Filed under: Government/Legal
Schwarzenegger signs ban on mobile phone use while driving
Yesterday, in a ceremony in Oakland, California, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed into law a bill that would make driving while operating a mobile phone illegal on California roadways. The Golden State is now the fifth state to enact such a restriction and in doing so, ended a four-year long struggle, spearheaded by Sen. Joe Simitian, D-Palo Alto. Simitian maintains that mobile phone usage while driving is the number one cause of crashes in California, while opponents of the law believe that distracted drivers, in general, are to blame.The law will take effect January 1, 2008, imposing a $20 fine for the first offense and a $50 penalty for subsequent infractions, with no adverse affects on the driver's insurance. Motorists using hands-free devices will be exempt from the law.
[Source: San Jose Mercury News]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 5)
jscro 1:36PM (9/15/2006)
Very stupid.
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Ryan 1:37PM (9/15/2006)
Any takers this goes into 500+ comments?~!
I got $5 on it!
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Riker 1:40PM (9/15/2006)
Coming from New York (who was the first state to invoke this law, if I remember correctly) and now living in California, I'm more than ready for this to go into effect. All major metro areas would do well to have ordinances of this type, whether it's a statewide law or not.
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Dr. Woo 1:42PM (9/15/2006)
I like this law, especially since it's harsh enough for people to obey it, but with a light enough penalty to not be overbearing.
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Silver 1:43PM (9/15/2006)
Driving while yakking on a phone is a public menace, period. Wish they'd ban it in Utah too.
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Ryan 1:46PM (9/15/2006)
"4. I like this law, especially since it's harsh enough for people to obey it, but with a light enough penalty to not be overbearing.
Posted at 1:41PM on Sep 15th 2006 by Dr. Woo 0 stars"
-Hands free kit, problem solved, ahhh another California law narrowly averted!!!!
SEE HANDS FREE KITS DO WORK!!! CALIFORNIA THINKS SO!
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Hamud 1:52PM (9/15/2006)
Here in Brazil we have this law on the whole country, not that everyone cares much about it, but who is cought using cell phones while driving is instantly fined.
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Ryan 1:56PM (9/15/2006)
"but who is cought using cell phones while driving is instantly fined."
-Are you allowed to use a hands free kit? Or you simply can't use cell phones at all.
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MattB 1:57PM (9/15/2006)
WHY 2008!! This law should go into effect ASAP!!
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Ryan 2:04PM (9/15/2006)
"9. WHY 2008!! This law should go into effect ASAP!!
Posted at 1:56PM on Sep 15th 2006 by MattB 0 stars"
-Why so excited, there is no difference between hands free and hand held, it's a "feel good" law.
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Charles 2:05PM (9/15/2006)
"Schwarzenegger signs ban on mobile phone use while driving"
Shouldn't he have signed it while sitting at a desk?
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Gilbar 2:08PM (9/15/2006)
As another NY to CA resident, I also welcome this law. Anything to improve the driving around here. Maybe someone will use their blinker with their now free hand.
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Tim UF 2:11PM (9/15/2006)
Ryan, care to back that up with some references (hands free versus conventional cell)?
i drive on a federal installation (marshall space flight center) daily, while on the federal land, cell phone use is banned as well, though, i dont know what the penalty is.
i applaud this bill, as it will at least lessen some road rage incidents related to drivers being peeved at cell phone users. personally, people driving erratically just annoy me, but people driving eratically while on the phone, they madden me. (being from south florida, i won't even begin to talk about some of the snowbirds driving caddy deville's erratically while talking on the phone... )
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glacia00 2:11PM (9/15/2006)
I live in the Bay Area and I have no problem with it. Short of calling for emergency help (which in most cases you're not moving anyway) there's little reason to use your phone in the car. Plus it gives you a good reeson not to answer the phone ehen idiots call.
I agree why 2008? I could see 2007 just to give people a few months to find out about it but a year isn't necessary.
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Sid 2:12PM (9/15/2006)
Charles, I laughed. The best jokes are the simplest ones.
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Hamud 2:16PM (9/15/2006)
At #8, you can use hands free kits, but i don´t see them often, actually i only saw one person using it...
People here don't use to respect laws, even when they are for their own safety.
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Ryan 2:23PM (9/15/2006)
"13. Ryan, care to back that up with some references (hands free versus conventional cell)?"
"National Highway Traffic Safety Administration researchers said devices like head sets or voice-activated dialing led to longer dialing times than for hand-held phones. The delays offset the potential benefit of keeping both hands on the wheel, the report said."
http://www.glasgowaccess.org.uk/news/Business_284/Is-hands-free-actually-safer-_105350.html
"Study: Hands-free phone not safer on road"
http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060630/NEWS07/606300453/1009
"Hands-Free Cell Phones No Safer for Drivers "
http://mentalhealth.about.com/library/sci/0701/blcellphone701.htm
"Hands-free cell phones no safer for drivers, says prof"
http://www.news.ku.edu/2001/01N/JulyNews/July12/cellular.html
"Study claims that hands-free cell phones aren't safer than hand-helds"
http://www.wirelessnetdesignline.com/news/165701873
"'Hands-Free' Cell Calls In Cars Not Safer - Study
Study by insurance industry group concludes that laws restricting hand-held cell phone use in cars are ineffective. It found that all types of cell phone use contribute to accidents."
"http://www.informationweek.com/hardware/personaltech/165701644"
-Like I said, it's a "feel good" law, that changed essentially nothing other than having to purchase a 29.99 bluetooth. But everyone "feels good" now.
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Dave 2:30PM (9/15/2006)
I bet he can't even say "CELL PHONE" correctly.
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Bruce Lee 2:39PM (9/15/2006)
Living in California I can appreciate this law. Though the law should have included eating, shaving, reading, applying makeup, ect, because the idiots that do these things should have their license restricted and if caught again suspended. The $20.00 fine is a joke, the only ones it will hurt are all the teenagers who either are yacking away or are stupid enough to be trying to text while driving.
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Jeff Crew 2:40PM (9/15/2006)
Cash Grab.
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