Catoosa County law enforcement agencies educate drivers about hands free law

CATOOSA COUNTY, Tenn. (WDEF) — Law enforcement agencies want to make sure people understand the new Hands Free Law in Georgia.

Police officers were out in full force on Monday in Catoosa County. Three different agencies held a concentrated patrol event to educate drivers about the new hands free law that went into effect July 1.

“We are looking for drivers by using an unmarked car. By the time they get near an intersection there is going to be a marked car waiting on them if they were using or touching their devices in their hands,” Chief Mike Helton, with the Fort Oglethorpe Police Department.

They weren’t handing out citations, but instead information about the rules and driver safety. With the new law, you can’t have a phone in your hand while driving.

“I am sure it is a real good thing. I sure it’s good. As long as it saves lives and I am sure it will,” said Milton Rainey, a driver from Georgia.

“Put it down, use your technology, use more patience and when your phone dings or buzzes or rings wait until you get somewhere safe to respond to it so that your driving isn’t affected,” Chief Helton said.

Chief Helton says this will help cut down on distracted driving.

“You should not have to be reaching for it, pushing multiple buttons, you should not be having to find it. If you are having to look down and find your phone, the whole problem is you are looking down trying to find your phone as opposed to driving your car,” he said.

Drivers understand and say this new law will make the roads more safe.

“It is kind of hard to concentrate when you are driving and talking on the phone also,” Rainey said.

Fort Oglethorpe police officers are not issuing citations for 30 days. This is a warning period for them.

However, they say if you get in an accident, and it was found you were on your phone, you could be cited.