Forsyth Sheriff: 'Significant' Distracted-Driving Campaign On The Way

CUMMING, GA — Forsyth County Sheriff Ron Freeman has had just about enough of your speeding and distracted driving. And a sheriff's office campaign cracking down on it is on the way.

On Monday, Freeman took to the sheriff's office Facebook account to let local drivers know he's seeing too much bad driving and that it's about to get expensive.

"We continue to see increased speeds in (the) face of ever present construction, texting and distracted driving, unsafe lane changes and entering of roadways because people are frustrated with traffic ...," Freeman wrote. "Folks I don't know any other way to say it, slow your rear ends down, pay attention, get off your phone and please have courtesy for your fellow citizens. "

Freeman, who took office in January, said he even pulled over a woman himself Monday morning for texting while driving in heavy traffic on Buford Highway.

In the post, Freeman said that "a significant distracted driving campaign" is about to begin in Forsyth County.

"I don't want you to get a ticket, but more so I don't want to tell more families that a loved one is lost or injured," he wrote.

The post came one day after a four-vehicle crash on Ga. 400 in Cumming killed 58-year-old Gerard "Jed" Lacey, a football coach from Dawsonville.

Freeman's post was "liked" nearly 5,000 times, shared almost 800 times and got more than 320 comments. Many of them were supportive of the sheriff's message.

"Amen! I take 400 every day, distracted drivers texting and people driving excessive speeds are ridiculous," one follower wrote. "The worst is when they lay on the horn to blow past you when you are actually doing the speed limit. I have a 16 year old that refuses to drive because he tells me that drivers are crazy."

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Photo courtesy Forsyth County Sheriff's Office