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April 21, 2008
New Cell Phone Laws Going into Effect July 1st
Those of you who rarely use your cell phones while driving need not take too much notice of the following announcement (oh, and p.s.? Thanks for being better than other people). For those of you, however, who insist on multi-tasking throughout your driving experience, watch out: that phone call you're making while wending your way down the 101 might just get you pulled over and fined, fined, fined. The CHP just released a press announcement detailing the new regulations and fine schedules going into effect on July 1st: yes, hands-free devices will still be okay, but only for drivers over the age of 18. (Sorry kids!)
The new law allows police to pull you over just for using a hands-on cell phone while driving. The first offense will cost you $20, with $50 fines thereafter. Convictions will appear on your driving record, but will not add "points". Drivers over 18 can use hands-free devices like the Bluetooth.
Studies have shown that cell phone users do in fact make traffic worse: why? Because they're not paying attention to the road. They're not reacting quickly enough to situations. They're most likely driving slower or faster than the traffic around them, thus causing bottlenecks and stop-and-start situations. How many times have you been behind a driver who doesn't seem to know what they're doing, or who's going way too slow, only to pass them by and see -- yup, on a cell phone! And yes, driving with a cell phone increases your chance of an accident about as much as driving drunk does.
So put the doggone phones down, Los Angeles. Enjoy your drive: now with less rage!
Photo by andropolis via Flickr
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We might as well pull cell phone users over, slap them on the wrist and say "Have a nice day!" for all the use a $20 fine and no points is going to deter them.
too bad people will still be driving slowly if they're talking on the phone. Cause, it's the actual talking and not the holding the phone that's the problem.
"Cause, it's the actual talking and not the holding the phone that's the problem."
True. It's a start though I guess.
My pet peeve is that cell phone drivers don't use turn signals because their other hand is busy. That and when that certain cell hone user was a deer in the headlights with one of my Orange Line busses. I wish I whipped out my camera faster, never caught it.
While they're at it, I'm hoping they pass the ban on talking to passengers in your automobile!
OOOH GREATT!!! Lets get all those callers off the phone, Lets get em texting and driving!!! Genius... Because thats whats going to happen... "sry cant talk, driving, wuts up??"... Considering most people drive in 2 hrs of traffic per day, a little company doesnt hurt"
what if i just like holding a turned off phone to my ear while i drive? can they ticket me?
Nope, sorry guys. Driving while on your phone is dangerous, annoying, and makes everybody's commute slower. I fully support these fines.
I'm sure they'll make some amendments for driving while texting as well.
Get a fucking ear piece and shut up already you spoiled little babies.
"Considering most people drive in 2 hrs of traffic per day, a little company doesnt hurt"
Park the car and take public transpo.
Then you can talk, text, or scratch your ass, all you want.
i love scratching my ass, ill consider it.
Ive also been known to actually use my laptop while I drive, if you thought talking on the phone was dangerous....