A new law in Georgia will affect Floridians whose vacation plans include a drive north this summer.
Georgia鈥檚 new hands-free law makes it illegal to hold a cell phone while a vehicle is moving.
On WJCT鈥檚 Tuesday, Jacksonville lawyer Wayne Hogan said he鈥檚 all for it.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a step, maybe two steps, beyond the baby step Florida took when it made texting a secondary offense. Point being that the officer can鈥檛 stop the person if they think they鈥檙e texting. In Georgia, it is a primary offense.鈥�
Hogan gives driver-safety talks to groups around the First Coast and has long called for making texting-while-driving a primary offense in Florida as well.
However, Florida lawmakers this year rejected a bill that would have done just that. Fleming Island Republican Senator Rob Bradley says the proposal went too far.
鈥淭he bill that we considered allowed them to pull you over for doing something that, under current law and the bill itself is a perfectly legal activity, which is looking down at your phone to get directions.鈥�
Georgia police have the option of issuing warnings to drivers who violate the new hands-free law while people adapt to the new restriction there.
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