The Villa Rica City Council voted down a wide-reaching distracted driving ordinance on Tuesday. The bill would have not only banned cell phones while driving, but also barred eating, writing and much more.
Villa Rica Mayor Jay Collins said he opposed the ordinance because no other municipality in the state has a similar law.
"When we go further than the state law, I just don't know that we need to do that, as a small suburban city," Collins said.
City Councilman Woody Holland said he voted in support of the bill because it would have made the streets safer.
But most of the council agreed with the mayor and voted against the distracted driving ordinance here.
The state of Georgia already has a distracted driver law. Villa Rica's ordinance would have gone much further, but police do have the power to right to issue a ticket if they see someone eating or talking on the phone and decide they are distracted.
Thursday, May 23 2013 6:49 PM EDT2013-05-23 22:49:21 GMT
The jury has found Michael Parson guilty on all eight counts in the shooting of his wife outside their Sandy Springs apartment.The woman, Adina Parson, survived after being shot eight times.
The jury has found Michael Parson guilty on all eight counts in the shooting of his wife outside their Sandy Springs apartment.The woman, Adina Parson, survived after being shot eight times.
Thursday, May 23 2013 6:46 PM EDT2013-05-23 22:46:08 GMT
Employees of Atlanta-area Belk stores help spruce up a Norcross school on Thursday. They spent the day working on the campus at Meadow Creek Elementary in Norcross
Employees of Atlanta-area Belk stores help spruce up a Norcross school on Thursday. They spent the day working on the campus at Meadow Creek Elementary in Norcross
Thursday, May 23 2013 6:35 PM EDT2013-05-23 22:35:12 GMT
Metro Atlanta's jobless rate fell in April from 7.9 percent to 7.6 percent. The state labor department says employers added nearly 13,000 jobs.
Metro Atlanta's jobless rate fell in April from 7.9 percent to 7.6 percent. The state labor department says employers added nearly 13,000 jobs. What do those numbers mean for those still looking for work?
Thursday, May 23 2013 5:57 PM EDT2013-05-23 21:57:50 GMT
The fox responsible for biting two Newton County elementary school students while they played on their school's playground remains on the loose.
The fox that bit two Newton County elementary school students while they played on the playground is still on the loose. Animal control authorities tell FOX 5 someone from Rocky Plains Elementary School reported a fox sighting on campus one day before the boys were attacked.
Thursday, May 23 2013 5:32 PM EDT2013-05-23 21:32:47 GMT
The wives of first responders in Atlanta took to the picket line on Thursday morning to demand a salary hike for city workers.
The wives and family members of first responders in Atlanta took to the picket line on Thursday morning to demand a salary hike for city workers. They say their loved ones are forced to work extra jobs just to make ends meet, leaving little time for family.
Thursday, May 23 2013 5:19 PM EDT2013-05-23 21:19:31 GMT
Police in Palmetto say they're investigating the abduction of a 13-year-old boy.
Police in Palmetto say they're investigating the abduction of a 13-year-old boy. They say he was approached by a man as he got off his school bus on Wednesday, and that man pulled him into a pickup truck. He was able to escape, but the suspect is still on the loose.
