Key Votes

HB 23 - Age-Specific Ban on Wireless Communication While Driving - Key Vote

Georgia Key Votes

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Legislation - Signed (Executive) -

Title: Age-Specific Ban on Wireless Communication While Driving

Signed by Governor Sonny Perdue
Legislation - Concurrence Vote Passed (House) (137-23) -
Legislation - Bill Passed (Senate) (47-0) -
Legislation - Bill Passed (House) (138-34) - (Key vote)

Title: Age-Specific Ban on Wireless Communication While Driving

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that prohibits anyone who has an instruction permit or Class D license and is under the age of 18 from engaging in wireless communication while operating a motor vehicle.

Highlights:
-Defines "engaging in a wireless communication" as talking, writing, sending or reading a text-based communication or listening on a wireless telecommunications device (Sec. 4). -Defines wireless communication device as a (Sec. 4):
    -Cellular telephone; -Text-messaging device; -Personal digital assistant; -Stand alone computer; or -Other similar wireless device that is used to initiate or receive wireless communication with another person.
-Authorizes the use of a wireless communication device during certain emergency situations (Sec. 4). -Specifies that any driver under the age of 18 found to be at fault for causing an accident while engaging in wireless communication shall be penalized as follows (Sec. 2):
    -A driver's license suspension of 90 days or until the offender turns 18, whichever is shorter; or -For a second or subsequent violation, a driver's license suspension of 6 months or until the offender turns 18, whichever is shorter.
-Requires a person whose license is suspended under the provisions of this bill to pay a $60.00 (or $50.00 if processed by mail) restoration fee in order to end the suspension after the required time period has passed (Sec. 2). -Specifies that drivers who engage in wireless communication in violation of the provisions of this bill shall be subject to the following penalties (Sec. 1 & 4):
    -2 motor vehicle point reduction; and -A fine between $50 and $100, or double the amount if the violator is involved in an accident at the time.
-This is a substitute bill by the House Committee on Motor Vehicles.
Note:

NOTE: THIS IS A SUBSTITUTE BILL, MEANING THE LANGUAGE OF THE ORIGINAL BILL HAS BEEN REPLACED. THE DEGREE TO WHICH THE SUBSTITUTE BILL TEXT DIFFERS FROM THE PREVIOUS VERSION OF THE TEXT CAN VARY GREATLY.

See The Voting Record

Legislation - Introduced (House) -

Title: Age-Specific Ban on Wireless Communication While Driving

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