Can you get a ticket for eating while driving? Last week, a Georgia man found out the hard way when he was cited in Cobb County for eating a cheeseburger while driving. Madison Turner, 42, was pulled over by a police officer after leaving a McDonald’s drive-thru. Upon closer examination, the police officer discovered that the driver was in possession of a quarter-pounder with cheese. The police officer determined that the driver was distracted due to the burger and was driving recklessly. Turner was issued a citation for “eating while driving.” 

While it is easy to laugh at how possibly ridiculous this incident sounds, one needs to simply look at Georgia’s vehicle codes to understand why the ticket was issued. Under Georgia law, distracted driver laws prohibit drivers from engaging in any activity that may distract them from the road. While texting and talking on the phone are obvious ticketing activities, most were shocked to learn that eating while driving also falls under the distracted driver laws.  

What are the penalties for breaking a distracted driver law? Penalties can be severe, ranging from getting three points on your license to paying several hundred dollars for a fine. According to defense attorney Sam Nash, “As far as your insurance rates, they will increase for at least three years and they’ll always follow you around”. 

As you can see, the penalties for eating that three dollar burger on the way to work can be severe. Other alternatives exist for not being ticketed for eating while driving. Because fast food restaurant drive-thrus make it convenient for drivers to pull up, order their food, and eat it while driving, many customers forget that they can also park their vehicle, order the food inside, and eat it there, too. Sometimes, the wait is far shorter if you order inside the restaurant than if you order outside. 

Another alternative is to designate a driver to drive while you eat. Of course, this only works if you are driving with someone else in the car, perhaps on a road trip or a carpool ride to work. Having another person drive while you eat is far safer than taking a chance and attempting to drive and eat on your own. Not only are you putting your life in danger, but you are risking everyone else’s lives on the road, as well. 

Next time you get a craving for a double-double at In-N-Out, ensure you have a designated driver, or choose to eat inside at the restaurant. You are not merely just risking a citation from police officers, but you are gambling with your life and everyone else’s around you. Driving while distracted is no joke because it recklessly endangers the lives of innocent people. So, remember, do not eat and drive if you want to survive.