ATLANTA – State Representative John Carson (R-Marietta) has recently been recognized by several organizations for sponsoring the Hands-Free Georgia Act, or House Bill 673. HB 673, which creates a hands-free driving law, was signed into law by Gov. Deal and became effective in Georgia on July, 1, 2018.
“I am humbled to be recognized by so many organizations for my work on Georgia’s Hands-Free Act,” said Rep. Carson. “I sponsored this legislation with the intention to save lives, and I believe we have already succeeded in that effort. I know that this legislation will continue to have a positive, and life-saving impact on Georgians for generations to come.”
Rep. Carson recently received the TextLess Live More Service Award; he was selected by the Georgia Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics to receive its Outstanding Legislator Award for 2018; he was named State Legislator of the Year by NAMIC; he received Georgia Brain and Spinal Injury Trust Fund Commission’s 2018 Pathfinder Award for Outstanding Achievement; and he was awarded the Safe America’s 2018 WorldSafe Award.
The hands-free driving law prohibits drivers from holding or supporting a wireless telecommunication device or a stand-alone electronic device while operating a vehicle. Additionally, this law maintains the ban on texting, emailing and internet browsing while driving, but also prohibits watching or recording videos while driving. GPS navigation and voice-to-text features are permitted.
For more information on HB 673, please click here.
Representative John Carson represents the citizens of District 46, which includes portions of Cherokee and Cobb counties. He was elected to the House of Representatives in 2011 and currently serves as Vice Chairman of the Appropriations Committee, Vice Chairman of the Energy, Utilities & Telecommunications Committee, Vice Chairman of the Transportation Committee and Secretary of the Insurance Committee. He also serves on the Intragovernmental Coordination and Ways and Means committees and is a member of the Military Affairs working group.
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