Man Cited For 'Eating While Driving' In Cobb County, Georgia...

I once saw a lady reading a book while driving.

Seriously! It was propped up on her steering wheel!

As for eating while driving? Mixed feelings. I don't see it as a huge deal since it's not like texting. You don't need to keep looking at your food to eat it. Also, not eating while driving doesn't make some people any less bad at being behind the wheel. I've made a few bad choices while driving (and once beforehand), and thankfully for me and other people, nobody was hurt. These days I am cautious and try to keep alert. I also keep a good distance more than necessary, between myself and other vehicles.

If I was being followed by a cop for two miles, I would not be seen eating the burger by him.
Either he didn't care, or he wasn't aware that a cop was following him.... maybe he was distracted by the sandwich.

Personally, I think that the case needs to be thrown out... AND the law needs to be rewritten.
The law is way too vague.
It could be interpreted that talking to a passenger might be 'distracting'. Where do you draw the l8ne?

a reply to: lovebeck

You are getting bent out of shape because you obviously do not have any understanding whatsoever about laws concerning driving. Literally every State in the US has this little law on their books.

It's called "inattentive driving" and you will more than likely lose in court every time.

LEOs could if they wished pull over almost everybody and ticket them under this law.

Cup of coffee in your hand = inattentive driving
Bluetooth in your ear and talking to your boss = inattentive driving
Smoking while driving = inattentive driving
etc..etc..

This case will get tossed though. It's not worth the courts time.

But I would also say that such a ticket DOES go to prove that cities and counties and States do have a quota system when it comes to traffic tickets. They can't deny it after such a ticket as this.

originally posted by: hopenotfeariswhatweneed
a reply to: lovebeck

then the guy should counter sue maccas for having a drive through ....personally i hate all the law suits that happen in the U.S it is petty and is really bad for society as a whole,but in this case i would make an exception

The drive through is for convenience, not to get your food and munch down while driving.
Distracted driving is the leading cause for motor vehicle collisions and deaths now, it surpassed BAC over 0.08 here in Ontario and many other parts of busy roadway networks in North amierica.

I think this was just, if people get dinged for looking at their phone so should a guy whose second hand isn't free.

a reply to: lovebeck

Well, if it was just a regular hamburger no harm done, but a double quarter pounder with cheese, is a little more than you can handle behind the wheel, lol.

On the serious side, we all do it. When hunger calls, we have to eat. We all know our limitations on what we can eat behind the wheel.

Having said that, Anything that distracts a driver from watching the road is dangerous for themselves and other drivers. If I recall, my relatives from Canada informed me there's laws against eating behind the wheel in Canada. I consider texting behind the wheel more dangerous than eating!

I understand they're trying to save lives, but when you consider motorcyclists can ride a bike legally without wearing a helmet, but it's illegal to drive a car without buckling up, it's clear the laws are not equally applied. It's really no business of government if a person decides to risk their life. Isn't that what personal freedom is all about?

a reply to: WeRpeons

It's not the life of the driver it's the lives of others. If your helmet comparison were logical then drinking and driving would be allowed.
What if this guy hit someone, who wasn't eating, or texting, then what? Say he's sorry? No he'll get dinged for dangerous driving and won't be able to drive ever again.

a reply to: strongfp

I get your point. I agree it's a danger to other drivers.

The seat belt law, has always been a problem with me. If I'm driving down the road not wearing a seat belt and slam into the back bumper going 25 mph, the chances of me becoming seriously hurt or losing my life pales in comparison than someone on a motorcycle not wearing a helmet. My point was, laws are not equally applied in all cases.

a reply to: lovebeck

Not hard to believe. If you see a cop you should at least put the food down. I always assumed that it would or could be an issue. From a practical standpoint, it is not as distracting as texting, putting on make up or even when a driver is conversing with other people in the same vehicle.

How can it become an issue? A tomato can fall out and you can reach for it and cause you to crash.

If they are going to use the law then the state should ticket very person who is doing anything put driving. They should be fair and treat everyone equal.

We all know our limitations on what we can eat behind the wheel

I think the 'all' in the sentence might be inappropriate. There are almost always a few who are clueless.

a reply to: lovebeck

This is the result of administrators putting pressure on officers to produce more "results". Its happening everywhere to generate revenue. There are quite a few articles on how lucrative some departments are getting to including writing parking tickets from laws in the 1960s that the city had. If you check your local towns city code book of laws you will be amazed at what is in there and how many you are breaking. Many cities cite a man and woman living together not being married is a violation of a city ordinance.

originally posted by: Domo1

“I’ve only seen something like this charge when there’s an accident. There was no accident here so the fact that this man was charged with eating and driving is a first for me,” Head said. Head added that law was very vague.

And you shouldn't put a crosswalk in until someone gets hi by a car...

Yeah but maybe the guy was driving like a jackass and more focused on his burger. I cringe when I se people eating and driving.

So it was a first. So it doesn't happen often. So perhaps the guy was actually driving like a complete douche and this was the best thing to charge him with to get him to get his act together.

Eating a burger while driving is dangerous. Because people are stupid. Spill a little and most people are going to try to clean themselves and be distracted.

And yet, I've seen cops on their computers while driving...........

Every time they look up your license plate number driving down the road they are driving while distracted.

Again....one rule for them and one rule for us.

Sick of the POS's.

Nothing like a triple post in the morning to get you going.......

3 makes a charm......

Cobb County is well known as an area to be very cautious around police in the Atlanta area because they will ticket for anything if given the chance.

Alabama plates on the car usually means instant revenue as most will pay ticket online to avoid time off from work as well as travel expenses.

Many from Alabama who now live in Georgia avoid changing plates over due Georgias egregiously expensive ad valorum tax on autos - if that's case here the officer "tagged" him for a much larger fine in 30 days if stopped again.

I propose it was Alabama tag + eating that made this stop happen.

Thousands of locals eat and drive that area daily unmolested, I-285 is full of book and newspaper reading, makeup applying, texting, phoning and eating commuters daily.

The traffic court is a joke being it's an essential part of the revenue stream in providing legitimacy to the shakedown. This man will get nowhere with them as its a kangaroo rubber stamp operation.

My opinion is that if you're doing something that distracts you from driving (like eating, smoking, putting on makeup) , you're subject to be ticketed for it. Eating is right up there with texting. I sometimes eat while driving. But if I got a ticket, I would totally understand. It' dangerous and distracting.

originally posted by: Phoenix
Cobb County is well known as an area to be very cautious around police in the Atlanta area because they will ticket for anything if given the chance.

Alabama plates on the car usually means instant revenue as most will pay ticket online to avoid time off from work as well as travel expenses.

Many from Alabama who now live in Georgia avoid changing plates over due Georgias egregiously expensive ad valorum tax on autos - if that's case here the officer "tagged" him for a much larger fine in 30 days if stopped again.

I propose it was Alabama tag + eating that made this stop happen.

Thousands of locals eat and drive that area daily unmolested, I-285 is full of book and newspaper reading, makeup applying, texting, phoning and eating commuters daily.

The traffic court is a joke being it's an essential part of the revenue stream in providing legitimacy to the shakedown. This man will get nowhere with them as its a kangaroo rubber stamp operation.

I think that the above post brings up the point that should be grinding out teeth over this. Traffic tickets are a source of revenue. This is why the law itself will continue to accommodate that "need" for law enforcement. The vague wording is intentional in my opinion. Also, cops DO target individuals that represent circumstances that are likely to bring in the most money. We have something similar locally. If I am driving in Wyoming with my Montana plates I am very, very careful because they will pop you for the least excuse.

For the record, I don't drive while eating. In my case, this can lead to some very cold food (50 miles between me and any restaurant) but, oh well.

I see this as merely LE testing the system for what they can get away with. No way this guy made a stop like this without knowing it would be supported by his department and Justice system high ups.

You don't need to punch any buttons or take your eyes off the road to eat a burger and the guy made no driving errors so the stop was nothing more than "pre-crime" intervention. Where will it stop? It won't.

originally posted by: Benevolent Heretic
My opinion is that if you're doing something that distracts you from driving (like eating, smoking, putting on makeup) , you're subject to be ticketed for it. Eating is right up there with texting. I sometimes eat while driving. But if I got a ticket, I would totally understand. It' dangerous and distracting.

Never heard of an accident due smoking (legal kind) how about all the new vehicles with big nav screens mounted on dashboard?

ever drive in the atlanta metro area, which cobb county is considered to be part of.
you got to be doing some heads up driving there, or they'll run your a@@ over.