15-year-old going 111 mph ‘wanted to see how fast his car could go,’ GA cops say

A teen not yet old enough to get a driver’s license was caught driving a 2019 BMW sedan at nearly double the speed limit on a Georgia interstate, and his explanation baffled police.

The unusual traffic stop happened at 9:15 p.m. Monday, Sept. 29, on 12-lane Interstate 285, according to the Dunwoody Police Department.

“Earlier tonight, one of our officers likely saved a 15-year-old’s life after clocking his vehicle at 111 mph. ... He was driving alone with a learner’s permit,” police said in a news release.

“​The teen stated he ‘saw open roadway and wanted to see how fast his car could go’. This mindset is exactly why motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for teenagers.”

The boy’s parents were called to come get him, and it was then police learned he was driving the vehicle with his mother’s permission, officials said.

As a result, she was cited for permitting an unauthorized minor to drive, police said.

Specifics of the traffic stop location were not released, but speed limits on Interstate 285 through Dunwoody range from 55 mph to 65 mph, maps show.

Under Georgia law, driver’s going “85 mph or faster on other roads or highways” qualify as “super speeders,” and an extra $200 is added to their fines, according to Georgia.gov.

The case will be handled by DeKalb Juvenile Court, officials said.

Learner’s permits can be awarded to drivers at age 15 in Georgia, but they can only drive if a licensed driver age 21 or older accompanies them, according to state law. Only people age 18 and older can get a full driver’s license in Georgia.

Dunwoody is about a 16-mile drive north from Atlanta.

This story was originally published September 30, 2025 at 2:21 PM with the headline "15-year-old going 111 mph ‘wanted to see how fast his car could go,’ GA cops say."