Tennessee Road Rage Ends in Assault Charges
A vehicle is one large potentially deadly weapon. Add to that a gun and ammunition and you’ve got a dangerous situation on your hands.
Last week a man wanting to merge lanes pointed a gun at another driver rather than simply using his signal The Tennessean reports. This act now has 26 year told Eric S. Edwards facing charges of aggravated assault.
Edwards was driving West on Highway 96 near Mack Hatcher Parkway where the lanes merge down from 3 to 2. He wanted to get over and pointed a gun at fellow Westbound driver 24 year old Christian Jandreski during rush hour.
Jandreski called the police who were able to stop Edwards using an unmarked police car in downtown Franklin. In his vehicle, police found a pistol, shortgun, and ammunition. His actions led the local prosecutor to charge Edwards with aggravated assault.
Aggravated assault is a serious felony charge punishable by 3 to 15 years in prison when the action is intentional. When a weapon is involved in an assault, it does not need to be physically used, only displayed to get the charges elevated to the aggravated level.
Although road rage is somewhat common, it rarely gets to this level. Stress and frustration run high on the roadways, particularly during times of heavy traffic.
There are several traffic offenses under Tennessee law that are considered crimes rather than just traffic infractions. The most commonly charged traffic crime is called reckless driving.
Reckless driving is when it is believed you drove with willful or wanton disregard for the safety of others. Many behaviors can be classified as reckless driving and land you with a criminal record. This offense is considered a Class B misdemeanor and can come with up to 6 months in jail.
Regardless of the offense, if you are dealing with more than just a traffic ticket, an experienced defense attorney can be a true asset when you go before the judge.
Contact me to discuss what happened on the day in question and how I may be able to help you with your case.
