The Georgia State Patrol will issue citations for texting while driving. The grace period is over. You have been warned.

As of Sunday, July 29, the Georgia State Patrol began ticketing people caught texting while driving; even people stopped at a light or waiting in a turn lane. You cannot drive and text, unless you pay.

Most accidents, other than alcohol or speed, are caused by a driver being distracted by something other than driving. That is why the texting while driving law was passed. It will save lives.

The statewide anti-texting and driving law took effect on July 1. It's been in effect for a month, and troopers will “start actual true enforcement,” and a citation will cost $150, ac- cording to the GSP.

Troopers are now starting to enforce the law because the Georgia Department of Public Safety made the “administrative decision” to wait a month to allow for an adjustment.

The public safety awareness has been out there. It’s been well publicized.

The law applies to all drivers, not just teenagers, and an officer can make a stop even if no other traffic offense is committed.

Adults, but not teenagers, can still talk on cellphones while driving. Like other laws, It’s going to be an officer’s discretion, like enforcing the state’s seat belt law. It doesn’t matter if the driver puts on the seat belt as the officer walks to the car as long there didn't appear to be a seat belt in use while the car was moving.

In the case of texting, a driver has got a cellphone in their hand and they’re looking forward and down and forward and down, they most likely are texting.

Another sign would be a sober driver weaving and driving erratically.

As with most accidents, people don’t think it will happen to them. Troopers say, as we respond to accidents and people are hurt, it's not at all uncommon to see a cellphone on the floor with the top flipped open or the slide open.

"If you have to text, stop, pull over to the side of the road, or get out if it is that important. Most drivers will tell you, I should have waited, if they have the chance," one trooper stated.

It is the law, and it is going to be enforced, hopefully to save lives.