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So, what phone will cost $300 just to touch? The answer is: Yours. In Georgia a new "No Touch" phone law will be going into effect on July 1, 2018 and it goes a little something like this…
HOUSE BILL 673- “HANDS FREE LAW”
House Bill 673 also known as the “Hands Free Law” was passed by the Georgia General Assembly and signed into law by Governor Nathan Deal. You can check out the full scope of things at this webpage: www.gahighwaysafety.org.
No video recording (continuously running dash cams are exempt)
Headsets and earpieces can only be worn for communication purposes. No music or any other entertainment platforms.
No reading, writing, texting messages, e-mails, social media or internet data content
A driver may not watch a video unless it’s for navigation.
A driver can’t have a phone in hand or use any body parts to support their phone. Drivers can only use phones to make or receive phone calls using speakerphone, earpiece, wireless headphone, car phone or a smart watch. GPS navigation devices are okay.
Music streaming apps may only be used if it was activated and programmed while the car was parked. Touching your phone to manipulate music is prohibited. No music videos. Controlling music apps and music through car stereo is permitted.
No texting unless you have verbal to text capabilities.
EXCEPTIONS TO THE LAW ARE AS FOLLOWS:
1. When calling 911 or any other such authority 2. Emergency and First Responders 3. When in a lawfully parked vehicle. However, this DOES NOT include vehicles pulled over for traffic signals and/or stop signs on the public roadway. I can’t lie, some people really need this law in their life. Some can barely drive with both hands on the wheel and they want to drive and text? For the rest of us, well, it is what it is. What I don’t like about this law is, they are taking away our right to video tape officers when they pull us over. They didn’t say it out right, but number 3 in the exceptions section pretty much spells it out. So, how does this work? You get pulled over. You pick up your phone to record an officer doing his public duty, that can be recorded since it’s a public duty, now you’ve broken the law. They now have a “valid” reason to pull you out of the car. They also have a better argument for unlawfully shooting people. Since the use of cell phones are illegal, you couldn’t possibly be reaching for one. You have got to be reaching for a firearm. The officer fears for his life, yada yada yada and instead of being involved in a traffic accident, you get a bullet in the butt. Yeah, this may be a cynical way to look at the new law, but when you show me a law that doesn’t carry underlying motives, I won’t be cynical. Touching your phone is now illegal. It’s technically a finable misdemeanor, but I have a feeling it's not going to be that simple.