Autoblog

Some of you may recall the Motor4Toys automotive toy drive we told you about a couple of weeks ago. Dustin Troyan and the Motor4Toys Foundation put out a call to all of the car clubs and enthusiasts in Southern California to collect toys and money for the needy. And the response was overwhelming. Now in its 3rd year, the event continues to grow and this year exceeded its goal. More than 10,000 toys have been donated so far! This very special event collects toys for the California Highway Patrol Chips For Kids Program. There are many needed causes this time of year and several notable fundraiser events, but this one is special.

Big clickable gallery after the jump.

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]