[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/butlerfirm.com\/blog\/new-hands-free-law-using-your-phone-while-driving-in-georgia\/#BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/butlerfirm.com\/blog\/new-hands-free-law-using-your-phone-while-driving-in-georgia\/","headline":"New Hands-Free Law: Using Your Phone while Driving in Georgia","name":"New Hands-Free Law: Using Your Phone while Driving in Georgia","description":"Beginning on July 1, 2018, the Hands-Free Georgia Act goes into effect. It affects what you can and can\u2019t do with your phone while driving, and is designed to prevent car accidents and personal injuries. The law applies all across Georgia. Here\u2019s what this new law means for you: The big thing is that you&hellip; <a class=\"more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/butlerfirm.com\/blog\/new-hands-free-law-using-your-phone-while-driving-in-georgia\/\">Continue reading <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">New Hands-Free Law: Using Your Phone while Driving in Georgia<\/span><\/a>","datePublished":"2018-06-29","dateModified":"2026-04-17","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/butlerfirm.com\/blog\/author\/matt-kahn\/#Person","name":"Matt Kahn","url":"https:\/\/butlerfirm.com\/blog\/author\/matt-kahn\/","identifier":25,"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/e04949bdf1f2184cdeab337bb39535a4c17c4beb3ad3cd47e5524b20b38274a9?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/e04949bdf1f2184cdeab337bb39535a4c17c4beb3ad3cd47e5524b20b38274a9?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Butler Kahn","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/butlerfirm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Butler-Law-Firm-Logo.png","url":"https:\/\/butlerfirm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Butler-Law-Firm-Logo.png","width":210,"height":93}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/butlerfirm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/a-1024x683-1.jpg","url":"https:\/\/butlerfirm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/a-1024x683-1.jpg","height":683,"width":1024},"url":"https:\/\/butlerfirm.com\/blog\/new-hands-free-law-using-your-phone-while-driving-in-georgia\/","video":{"@context":"http:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"VideoObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=q2Egkavu2oM#VideoObject","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=q2Egkavu2oM","name":"Car Accident Trial: Describing the Wreck in Opening Statement","description":"In this car accident trial in Atlanta GA, our client was struck in the rear by a drunk driver\u2014while her two-year-old daughter was in the back seat.  In opening statement, we described the wreck to the jury in the present tense.\n\nFor more about car accident cases, visit https:\/\/butlerfirm.com\/georgia-car-accident-lawyers\/\n\n\u2757DISCLAIMER\u2757\n\nWe are not your lawyer. All content provided is for informational purposes only and not for the purpose of providing legal advice. Any verdicts, settlements or other case results discussed are not guaranteed and must be evaluated on their own merits.\n\nButler Kahn: https:\/\/butlerfirm.com\/\n\nAtlanta, Georgia location:\nhttps:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/Y3fCFkRVAn7jzGD16\n\nLawrenceville, Georgia location:\nhttps:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/PaShwcicz5DQDFsD6\n\nRoswell, Georgia location:\nhttps:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/uTVtgfq3RspJ5QQbA\n\nJonesboro, Georgia location:\nhttps:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/Jr2umQB8o32QaaRK6\n\nFree Guides:\nWhat To Do After a Car Accident: https:\/\/butlerfirm.com\/georgia-car-accident-lawyers\/what-to-do-after-an-accident\/\nShould I Hire an Accident Lawyer: https:\/\/butlerfirm.com\/atlanta-car-accident-lawyers\/when-needed\/\nGeorgia Wrongful Death Statute Explained: https:\/\/butlerfirm.com\/blog\/georgia-wrongful-death-statute-explained\/","thumbnailUrl":["https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/q2Egkavu2oM\/default.jpg","https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/q2Egkavu2oM\/mqdefault.jpg","https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/q2Egkavu2oM\/hqdefault.jpg","https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/q2Egkavu2oM\/sddefault.jpg"],"uploadDate":"2017-08-16T19:21:46+00:00","duration":"PT52S","embedUrl":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/q2Egkavu2oM","publisher":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCeMYGr94Sf4LpYwIcO3P2Qw#Organization","url":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCeMYGr94Sf4LpYwIcO3P2Qw","name":"Butler Kahn","description":"We help people and families.\n\nOur firm specializes in personal injury and wrongful death cases.  We are based in Atlanta, Georgia.  We handle cases across Georgia and, for certain types of cases, all across the country.\n\nTOP-QUALITY LEGAL WORK.  We do the work that lots of law firms skip.  We track down witnesses, dig into the evidence, and prepare intensely for every deposition, trial, and hearing.  We take a small number of cases so that we can devote our full attention to the clients we represent.\n\nPERSONAL SERVICE.  If you hire us, you get us.  You won't get blocked by a receptionist or leave unreturned messages.  If you want to speak with your lawyer, you can.\n\nDOING WHAT WE SAY WE'LL DO.  Some law firms make big promises at the beginning, then don\u2019t follow through.  We shoot straight \u2013 when we tell you something about your case, good or bad, we mean it.  No fake promises.\n\nButler Kahn\n10 Lenox Pointe\nAtlanta, GA 30324\n678-940-1444\n","logo":{"url":"https:\/\/yt3.ggpht.com\/NTOsbNEALVOnRbUCg7jUzYGcC4kNKsUTEVHm5TtiTQdLlfFKksLTnmiZG_t6zDG_e4ygtnva=s800-c-k-c0x00ffffff-no-rj","width":800,"height":800,"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=q2Egkavu2oM#VideoObject_publisher_logo_ImageObject"}},"potentialAction":{"@type":"SeekToAction","@id":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=q2Egkavu2oM#VideoObject_potentialAction","target":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=q2Egkavu2oM&t={seek_to_second_number}","startOffset-input":"required name=seek_to_second_number"},"interactionStatistic":[[{"@type":"InteractionCounter","@id":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=q2Egkavu2oM#VideoObject_interactionStatistic_WatchAction","interactionType":{"@type":"WatchAction"},"userInteractionCount":2509}],{"@type":"InteractionCounter","@id":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=q2Egkavu2oM#VideoObject_interactionStatistic_LikeAction","interactionType":{"@type":"LikeAction"},"userInteractionCount":7}]},"about":["Car Accident","Personal Injury"],"wordCount":779,"articleBody":"Beginning on July 1, 2018, the Hands-Free Georgia Act goes into effect. It affects what you can and can\u2019t do with your phone while driving, and is designed to prevent car accidents and personal injuries. The law applies all across Georgia. Here\u2019s what this new law means for you:The big thing is that you can no longer \u201chold or support\u201d your phone or any other electronic wireless device (such as an iPod or Garmin) while driving. This includes having your phone in your lap, in your hand, or touching any other part of your body while you drive.What\u00a0Can\u2019t\u00a0You Do with Your Phone while Driving in Georgia?Texting while driving has already been prohibited since 2010, and you still can\u2019t text, but now you also\u00a0cannot\u00a0do any of the following while driving:Dial a phone numberUse FaceTime or Skype, or any similar \u201cvideo telepathy\u201d appAnswer an emailTake a videoChange your Spotify or Apple Music playlist or other music streaming appChange or select an audiobook or podcastSelect a destination\u00a0on a GPS system or mapping app like Google Maps or WazeScroll through Instagram or FacebookCreate or watch SnapchatsUse headphones, headsets, or other earpieces to listen to musicCommercial Motor Vehicle Operators and School Bus Drivers have additional restrictions.What\u00a0Can\u00a0You Do with Your Phone while Driving in Georgia?You may use your phone to do these things while \u201clegally parked.\u201d However, you are not\u00a0\u201clegally parked\u201d while waiting at a red light or suffering Atlanta\u2019s impossible traffic \u2013 even if you have been in a standstill on 285 for an hour, and we know you will be.There is an exception to this rule that allows you to hold your phone while driving if you need to report a traffic accident, hazardous road condition, medical emergency, fire, or crime.\u00a0 Emergency personnel, police, firefighters, ambulance drivers, and other first responders are also exempt from the hands-free requirement while on duty.You\u00a0can\u00a0still do the following:Speak on the phone or send a text message using hands-free technology (if you\u2019re like me and you don\u2019t have a car with hands-free capabilities, you can use headphones to speak on the phone, but remember you cannot dial a number while driving, and you can only pick up a phone call while driving if you can do so by pressing just one button on your phone.\u00a0 If you have to stand up or unbuckle to grab your phone, you cannot pick up that call).Use a GPS system or mapping app like Google Maps or Waze (you just have to choose where you are going before you start driving.\u00a0 Remember, being stopped at a light is not the same as being parked, and you cannot use that time to select a route).Listen to music streaming apps, so long as you activate and program the app while you are legally parked.Use a built-in in-vehicle security, navigation, or remote diagnostics system (like OnStar)Wear and use a smartwatchUse the radio, CB radios, commercial two-way radios, ham radiosUse prescribed medical devicesWhat Happens if You Misuse Your Phone while Driving in Georgia?First time offenders will receive 1 point on their license, and a $50 fine. Each offense after that adds a point and another $50 dollars \u2013 so your second offense is 2 points and a $100 dollar fine, and your third is 3 points and a $300 dollar fine.While some people say this law feels like an inconvenience, similar laws have been put into place in the following states: Washington, Oregon, Nevada, California, Illinois, West Virginia, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New Jersey, Delaware, Washington D.C., and Maryland. In 13 of these 15 states, there was a 16% decrease in traffic deaths \u2013 and a decrease in traffic deaths is a big win for all of us.\u00a0Stay safe out there and stay hands-free!                            Our client had her infant daughter with her when another driver struck her in the rear. We took the case all the way to trial for her. This video clip comes from Butler Kahn\u2019s opening statement in the State Court of Fulton County, Georgia.The full Hands-Free Georgia Act can be found.Something to think about: many states are adopting an\u00a0increase in auto insurance premiums\u00a0as a penalty for texting while driving. So not only does\u00a0distracted driving\u00a0endanger lives, but one may be paying for texting and driving for many years to come.Butler Kahn is a personal injury law firm in Georgia handling cases involving truck accidents, car accidents, sexual assaults, and other cases in which a person has been harmed and needs help."},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Blog","item":"https:\/\/butlerfirm.com\/blog\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"New Hands-Free Law: Using Your Phone while Driving in Georgia","item":"https:\/\/butlerfirm.com\/blog\/new-hands-free-law-using-your-phone-while-driving-in-georgia\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]