March 09, 2022

Senate Rejects Bill Loosening Georgia's Hands-Free Cell Law - U.S. News & World Report

ATLANTA (AP) — Georgia state senators are rejecting a plan that would let drivers use cellphones mounted to their windshield or dashboard while at traffic lights and stop signs, voting 35-14 against the proposal on Wednesday.

Sen. Frank Ginn, a Danielsville Republican, pushed Senate Bill 203, saying that it's time to recognize that the state's current hands-free law has “made criminals out of our folks." He said that people looking at phones while at a “full and complete stop” or pulled over on the side of the road should be a low priority for police.

“We don’t want those people out there driving and being distracted," Ginn told senators. "But if you’re in a complete and full stop, your car is is not endangering anybody.”

But opponents said the bill would falsely lead drivers to believe that looking at their cell phone isn't dangerous.

“This is terrible legislation; this is unnecessary legislation; this is dangerous legislation,” said Sen. Randy Robertson, a Cataula Republican.

He said it could be particularly dangerous for young drivers.

“Multi-tasking is a myth," Roberston said. "We stop one thing to do something else. It may be a fraction of a second, but we cannot simultaneously do two things. When someone is messing with their phones at a traffic device, they are not paying attention to the danger that is around them.”

Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.



source: https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/georgia/articles/2022-03-09/senate-rejects-bill-loosening-georgias-hands-free-cell-law

Your content is great. However, if any of the content contained herein violates any rights of yours, including those of copyright, please contact us immediately by e-mail at media[@]kissrpr.com.