After being caught not once, not twice, but thrice, California's First Lady Maria Shriver apologized today for breaking the cell phone while driving law. Her brief statement:
I’m sorry. I will be donating my favorite old cell phone to my Women’s Conference partner Verizon through their HopeLine program that helps domestic violence shelters. I invite anyone else who wants to recycle their old phone to join me. That’s my version of swift action with a higher purpose.
After TMZ posted about her criminal behavior, hubby Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger twittered that he would take "swift action" in a message to Harvey Levin. After that, Shriver was caught again driving with a cell phone to her ear.
California law states drivers can only use a hands-free device. A recent federal government report stated that nearly 6,000 people died in 2008 as a result of distracted driving. A field study last week by a KCET reporter found that driving drunk and cell phone driving were equally bad (and texting was the most dangerous activity of all).