Watch a video of Fricks' arrest
Floyd County Commissioner Garry Fricks told the Rome News-Tribune today that he has discovered his driver's license was suspended in 2001 after he failed to appear on a charge of making an illegal right turn on red in Fulton County.
Fricks was pulled over June 5 on Ga. 53 spur after a Calhoun police officer said he appeared to be speeding.
A video released by the Calhoun Police Department today shows a noticeably nervous Fricks being arrested on June 5 in Calhoun.
According to the video, it appears Fricks was not truthful with the officer when he was asked for his driver’s license.
The officer responded that he was dismayed that he was lied to by an elected official.
The officer had to ask Fricks several times to stop fidgeting and told him: “You’re in government. You ought to know better than to be driving.”
Fricks is running for re-election as a Republican and faces no opposition in November.
Fricks said he appeared in Calhoun Munipal Court this past Monday, the summons date issued on his citation, but court officials said the case has been continued to Aug. 4.
He has been charged with speeding, driving with a suspended license, no proof of insurance and improper transfer of plate.
Calhoun police said his license was suspended for failing to appear. Fricks said at the time he did not know why his license was suspended.
The improper transfer of plate charge was due to Fricks not getting a new tag on a truck he had recently purchased and gotten out of the shop, he said. His wife provided police with proof of insurance, he said.
Fricks said he had no recollection of the incident in Fulton County
"I questioned it. I asked if there could be an error in the system. But I asked 'How do I resolve it?' She said it'd been so long they'd just send a release on it. It took me awhile to resolve."
"I've had three tickets in my entire life. I wasn't aware of this one," Fricks said.
Fricks said he had made the assumption that he couldn't get his license renewewed until the Calhoun incident is resolved.
He said a judge said "as soon as you get your license" it'll drop it to a warning."
Fricks said state licensing officials have told him that they have received notification that he has been released from the red light charge because it occurred so long ago.
Fricks said he plans to get his license soon. He said that has been hard to arrange because of work, his service on the County Commission and the inability to drive.
Click here for audio of Fricks' arrest
