logo
Is it legal to drive with ear buds, headphones in Georgia? Here's what the law says

Is it legal to drive with ear buds, headphones in Georgia? Here's what the law says

Yahoo19-06-2025
As technology becomes more embedded in our daily lives, drivers often turn to headphones and earbuds for communication or entertainment while on the road.
But what does Georgia law say about it?
According to Georgia Code § 40-6-250 (2024), it is illegal to operate a motor vehicle while wearing a headset or headphone if it impairs your ability to hear.
Additionally, wearing any device that impairs your vision is also prohibited. However, there is an exception: drivers are permitted to wear a headset or headphone for communication purpose, such as making or receiving a phone call.
So in shorter words:
Both ears covered with headphones or earbuds is illegal.
One earbud used solely for a phone call is legal.
Georgia
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
According to Thompson Law, it is completely illegal in:
California
Louisiana
Maryland
Minnesota
Virginia
Washington
With traffic laws evolving alongside technology, Georgia drivers should remain informed to avoid fines and to stay safe behind the wheel.
Vanessa Countryman is the Trending Topics Reporter for the Deep South Connect Team Georgia. Email her at Vcountryman@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Can I wear earbuds or headphones while driving? What Georgia law says
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

AirPod dilemma: Is driving with earbuds illegal in Ohio?
AirPod dilemma: Is driving with earbuds illegal in Ohio?

Yahoo

time16-07-2025

  • Yahoo

AirPod dilemma: Is driving with earbuds illegal in Ohio?

Seeing someone with AirPods or other earbuds while doing pretty much any activity is not uncommon in 2025: at the grocery store, at sporting events, even during court hearings. But is it legal to drive in Ohio with earbuds in your ears? The short answer is, "No." Wearing headphones or earbuds, even if no music or other sound is playing, is illegal while driving in Ohio. The law applies to any device worn in or over the ears, whether wired or connected via Bluetooth, that can provide radio programming, music, or other information. The law does not apply to hearing aids or medical devices. Earpieces used by first responders and emergency personnel for communication purposes are also permitted. Ohio's law also provides exceptions for people driving machinery that creates loud noise, like garbage trucks and highway maintenance vehicles. An exception also exists for motorcyclists who wear earplugs or another device to protect their hearing while driving. Drivers in Ohio are expected to be able to hear what is going on around them, like sirens from emergency vehicles and warning sounds from trains. Ohio's headphones law is considered a secondary traffic offense, meaning a driver can't be pulled over just for wearing them. However, if the driver gets pulled over for something else, like speeding, an officer can cite them for having them in their ears. Does Ohio's law about wearing earbuds while driving get enforced? Franklin County Municipal Court records indicate that 52 tickets have been issued for wearing headphones since 2020, with seven of these occurring in the first six months of 2025. Columbus police filed the most citations, 43 of the 52. By comparison, there have been nearly 5,000 citations for distracted driving issued during the same time frame. The vast majority, approximately 3,500, were issued by the Ohio Highway Patrol. Distracted driving became an enforceable primary offense in Ohio in October 2023. Of the total 4,991 tickets issued in Franklin County Municipal Court for distracted driving, 4,770 were issued in 2024 and the first six months of 2025. Reporter Bethany Bruner can be reached at bbruner@ or on Bluesky at @ This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Is driving with headphones, AirPods legal in Ohio? Solve the daily Crossword

State Street in Erie to close from Second Street to Bayfront Parkway. Here's what to know
State Street in Erie to close from Second Street to Bayfront Parkway. Here's what to know

Yahoo

time09-07-2025

  • Yahoo

State Street in Erie to close from Second Street to Bayfront Parkway. Here's what to know

State Street will be closed between Second Street and the Bayfront Parkway beginning July 21. The road is expected to be closed for a few months. Vehicle and pedestrian traffic will be detoured, and temporary traffic signals will be installed along the route. Pedestrians will be able to use State Street during the Tall Ships Erie Festival. And the City of Erie is making some traffic changes and prohibiting parking on some streets to help prevent congestion due to the planned State Street closing. Drivers traveling between the bayfront and downtown will be detoured onto Holland Street, East Third Street and the Bayfront Parkway. Vehicles will be able to access the waterfront side of the parkway using Holland and East Front and Sassafras street and West Front street extensions. Pedestrians will be routed along West Third Street, Holland Street and East Front Street. Walkways will be provided along State Street from Aug. 21-24 to accommodate foot traffic to and from Tall Ships Erie. Temporary traffic lights and push-button pedestrian signals will be installed on East Third Street at Holland and French streets. The pedestrian push-button system already in place at Holland Street and the parkway will be updated to include audible messages. The signals will remain in place through continued construction on the parkway. Because the portion of lower State Street will close and "in the interest of community access, public safety and response times," the City of Erie will implement detours and parking restrictions beginning July 14. Sassafras Street Extension will be closed to all but emergency vehicles from the parkway south to the bluff. West Third Street between Peach and Sassafras streets will be converted from one-way to two-way traffic, with parking prohibited on both sides of the street. Parking additionally will be prohibited on: West Second Street from Peach to Sassafras; East 3rd Street from French Street to Holland Street; Holland Street from East Third Street to East Sixth Street. The two blocks of lower State Street will be closed while drainage pipes are installed under the Bayfront Parkway. State Street will become a bridge over the parkway when construction at the intersection is completed. Completed and planned improvements along the downtown portion of the parkway also include roundabouts at Sassafras Street Extension and Holland Street and a pedestrian bridge at Holland Street. At Holland Street: Early work for construction of pedestrian bridge to begin More information about the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation's Central Bayfront Parkway Project is available on the department's website and Facebook group. Contact Valerie Myers at vmyers@ This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Detours ahead: State Street to close between Second Street and parkway

Ohio budget changes driver's education requirements. Here's the new law
Ohio budget changes driver's education requirements. Here's the new law

Yahoo

time02-07-2025

  • Yahoo

Ohio budget changes driver's education requirements. Here's the new law

All Ohioans under 21 will need to pass a full driver's education course before they get a license. The two-year state budget signed by Gov. Mike DeWine modifies current law, which allows 18-, 19- and 20-year-olds to take a short class or avoid lessons altogether. DeWine spent months advocating for the change, saying new, adult drivers need just as much training as teenagers. "We know that young people who go through driver's training become safer drivers − safer for themselves and safer for everyone else on the road," DeWine said during a July 1 news conference. "And that's not just true for young people. It's true for adults." Right now, Ohioans under 18 must take a driver's education course with 24 hours of classroom or online instruction and eight hours of driving time. They also have to drive 50 hours with a parent or guardian − including 10 at night − and hold their temporary permit for at least six months. Adults, by contrast, can skip training altogether if they pass a road test. Those who don't must complete a four-hour course, plus abbreviated behind-the-wheel training with an instructor or licensed driver. DeWine said the consequences are clear: Last year, 58% of fatal crashes caused by a teen driver involved 18- and 19-year-olds, according to the Ohio Traffic Safety Office. More adults are getting driver's licenses for the first time, in part because teenagers wait to avoid the cost of a full course. Driving schools are also less accessible to people in rural areas. Lawmakers scrapped a budget proposal from DeWine to put driver's education back in schools. Instead, the state will require districts to excuse high school students who take a private driving course. Students can only miss eight hours of school and won't be able to leave during a core class. State government reporter Haley BeMiller can be reached at hbemiller@ or @haleybemiller on X. This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ohio will require full driver's education course for people under 21

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store