California motorists were ordered to put down their cell phones or face the consequences. The statewide ban on handheld cell phones while driving went into effect on Tuesday, July 1st. The law went into effect immediately with law enforcement out in force looking for illegally chatting commuters.According to the new law, drivers must use a hands-free devices such as Bluetooth listening set or a wired earpiece while driving. With no grace period for the law, California Highway Patrol officers wrote tickets the very first day the law was enacted. Violators can expect to face an initial $20 fine for their first offense which can grow to $76 with added court fees. A second violation is raised to $50 fee with expected penalties adding up to $190. What do you all think? Are these penalties of $20 for a violation enough to stop people from talking on their cell phones? Personally, I think the penalty should be higher!
I say it should be a national law with heavy fines. I think 20 dollars is good for a first offense. After that throw the book at them. Its a huge hazard and there is nothing that anyone needs to talk about thats so important for them to be on the phone. If they do expect an important call then pull off the road to answer it or call back. I am so sick of how rude people are who talk on the phone while in stores or restraunts. Its just plain ignorant. I can see calling home to ask a question from the store but to hold a conversation while at the check out is rude.
The California law is absurd in that while it bans talking on cellphones hands on, it does not ban texting or emailing on your cellphone. How ridiculous is that? IMO all should be banned and only hands free talking allowed. After this correction, perhaps insurance rates should be go up for those that insist on ignoring the law. That tends to have more impact than fines alone.
We have enough proscriptive laws. Some people can talk on the cell phone and drive safely. . .some people cannot drive safely under the best of conditions.
So let's make a law that you can't drink coffee while driving, or shave, or put on makeup, or change the cd in your stereo, . . .
driving handsfree is good, but it doesn't eliminate the problem of being distracted while driving. Drover's need to concentrate on the road, expecially since the only driver you can be sure of is you. I mean driver.
What I don't understand is why talking on a cell phone is more hazardous than talking to someone who's riding with you? In fact if you're talking to a passenger, you're probably constantly taking your eyes off the road to talk to them.
So let's just ban all talking in a car. If the police see anyone's lips moving in an automobile, give them all a ticket.
While we're at it, let's give tickets to kids who push their seats so far back they're actually driving from the back seat, laying down.
And let's ticket people who play their boom box so loud it rocks your car at a stop light.
And definitely give tickets to those people who drive Harley's and have apparently removed the muffler and blast by you while you're struggling up a hill on your bicycle.
The law wasted no time getting active on this one. I've never seen so many drivers being ticketed as I did on July 1st. Since I've been rear-ended twice in as many years while stopped at a signal by people using phones, I can see the potential danger.
Commercial drivers are currently exempt and the fine is doubled in a consturction zone.
The law excludes for emergency calls to 911, etc. But by the time the officer gets out of his/her car, has a convo with the driver and checks the cell to verify an emergency call, has the emergency escalated?
I don't know if IG was being sarcastic, but I often wonder how some can see over the steering wheel while in a reclining postiion.
Well Iron Guy I know you cant legislate stupidity but we can start with cell phones. There are alternatives for those who have to talk. Yes without banning texting (much worse and email) then it is pretty useless so why didnt they think of that. Sometimes I wonder if those who make the laws are not just plain dumb. Duhhhh yes thats safe lets all text each other instead. There are many things that the police should fine people for but they have to catch them first. What ever happened to courtesy and common sense?
Sounds like a good law to me, but I agree that texting is even more dangerous as it engages your eyes even more than talking. I am so tired of rude people talking on their cellphones and not paying attention when the light has changed. Or they have to drive 10-15 MPH below the speed limit to concentrate or they weave from lane to lane becaue we know their converstion is much more important than driving.
As for people in stores and restaurants, they just look stupid. They always look to me like they're talking to themselves, which in my mind pretty much qualifies you for the white suit and the orderlies coming for ya.
So far the statistics have shown that using the hands on cell phones have caused accidents. While simply talking while driving, whether to another passenger in the vehicle or on the phone has not proven to be as much of a problem it does show some move toward banning talking on the phone in the car period. When one's mind is diverted even a little from driving accidents happen. So few have happened by mere talking that, for the moment, it is legal.
