So far, few, if any, citations for texting while driving

By Alexis Stevens

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Maybe motorists have put their cell phones down since texting while driving became illegal Thursday in Georgia.

Or maybe they just haven't been caught.

It's only been two days, but many metro Atlanta police departments, including those in Gwinnett, Cobb and Fulton, say they have no information that any of their officers have written citations for driving while texting (DWT?).

For bigger police departments, such as the Cobb County force, it could take a few days to track specific numbers of citations related to the new law, officials said.

As of Friday afternoon, spokespersons for the police in Cobb, DeKalb, Gwinnett and Fulton counties, Roswell, Acworth and Kennesaw said they had no evidence tickets had been written.

"It's a new law that we'll be enforcing like all others," Officer Joe Hernandez with Cobb police told the AJC. "If you have something that important to send in a message, we urge drivers to pull off the roadway, into a parking lot, and put your vehicle in park for the safety of all drivers."

In Gwinnett County, drivers will be given a 30-day grace period if they're caught texting while driving, Cpl. Edwin Ritter with Gwinnett County police said. Violators will be issued a written warning and educated about the law, he said.

Most police departments tell the AJC officers won't do anything specific to catch violators of the new law. If you're driving erratically or weaving, you're likely to be pulled over anyway, police said. Only now, if you're fingers are typing away, you could get cited for it.

Another law that went into effect on Thursday prohibits teenage drivers from using their cell phones for any reason.