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Look Ma, No Hands- Georgia’s Hands-Free Law

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Beginning July 1, 2018, Georgia implemented its Hands-Free law which aims to reduce distracted driving incidents by restricting cellphone use while driving. Drivers are prohibited from holding a cellphone or any stand-alone electronic device (iPad, etc.) with any part of their body. However, drivers are permitted to use hands-free technology like Bluetooth and earpieces for phone calls and navigation. The law does allow for exceptions like if you’re calling an emergency service.

If you’re caught using your phone or texting while driving, the first offense is a $50 fine and one point on your record. If you attend a court-approved distracted deriving program, the judge can decide to waive the fine. Additionally, many municipalities will give you a warning for a first offense. A second offense would result in a fine of $100 and two points on your record. For your third offense and every offense thereafter, you can expect a fine of $150 and three points on your record. Keep in mind that if you accumulate 15 points within 24 months on your record, your license will be suspended. These penalties can be fairly straight forward, but violating the Hands-Free law can be deemed “distracted driving.” If you are violating the Hands-Free law and cause serious injury or death of another person, you will likely be facing felony charges with enhanced fines.

If you get pulled over for using your phone while driving, do not hesitate! Give us a call NOW.

Georgia’s New Distracted Driving Law for Georgia Drivers

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by Mary Agramonte

 

As you have probably heard, Georgia’s new law on Distracted Driving will become effective on July 1, 2018. Georgia’s legislature has made the use of a cell phone will driving illegal in response to an alarming rise of traffic fatalities and serious injuries from car accidents.

The new law will prohibit Georgia drivers from the following:

  • Holding a cell phone at all
  • Texting, reading/ sending emails, using internet
  • Watching or recording videos

The following use of electronic devices will still be allowed even under the new law:

  • Speaking/texting with voice based communication
  • Using an earpiece or Bluetooth to talk on the phone
  • Using a navigation or GPS app

The punishment under this new law will be fines, fees, and points. Specifically, for a first conviction in 24 months, you will face a fine of $50.00 which will not include any surcharges and taxes. A second conviction will increase to $100.00 plus court costs and surcharges.

While the cost is fairly slight for a traffic offense, there will be other repercussions of the law. If an officer sees you on the phone, he now has the ability to pull your vehicle over which in some cases could lead to more serious charges. For example, an officer who has lawfully pulled you over for using your phone can then observe an odor of alcohol coming from your vehicle which can then lead to a DUI arrest.

Overall, this bill is being enacted to save lives as talking and texting on a cell phone while driving places other drivers and pedestrians at risk. According to the Governors Highway Safety Association, Georgia will now join the other 47 states that have already enacted laws prohibited texting and driving.