Cobb Texters Cited By Cops Posing As Construction Workers

KENNESAW, GA — Drivers in Cobb County this week were in for a surprise if they were violating the hands-free law.

The Cobb County Police Department participated in a joint traffic enforcement operation with Acworth Police Department and Kennesaw Police Department focusing on enforcing the hands-free law.

Undercover officers from the three agencies dressed as construction workers at the intersection of Cobb Parkway and Blue Springs Road. These officers spoke with uniformed officers when a violation was observed and a traffic stop was initiated.

The enforcement operation was from 9 a.m. until noon. During this time, 65 citations were issued for cell phone violations. These violations included motorists texting while driving, scrolling through websites, and talking on the phone. In addition, 16 seat belt citations were issued, 7 license violation citations, 13 citations for other offenses, and one arrest.

"The traffic enforcement was conducted by many of the officers who are responsible for investigating the serious injury and fatality accidents in Cobb County," Cobb Police Department Public Information Officer Sydney Melton said. "Because of this, these officers had a vested interest in this enforcement detail. We know that distracted driving is a leading cause of serious injury and fatal accidents. According to a 2017 report from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there were 3,166 people killed in motor vehicle accidents involving distracted driving nationwide. This enforcement detail was a method of prevention and also a way to help keep the motorists in our community safe."

This operation was an effort to prevent distracted driving related accidents, ensure safety of motorists in the community, and a part of the Cobb County Police Department’s continued effort to partner with other law enforcement agencies in Cobb communities, the agency said. This was an opportunity to help spread awareness of the hands-free law and the Cobb County Police Departments efforts to enforce this law as a method of prevention, Cobb Police said.

Georgia's hands-free law took effect July 1, 2018, the Governor's Office Of Highway Safety In Georgia said. The law outlines:

• Drivers cannot have a phone in their hand or touching any part of their body while talking on their phone while driving.
• Even with hands-free technology, drivers cannot write, read or send text messages, e-mails, social media content and other internet data while on the road. (Voice to text is allowed)
• Drivers cannot watch videos when they are on the road. (Navigational/GPS videos are allowed)
• Drivers cannot use their phones or electronic devices to record video when they are on the road. (Continuously running dash cams are allowed)
• Drivers may listen to streaming music that does not include videos on the screen of their phone or device while driving but cannot touch their phones while on the road to activate or program any music streaming app. Streaming music that is controlled by and listened through the vehicle's radio is allowed. Drivers who need to touch their phones to activate/program their music streaming apps must do so before getting on the road
• The fine for a first conviction is $50 and 1 point assessed against the driver's license. The fine is $100 and 2 points for a second conviction and $150 and 3 points for three or more conviction. The fines for a second or third offense only apply when date of a second or third conviction takes place within 24 months of the date of the first conviction. First time offenders can have the charge dropped by showing the court they have obtained a device that allows them to talk on a phone with hands-free technology or devices.

According to the Georgia Department of Transportation, the number of distracted driving crashes in Georgia has risen by more than 400 percent in the last decade. In 2016, there were 25,215 crashes in the state where "inattentive", "cell phone" or "distracted" was listed as the contributing crash factor, compared to 5,784 such crashes in 2006.

Data also shows that the law is being enforced. Drivers need to put their phone down, or they run the risk of getting a citation because in the nine months since Georgia's hands-free law went into effect on July 1, 2018, the Georgia State Patrol alone has issued more than 15,000 hands-free citations.