Governor signs texting law inspired by teen’s death
Despite misgivings, Gov. Sonny Perdue signed the texting bill named for a Morgan County teen Caleb Sorohan who died while texting and driving.
The signing of Caleb’s Law was a surprise and delight to the bill’s supporters, who made a last-ditch effort this week to get Perdue’s support. Many of those supporters were from Morgan County and included teens.
Caleb’s family met with lawmakers and the governor. Morgan County school board member Dave Belton was at the Capitol many times this session, both before the bill was passed and then over the last 10 days as the governor wavered on signing the bill.
Belton has written several blogs here at Get Schooled on the bill that you can find by searching his name. In his most recent, he noted:
The governor picked an odd battle to end his legislative career, picking a fight with a school-full of grieving teens.
“Caleb’s Law” was born last Christmas when an 18-year-old student accidently killed himself texting while driving.Instead of hushing up their son’s mistake, the brave family went public, leading a campaign of dozens of Morgan County teens who lobbied legislators for months for a texting while driving law.
Their bill passed unanimously in the state Senate and won a 113-24 bipartisan margin in the House.
The slain teen’s mother only goal was that other mothers wouldn’t have to suffer the way she did.Her solace was short-lived, however, when Gov. Sonny Perdue hinted he may veto the bill her son died to craft.
Laws change behavior.
The appeals of Belton and others worked, although Perdue still has his concerns and wants them addressed next year:
But the texting ban is likely to change. As Gov. Sonny Perdue signed the bills Friday, he said the texting part was unclear, and that legislators had promised to fix it next year.
Pointing to his own BlackBerry, Perdue noted that when a phone buzzes, the driver won’t know whether it’s from an incoming call or a text.
He added that it could lead to a rise in lawsuits and prosecutions. “As a society we don’t accept anything as an accident anymore,” he said. “It’s got to be someone’s fault. And I think we’re putting a law on the books that again make fault and make those kinds of civil actions even more prevalent.”
Here is the release from the Perdue camp:
Governor Sonny Perdue today signed House Bill 23. The legislation, sponsored by Rep. Matt Ramsey, makes it illegal for anyone under 18 to use a cell phone while driving.
“We need to do everything possible to focus young drivers on the road ahead,” said Governor Perdue regarding HB 23. “I want to thank Rep. Ramsey for working hard on this bill.”
The Governor also signed Senate Bill 360 sponsored by Sen. Jack Murphy, which makes it illegal for all drivers to text while driving. Before signing the legislation the Governor expressed his continued concern with some provisions of the bill, but said he agreed to sign with the assurance that the bill sponsors were committed to addressing his concerns in legislation next year.
“Because of the sponsors’ assurances, I have decided to sign SB 360,” said Governor Perdue. “I hope that we will all commit to driving safely, free of distraction.”
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29 comments Add your comment
TW
June 4th, 2010
4:22 pm
Finally, a republican actually does something pro-life.
DeKalb Conservative
June 4th, 2010
4:38 pm
Great – cause an 18 y/o kid named Caleb can’t drive and text, no one can drive and text.
AJinCobb
June 4th, 2010
5:02 pm
Yes, DeKalb Conservative, it’s great!
GA conservative
June 4th, 2010
5:13 pm
I told you that we are for people…
DeKalb Conservative is just on the far extreme fringe of our great party.
ADO
June 4th, 2010
5:23 pm
Law should apply to everyone, not just eighteen and unders.
Grayson IP
June 4th, 2010
6:24 pm
The texting law will almost certainly be challenged. There’s no way for a cop to tell whether a person looking at a phone is doing so for a permitted purpose or not. I might be looking to answer a call or follow directions on a navigation system (MANY of which are on phones).
The bottom line is personal responsibility. Unless we’re going to ban kids arguing in the back seat and babies dropping their bottles, applying make-up, eating, smoking etc., there will always be risks of distracted drivers. This law is well intentioned, but it lacks my support.
Intruder
June 4th, 2010
8:18 pm
But the legislature “promised” to fix problems with this bill for Sonny-Boy. Don’t you have confidence in your duly elected representatives?
Public school kid / private parent
June 5th, 2010
7:39 am
“Pointing to his own BlackBerry, Perdue noted that when a phone buzzes, the driver won’t know whether it’s from an incoming call or a text”
Um, actually, that’s not true. My Blackberry has a “Phone Only” setting that lets it ring for a phone call and make a small “bing” for a text (different noise, can be easily ignored) and is *quiet* for email. And even without that settings you can set different sounds / vibrations for different incoming items.
I don’t know of any phone that makes the same sound for a call and a text, and there’s no reason a driver has to respond to either while driving. Plus, if you’re looking down at your phone for directions go get a real GPS that you can place higher and is larger and less distracting (better yet – check the map before you leave so you can actually keep your eyes on the road).
Thank you for signing the bill – maybe it won’t change all behavior but maybe it will make just a few folks think before they text and drive.
Georgia
June 5th, 2010
11:27 am
What about using a hands free device to talk on your phone? Perhaps a Bluetooth? Is that going to be illegal now too? This law seems vague. It needs to be more specific. I can see banning texting. It’s very distracting. But just talking using some kind of hands free phone would be OK.
Lee
June 5th, 2010
12:15 pm
So the governor signs a bill that he knows is flawed and will likely be unenforceable and the lawmakers “promise” to fix it next year.
Yeah, riggghhhtt.
Good intentions, bad law, and there will be unintended consequences.
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June 5th, 2010
1:30 pm
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drew (former teacher)
June 5th, 2010
2:52 pm
ANYONE who texts while driving is an idiot, plain and simple. There is NO WAY you can text, while at the same time giving sufficient attention to driving. Anyone who says they drive just as well when texting, is full of it (I’m just waiting for someone to come out with the old, “I drive BETTER when I’m texting”, argument).
Is this going to stop everyone from texting while driving? Of course not. But if it stops just a few, it’ll be worth it. And I’m generally not for expanding government’s powers, but when people ignore common sense, and place others in danger, someone needs to intervene, and protect the general public from the self-centered idiots who can’t stop to consider their own safety, much less the safety of others.
bootney farnsworth
June 5th, 2010
5:23 pm
@ DeKalb
being as no one has a “right” to drive, the state is well within
in constitutional bounds to set rules as they fit.
and as there is no “right” to drive, you have no “right” to
drive recklessly just because you wish to send someone a message.
if you wish to text and drive, hire a driver.
bootney farnsworth
June 5th, 2010
5:24 pm
@ Grayson IP
the technology is most certainly there to find out
if someone is/was sending a text.
bootney farnsworth
June 5th, 2010
5:27 pm
what this ultimately comes down to isn’t prevention, its
CONSEQUENCE. so if someone is injured or killed by a texting
driver there can be approprite consequences for the action.
seems to the alleged conservatives would be all for that.
bootney farnsworth
June 5th, 2010
5:30 pm
still think the best idea is to not give driver’s licenses to anyone
under 18 (unless they are in the military)
bootney farnsworth
June 5th, 2010
5:47 pm
oh DeKalb, one more thing
you are more than welcome to text and drive in your driveway,
your back yard, church parking lot, uncle Earl’s farm, any
private property you wish.
your desire to play The Texting Road Warrior is more than intact.
you just don’t get to risk anyone elses life. only your own.
oh, and BTW: should you drive off of private property and hit
something like, say, a powerline – we’ll bill your estate for
the damages.
Ole Guy
June 5th, 2010
9:40 pm
How in hell did we, as a Nation, ever manage to survive without cell phones? How did we, as kids, ever manage to live, past the age of 6, without cell phones? How did governors govern, presidents preside, and legislators legislate…ALL WITHOUT CELL PHONES? And how did common everyday people manage to conduct the daily chores of living…all without those cell phones?
And now that we, a civilized peoples (with benefit of cell phones), insist on perpetuating Darwin’s Law, all we can do is pass yet another law stating “DON’T DO THAT”!
Makes a guy proud…SNIFF!
HStchr
June 6th, 2010
9:32 am
Having survived a very close call with a large SUV recently whose driver was clearly visible texting (he had the phone up at the top of the steering wheel- as if that makes any difference), I’m glad we’re finally looking at legislative responses to this issue. I would have been hit full force at over 70mph had I not been able to use the emergency lane to avoid being sideswiped. Enforcement is going to be a challenge, but like speeding laws, it can help raise public consciousness about the issue. I’m looking forward to technology being developed that will allow phones to detect movement above 5mph and simply lock the keyboard on the phone. You can talk on the phone (preferably hands-free) or look at directions if you have a mounting device on the dash. Beyond that, if you’re moving beyond 5mph, the phone should be ignored. What we are addressing with legislation now will likely push technology to develop a feature to address.
Phoebe Nap
June 6th, 2010
3:14 pm
As a teenager in our society, I am overwhelmed by the technology that surrounds me. I have texted and drove for over a year and a half at least and realized the dangers only a short time ago. After my mom got me to watch an episode of the Oprah Winfrey Show, I saw multiple devastated familes who lost children, brothers and sisters. At one point in the show, Oprah asked the audience to think about how many times they have been on the phone and run off of the road. I answered this question . . . I could not even count how many times I have just began to cross the lines on the road. Yes, say that you can do it and be fine, but what about that one time that “it can’t happen to you” and yet, it does. Then what will happen? Your life is gone. Cherokee High School had a “Ghost Out” and it reinacted a car accident. Watching your friends “die” right in front of you changes a lot. Since then, I have vowed to put my phone on vibrate and put it in my passenger seat. It is hard, from time to time, but safety is worth it. i have noticed a major improvement in my driving, when it wasn’t bad to begin with. I am asking other readers to please do the same and drive safer.
Michael Lach
June 6th, 2010
9:12 pm
http://www.HowsMyTeenDriving.org has a solution to these teenage driving issues. For a small fee you get a bumper sticker with an 800 number just like the ones we see on commercial vehicles. Call is immediately placed to parents to react right then. It takes a community to raise a child. Teenage driving is still the number #1 cause of deaths for ages 16-19. This product can help eliminate/reduce teenage driving deaths.
Ole Guy
June 7th, 2010
12:13 pm
When a civilian student pilot intends to take to the air, he will generally, as a custom, identify himself, prior to takeoff, as a student pilot. This is intended for two reasons: 1)the tower will issue instructions in a slower pace rather than the clipped stacato tone employed throughout the industry, 2) pilots preparing to takeoff might allow the student “first crack at the active”…allow him to proceed ahead of them.
Once in the air, however, it is expected that the junior airman possess the basics of air traffic control knowledge and decorum. If he demonstrates to the contrary…GROUNDED!
Never mind calling the parents. If the kid’s that stupid, more-than-likely, the parents are equally stupid. Call the cops, toss the kid in the clink, and ban further opportunities at the wheel until his 21st, at which time he will not have mommy and daddy to buffer his stupidity.
On the other hand, if kids…people of all ages, for that matter…insist on entering the pool of Darwin’s contenders, let em at it. Sure, there will be tears, heart breaks, and lives torn apart…but hey, ya gotta let kids learn from their mistakes AS LONG AS THEY DON’T TAKE INNOCENT LIVES WITH EM!
Private School Guy
June 7th, 2010
6:39 pm
First raise the driving age to 18. Then up the cost of getting a license. Put the funds into driver education and get serious about what it really takes to drive. A German friend was shocked when I told him McDonald’s was popular because their food was easy to eat while driving. The concept of eating while driving seemed insane to him. Adding layers of laws doesn’t fix the situation among others things that should be made illegal while driving, knitting, trombone playing, grooming your dog, playing beer pong and writing new laws that should simply be covered by common sense.
Just Saying...
June 8th, 2010
7:35 am
Why does everyone want to raise driving privileges to 18? The issues you currently have now will not change with age. I see plenty of teenagers as well as adults talking and texting while driving yet it is the adults that sideswipe me every time. I have been driving since the age of 16 with my mom who taught me how to drive responsibly. I am tired to laws being made because parents do not teach their children to be responsible or to use common sense. Common sense tells me that if my eyes are on the phone texting, then my eyes cannot be watching what is on the road. Responsibility tells me to put the phone down and watch for the safety of myself and the others on the road with me. Parents please start teaching your children responsibility and stop making the government do your job.
sheryllovelady.com
June 8th, 2010
2:04 pm
[...] Read this post in the Atlanta Journal Constitution Tags: Georgia, Legislation, teen death, texting [...]
Phillip
June 9th, 2010
1:00 pm
It was reported that texting is more dangerous than driving drunk. If that’s the case, why don’t we make the punishment the same for texting as it is for DUI?
Mellanie
June 14th, 2010
3:46 pm
I think this is a senseless law. It is sad to hear of the loss of someone’s loved one…but where do we draw the line? I once almost had an accident because the passenger in my car yelled out because someone pulled over on us. His outburst caused me to shift my view and attention to him for several seconds. The shock triggered an anxiety attack and we almost had a serious wreck. Would the result of this had been a ban on passengers? Passengers are the BIGGEST distraction that a driver can have. You can’t protect everyone. Sometimes you just have to use wisdom. I have an iPhone…i use it for navigation, iPod, and have even taken a picture of a carfire in traffic…HOW could an officer determine what I was using my phone for?
Luther
June 20th, 2010
9:07 pm
Phones have GPS, GPS knows when you are moving: Make a phone that doesn’t work if you are moving more than 2 MPH. Phase them in and outlaw phones without this safety feature. This would protect the stupid from themselves, and protect the rest of us as well.
MDn8tvinGA
June 30th, 2010
5:29 pm
they should have named the law after the family that was wiped out by a person texting rather than someone who was doing the texting.