As Georgians get used to the new highway safety laws that have recently gone into effect, the press is interested to know what effect, if any, these new laws are having. The "super speeder" law and the bans on texting while driving and underage cell phone use carry heavy penalties, but so far it still doesn't look like many traffic tickets are being issued.

As we've reported in earlier posts, "super speeder" traffic tickets are being given out at only about 21 percent of the rate the legislature expected. It's not clear whether police are reluctant to issue the expensive tickets or whether drivers are avoiding excessive speed. Either way, the expected revenue from the "super speeder" tickets, which is earmarked for trauma care hospitals, is only a tiny fraction of what the legislature hoped for.

It looks like the low-enforcement trend may be carrying through to the texting while driving ban. According to Neighborhood Newspapers, police in Henry County have only issued a handful of these tickets since the ban went into effect on July 1.

High Fines and the Economy May Explain Lower-Than-Expected Traffic Tickets

Captain Jason Bolton, internal affairs commander of the Henry County Police Department, told Neighborhood Newspapers that the department has issued only about three tickets, plus one warning, for texting while driving since the ban went into effect.

"If an officer observes what appears to be someone texting while driving, then the officer may conduct a traffic stop and investigate further," said Bolton. Since the new texting while driving ban makes texting a primary offense, police don't have to see you committing another traffic violation before they can pull you over -- texting is enough for a traffic stop.

Still, while Henry County police have jurisdiction on 20 miles of I-75, they're not catching many people texting while driving.

One reason may be cost -- a traffic ticket for texting while driving will cost you $150, as well as a point on your license. It may be that people just can't afford to risk that expense in today's economy.

Bolton and other law enforcement professionals say that their main hope is that the "super speeder" law, the texting ban and the prohibition on teen drivers using cell phones will reduce accidents and make the roads safer. If the cost of the traffic tickets deter people from dangerous driving behavior, so much the better.

Related Resource:

"County police issue few texting tickets" (Neighbor Newspapers, August 25, 2010)