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Clayton County State Court clears traffic calendar with mix of pleas, acquittals and fines
Summary
The March traffic calendar in Clayton County State Court resolved dozens of misdemeanor traffic matters: several defendants accepted plea deals (many nolo pleas), the court acquitted some defendants after bench trials, and others were found guilty and fined. The judge emphasized options to avoid license points and how to pay fines.
Judge Tammy Long Hayward opened the March traffic trial calendar and reviewed defendants’ rights and options, telling participants that the state has the burden of proof and that a nolo plea may preserve license points. “You have the right to enter evidence and testimony, but you’re not required to do so,” she said as the court explained plea and trial procedures.
The session moved through routine calendar calls, plea offers and bench trials. Several defendants accepted negotiated nolo pleas to traffic citations; those pleas generally resulted in $100 fines (listed $153 with statutory fees) and in several cases were given payment windows of 30–60 days by the court clerk. The court also entered a number of no‑prosecutions where officers were unavailable or the state elected to dismiss.
Notable contested trials produced mixed results. In a bench trial over a stop‑sign allegation, the court reviewed body‑worn camera footage and witness testimony and found Amelia Sinclair not guilty after weighing the evidence. In contrast, Christopher Alexander Lopez was found guilty of driving on the wrong side of the road after witnesses and an officer testified that he passed stopped traffic by entering the southbound lane; the court imposed a $100 fine with 30 days to pay. Another bench trial—Christopher Golden’s stop‑sign case—ended in an acquittal when the judge concluded the evidence was balanced.
The court also heard a speeding case that featured LIDAR evidence: Officer Pickkins said he recorded a speed that exceeded the posted school‑zone limit and the court found the defendant guilty, setting a fine and a payment deadline. A separate case resulted in a conviction for a driver who said a Tesla’s Full Self‑Driving mode had accelerated to match traffic; the court found that use of autonomous or assisted modes does not absolve drivers of responsibility to comply with posted speed limits.
Throughout the session the judge reminded drivers of practical steps — checking nolo eligibility, consulting driver services about license points and using the traffic court window to pay fines or request more time. The clerk’s office will mail formal paperwork and many defendants were instructed to message Deputy Clerk Izzy Wentz via the court’s Zoom chat to confirm payment details.
