(ATLANTA) - On the first weekday enforcement of Georgia's new hands-free phone law, a reporter rode along with a state trooper.
Rikki Klaus has more from law enforcement's perspective.
It is the biggest change to Georgia's traffic laws in years.
Troopers say the overall goal is to keep people safe.
On Sunday, the reporter rode along with a trooper looking for violations of the hands-free phone law.
Navid Ahsan from Rockdale County admitted he made a mistake, holding his phone while using GPS. He said the hands-free law is long overdue.
"We should have done that a long time ago," he said.
Trooper Cory Croscutt said another driver admitted to texting on the highway. He used the traffic stop as a teachable moment.
"It’s definitely something that I feel is going to keep folks safe," he said.
Croscutt encourages everyone to read the law for themselves but said the main things to remember are: don’t hold your phone, don’t even rest it on your lap. Also, don’t read, write or send text-based information.
Anything that distracts you, and that could mean eating food, is not allowed, either. No video watching or broadcasting is allowed.
Croscutt ultimately hope the law reduces deaths, at a time when he says troopers see crashes almost daily caused by distraction.
The fines range from $50 to $150.
