New California Cell Phone Law Ignored

Just last evening while taking my daughter to work I saw 2 drivers on cell phones(both male). This is in a 4 mile stretch. One of them wandered across the center line twice in the middle of town.

I am guilty of using my cell phone while driving. I have gotten better at using the hands free device. Emergency workers are exempt while on duty.

 

It's not surprising that people are ignoring the law since it's only a $20 fine for first offense.

 

I think cell phone users are fascinating. "Is she really going to drift across all three lanes without interrupting her conversation to look?" (She did) "Is he going to realize that he's doing 50 in a 70 in the fastlane?" (He did, right after he hung up the phone.)
Is she really going to drift into my lane in heavy traffic even though I'm blowing my horn? (Yes, and kept coming till I hit her passenger window with my fist) I had to pull over and smoke after that one. They certainley keep the one hour evening commute from getting boring.

 

Pardon the interruption. My keyboard went kapustkies mid sentence :kaboom:and had to run out to get a new one.

Here in BC we do not have specific cell phone laws. What we do have is a section under our Motor Vehicle Act, Drive Without Due Care and Attention. If doing "Anything" diverts your attention away from your driving to the extent that it affects your ability to safely operate your vehicle, then we argue that you are not focusing due care & attention to your driving. This could be cell phone use, reading a map, (and believe it or not, I stopped someone on the freeway reading a newspaper doing 65 mph), doing make-up or playing with the dog to name a few. This is one of the more serious offenses under our act which carries a fine of more than $300.00 when I was still employed so. It also carries with it 6 points. Your license is subject for review at 10.

They are discussing cell phone usage by itself but as stated here, the law is of no use unless it is enforced. Changing driving habits with laws requires consistent and persistent enforcement. This is something a lot of people on this site seem to disagree with when it pertains to habits they personally have. But that has been well hashed out already so I will leave it at that.

I am not quite convinced that this law needs to be in place. Many people, first responders for an example, use cell phones extensively. So if they can do so safely, then so should everyone else. If they cannot, and its use affects their driving, hammer the shit out of them until they realize that they themselves, should not use a cell while driving.

I use a cell at work quite extensively. The routine calls are no problem. If the conversation is such that it is going to be complex, I tell the person on the other end to hold on while I find a place to stop, That usually takes less than a minute and then I can talk to my hearts content.

I find it strange that a person is quite capable of driving with one hand and speak to a passenger sitting next to them, yet cannot drive a car using a cell phone. Don't have an answer for that one.

 

What it's gonna take to get this whole biz figured out is for somebody who is a public icon of some sort to bite the big one. In the interim I am working closely with the NRA on a combination cellphone/AK-47 scaled down to fire .223's.

 

I'm with derstuka, I am really not into more laws governing my life, except when it involves public safety...and my right to live! It's bad enough riding in an environment of idiots driving 4+ wheeled vehicles (who are not motorcycle riders themselves) that are not talking on cell phones while driving. Then, add in talking on cell phones and driving, and you add a whole new dimension of trying to share the road with these people.

They have talked about passing such a law in Iowa, however it has not gotten enough support. Like someone said earlier, this will not happen until some government official's immediate family member becomes a fatality due to cell phone talking/driving.

In my mind, texting is far more dangerous than talking. Texting requires you to take your eyes off the road momentarily, whereas talking doesn't. This is why I find it hard to understand why some states are passing laws with regard to talking, and not texting :unsure:

It is my hope that someday all states have a handsfree-only law and that it is enforced. Some will argue that even handsfree talking is a distraction...which I will agree. However, I think it is less distracting and lets face it, there is no way you will get people to NOT talk and drive at the same time.

 

Fines for use of cells is a potentially very large revenue source. To infer that law enforcement and the courts and the defense lawyers have somehow forgotten about these new statues is a little on the fuzzy side IMO.

Some states, counties and cities began with statutes requiring adding seatbelts to cars that were not equipped with same. Next, again in some areas, there needed to be another moving violation in order to be charged for not wearing a seatbelt. Try getting busted of late for not wearing a seatbelt and see how fast the courts relieve you of about a yard and a half and when your insurer catches wind of that, watch those rates climb.