Metro Atlanta police are cracking down on distracted driving

DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. — Police in Dunwoody are cracking down on distracted driving this week.

During the operation on Wednesday, police pulled over more than 30 drivers.

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“During the holidays we want to keep everybody safe, and encourage people not to use their devices,” said Sgt. Michael Cheek, a spokesperson for Dunwoody police.

Cheek says 32 citations were handed out in just a few hours. Police also arrested one of those drivers on an outstanding warrant.

“Taking your eyes off the road is never a good thing. You need to have your full attention to the road when you’re driving,” said Cheek.

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Under a Georgia law passed in 2018, it’s illegal for drivers to hold their phones while behind the wheel.

But Dunwoody police say plenty of drivers still do it -- something they hope the crackdown will make them think twice about.

“Even though that law passed a few years ago, it’s still a big issue,” said Cheek. “We still see a lot of it.”

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Earlier this year, State Senator Frank Ginn proposed loosening Georgia’s distracted driving law. Ginn proposed making it legal for drivers to hold their phones while stopped at a light.

But the bill failed to pass the Senate in March.

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