLICITOR GENERAL:
"It is on the books so if a ticket were written for this we would certainly prosecute it."
JAN LEDFORD, MACON:
"They're still going to do it because they think, 'well I can't get caught.' Maybe they can't."
Lieutenant George Meadows says car thefts are a big problem in Bibb County. He says they often happen at convenience stores and gas stations where people leave their cars running.
Meadows also says it takes someone just seconds to take off with a running car so he hopes the law will be a deterrent.
The law against leaving a running car unattended was passed in 1974.
You see it all the time, someone runs into the gas station to grab a cup of coffee and leaves their car running. Bibb County deputies say that's just asking for someone to steal it and it's against the law. Now police around the state are using an old law to crack down on car thefts.
Police in Forest Park, Georgia, just outside of Atlanta, say they warned people repeatedly about leaving their cars running unattended. They went door to door, left fliers and even handed out warnings. But when people didn't listen, they started ticketing them. Bibb County deputies say they don't blame them.
Jan Ledford spends her mornings serving up donuts to Central Georgians but in between customers she says she catches people running into the shop leaving their cars running outside.
JAN LEDFORD, MACON:
"Then they keep turning around looking to make sure their car ain't gone nowhere."
She sees about 20 people do it every morning. It's a time saving move but it's illegal in Georgia.
CHARLES SCOTT, MACON:
"I don't think a lot of people are aware of it because I see it a lot of times."
It's a habit Krispy Kreme regular Tommy Higdon just can't shake. Higdon says the move saves on gas but getting slapped with a ticket could cost him a lot more. Police in Forest Park fine offenders $168.
CHARLES SCOTT, MACON:
"Ooh that's a lot. I think they better start taking the keys out!"
To Ledford, the time saved isn't worth the car she'd lose if someone took off with it.
JAN LEDFORD, MACON:
"Hey, I'm proud of my car and I ain't fixin to get out and leave it running!"
Assistant Solicitor-General Rebecca Grist says she's never seen a ticket issued for an unattended running car, but that doesn't mean a judge wouldn't take the violation seriously.
REBECCA GRIST, ASST. SOLICITOR GENERAL:
"It is on the books so if a ticket were written for this we would certainly prosecute it."
JAN LEDFORD, MACON:
"They're still going to do it because they think, 'well I can't get caught.' Maybe they can't."
Lieutenant George Meadows says car thefts are a big problem in Bibb County. He says they often happen at convenience stores and gas stations where people leave their cars running.
Meadows also says it takes someone just seconds to take off with a running car so he hopes the law will be a deterrent.
The law against leaving a running car unattended was passed in 1974.