Calif's hands-free cell law for drivers in effect

Millions of California motorists have had to put down their cell phones or risk a ticket as a new law takes effect requiring hands-free devices for those behind the wheel.

Police in San Diego and in Oceanside were giving motorists a one-month grace period before beginning to issue citations, but the California Highway Patrol and other agencies were ready to write tickets Tuesday.

'No grace period. The law was passed a year-and-a-half ago,' said CHP Officer Heather Hoglund, a spokeswoman in suburban Glendale. 'There should be no reason why somebody didn't know that today was the day that they needed to be hands-free.'

[james]

Talking on the phone is no different than having kids in the car.Soon there will be a law saying no eating in YOUR car.And people will just text instead of call which is a whole lot worse. At least on the people are looking up and not down at the phone to text.

[I Remember History]

You know, back when cars were something new, there was a popular notion that when windshield wipers were added they would hypnotize the driver and make them crash. Many people tried to have them outlawed.

Then came the radio in a car. This too, was opposed as something that would distract the driver and cause a lot of wrecks. Now the cell phone is the culprit. I think that most people are just resistant to change.

There are studies showing that people are just as distracted using hands-free devices as they are when holding the phone in their hand. In yet another study, the wireless devices fared even worse than a hand held phone because of the poor quality of sound. The cell phone user has a hard time hearing the other end of the conversation and therefore uses more of their brain power to decipher what is being said. This leads to less attention being paid to their driving.

The real culprit here is not having the phone in their hand. It's their attention being diverted from the most important task at hand, and that is driving. One can also make a case for outlawing eating while driving, changing the radio station or a CD while driving or many other things I've seen people do while driving, such as reading the newspaper, putting on makeup or changing clothes, not to mention the occasional sexual encounter.

In my humble opinion, this is just another way for Government entities to reach into our pockets and extract as much as they can in any way they can.

[Tony]

Get off the phone and drive. You're slowing everyone down and a liability.

[OOOOHHHHH YEAHHH]

not only did "cell phone lobbyists" manage to keep the law from banning cell phones all together, they made a law that forces the public to go out and buy more of their products just like child car seat manufactures did a few years ago and again when they conned the law to make a secondary child seat mandatory until kids are 40 lbs. Our politicians are getting rich in so many ways at our expense...just keep re-electing the same idiots. Remember the definition of stupid is doing the same thing and expecting change.
And I am sure there are laws on the books for doing anything that distracts you while driving.
You know, they send people to jail for dui when that person is impaired before they get behind the wheel, a driver distracted by cell phone is not impaired when they decide to endanger everyone (and I have witnessed a few drive thru stop signs w/ a fricking phone stuck to their ear). I think it should all be banned and enforced as much as possible.

[Chaos]

I think that people who drive with cell phones are arrogant pieces of garbage who should be arrested, like drunk drivers are, not ticketed. Frankly, I think driving with a cell phone is worse than DUI because it demonstrates a CLEAR disregard for public safety and an obvious intention to put others at risk.

One thing I can guarantee you is that your phone call is NOT important. Sorry, but I don't care. I don't want to be slowed down because you can't drive without your safety blanket attached to your ear, or because you failed to teach your kids how to behave when they're home alone, or whatever. You aren't important.

And sorry, but if you don't have a hands-free device, you're a low-rent loser. We all know one of the reasons that you drive while yapping is because you want other people to think you're important. Sorry, but anyone worth their weight in spit already has a hands-free device. I'd guess those chumps I see holding their phone in their Mercedes are leasing the nice car. I got my bluetooth (it's convenient out of the car too!) for $25.

If you have to slow down to do something, that's a pretty good indication that whatever "something" is, you shouldn't be doing it behind the wheel. Get off the road if all you do is get in the way.

[Chaos]

One more thing: In a country where the law indicates that people aren't smart enough to buckle THEIR OWN safety belts, for their own safety, how can those same people be trusted when it comes to the safety of others?

Our law reflects the fact that Americans are not smart enough to keep themselves safe without government dictation on how to do so, so why is it assumed that arrogant people who need a safety blanket should be trusted to put my safety at risk?

Heck...not only should cell phones be banned in cars, we should have roadblocks to make sure that they are banned.

Welcome to the "land of the free, home of the brave!!!!"

[cityslicker]

I firmly believe the cell phones should go back to the only people that really need them, That would be law enforcement, fire people, and those in sales.