From Honking to Hate: When Road Rage Crosses the Line Into Criminal Threats
On May 9, 2025, Tyler Lamb was stopped at a traffic light in his car on Spout Springs Road in Hall County, Georgia. At about this time, he honked at a slow-moving vehicle and that vehicle turned out to be a white Chevy Silverado driven by a white male, who immediately jumped out and began yelling at Tyler—despite Tyler trying to de?escalate. The Silverado then pursued Tyler, braking suddenly and tailgating him all the way to Union Church Road, where the confrontation turned physical and frightening.
What Happened Next:
- The aggressor exited his truck a second time, shouting racial slurs like, “spic” and “wetback!”, as well as exhibiting menacing gestures.
- He threatened to “beat his F###ing ass” and “F###ing kill him,” even though there was no visible weapon—just the implication of one can be considered a threat.
- He kicked Tyler’s car, threatened violence, and stalked him by following him until Tyler was halted at an intersection.
- Throughout, Tyler stayed calm, recorded the encounter, and eventually reported the incident to police. Which is vital evidence in a potential lawsuit.
The Legal Breakdown:
- Hate Speech / Bias-Motivated Harassment – Use of racial slurs can trigger hate-crime enhancements under Georgia’s OCGA §?17-10-17.
- Terroristic Threats (OCGA §?16-11-37) – Any threat intended to cause terror qualifies, whether or not a weapon is shown.
- Simple Assault (OCGA §?16-5-20) and Battery (OCGA §?16-5-23) – The verbal threats, close proximity, and kicking of the car all meet the criteria.
- Aggressive Driving (OCGA §?40-6-397) – Tailgating, erratic braking, and intimidation via vehicle are all criminal offenses.
This wasn’t just “road rage.” It was a potentially violent criminal incident—complete with hate speech, death threats, assault, battery, and reckless driving.
Why It Matters:
If you ever find yourself in a situation that feels borderline or escalates quickly—even without a weapon—you may still be facing serious criminal charges if you act aggressively. Recording, reporting, and de?escalation can protect you and help prosecutors build a case if you fall victim to road-rage. Keeping calm and avoiding verbal confrontation is a good way to de-escalate a potentially dangerous and even fatal encounter.
Quick Tip:
If you’ve experienced a similar sort of road-rage, share your story below or reach out—Law by JP dives into real cases like this to help you know your legal rights and options. One key note, road rage doesn’t always involve physical or verbal assault, sometimes the aggressor’s motor vehicle become the weapon of choice to injure another motorist.\
This is not legal advice. Viewing this video does not create an attorney-client relationship. For legal questions, please consult an attorney directly.
