'Bluetooth' law passes in Georgia

A typical Bluetooth mobile phone headset

The Villa Rica City Council has banned cell phone usage while driving without a hands-free device, becoming the first city in Georgia to pass such a law. At the same time, the Council dropped an effort to prohibit smoking in all public places in the city.

The new ban on cell phones gives car salesmen the opportunity to push cars equipped with hands-free devices. After the Council acted, I received an email from Aaron Gillison, a salesman at Mazda of Roswell.

"Safety while driving has always been a big concern among adult and young drivers alike," Gillison said. "Many states have adopted 'Bluetooth laws' for driving and talking on the phone. Some have used local distracted driving laws to prevent you from talking on a phone, texting, controlling a navigation or music device while driving.

"Georgia has threatened but failed to pass these laws in the past but with federal laws on the horizon, Villa Rica became the first to pass a local law in Georgia," Gillison said. Most newer cars allow drivers to control music devices wirelessly which can be just as dangerous as texting while driving.

Bluetooth photo part of Wiki Free Art License.