New GA law - hands free

wannavolunteerFT wrote:
As a life-long Georgia resident, I must say that I see the law easily becoming an "excuse" to stop and search. The law actually allows "seeing someone holding a phone" as a "reason" for a stop. I am scared that it become an additional method of profiling and stopping for no provable cause. I have been stopped under questionable circumstances, and had the officer write me a warning after questioning my address and where I was staying locally. I have seen police profile drivers and stop for no discernable reason. I don't think all officers will abuse the stopping power, but there will be some.

I use the bluetooth on my truck, and it has the capability to read me a text. So will it show that I have been reading text because my truck read it to me? I don't have the extra money to defend myself against a ticket because an overzealous LEO thinks he saw me on the phone and cites me and I have no way to prove I wasn't using my hands.

Let's face it, LEO's need no discernible cause to stop you. If they feel the need, or desire, to pull you over they don't have to come up with a legitimate excuse. Just depends on the mood of the LEO.

Couldn't all this be put to rest if there simply was a nationwide ban on hand held phones while driving?

As a life-long Georgia resident, I must say that I see the law easily becoming an "excuse" to stop and search. The law actually allows "seeing someone holding a phone" as a "reason" for a stop. I am scared that it become an additional method of profiling and stopping for no provable cause. I have been stopped under questionable circumstances, and had the officer write me a warning after questioning my address and where I was staying locally. I have seen police profile drivers and stop for no discernable reason. I don't think all officers will abuse the stopping power, but there will be some.

I use the bluetooth on my truck, and it has the capability to read me a text. So will it show that I have been reading text because my truck read it to me? I don't have the extra money to defend myself against a ticket because an overzealous LEO thinks he saw me on the phone and cites me and I have no way to prove I wasn't using my hands.

Its not the hands free that's the issue, its the problem that some people cant talk and drive! You can have all the hands free laws you want, if you can`t walk and chew gum then you shouldn't be doing anything other than driving. and even at that I`ve seen people veer over after just reaching for the radio/HVAC controls!

But that's like saying if nobody killed anyone we'd have peace. Such an easy solution. Implementation is the choke point.

fj12ryder wrote:
But it's not a simple subject, as you can tell if you have read all the responses.

But I have read the post and it is still a simple subject. Pay attention to the road while driving. The rest is what everyone makes it.

JALLEN4 wrote:

You really do need to get a little more education and a better handle on logic and logic paths and where they lead!

Shame you don't understand satire and mimicking to point out the absurdity of "logic" and so-called studies used to justify draconian tactics.

Perhaps "debunk" is a term you'd do well to study a bit.

But it's not a simple subject, as you can tell if you have read all the responses.

I am amazed at how many different directions yall have taken a simple post about a Ga driving law!!

Well, it's become a very effective tool when the GSP stops you - they have a reason to inspect your vehicle without a warrant. Oh, I smell alcohol or I saw you ditch your roach clip. Yep - very effective. In Houston County, GA the first week of the new law saw 38 citations issued and 68 warnings.

This week Georgia and six other states are cracking down on dangerous drivers. So be aware and follow the speed limit.