Hands-Free

Learn the rules of the road behind Georgia’s Hands-Free law

It’s not hard to understand that distracted driving can have serious, sometime fatal consequences, which is why we were not surprised when Governor Nathan Deal signed into law House Bill 673, known as the “Hands-Free Law”. 

According to Head’s Up Georgia, there has been a significant increase in the number of auto accident injuries and majority of those crashes were caused by rear-end collisions and crashes by drivers 15 to 25-years-old, leading to the development of laws all around the country that prohibit the use of cell phones while behind the wheel. And it seems to be working. The 15 states that passed hands-free driving laws saw a 16 percent decrease in traffic fatalities in the two years after the law has passed and we are hoping that Georgia sees the same effects from our Hands-Free Law.

If you are caught violating the Hands-Free Law, expect to face these penalties:

First conviction: $50 fine and 1 point on your license

Second conviction: $100 fine and 2 points on your license

Third and subsequent convictions: $150 fine and 3 points on your license. 

Below is a breakdown of what is and is not allowed under the law; the only exceptions to these new rules are if you are: 

1. Reporting a traffic crash, medical emergency, fire, criminal activity or hazardous road conditions.
2. An employee or contractor of a utility service provider acting within the scope of their employment while responding to a utility emergency.
3. A first responder (law enforcement, fire, EMS) during the performance of their official duties. 
4. When in a lawfully parked vehicle—this DOES NOT include vehicles stopped for traffic signals and stop signs on the public roadway.

We urge you to obey these laws and encourage anyone who has been struck and injured by a distracted driver to contact us for help navigating the claim.