California Enacts a Cell Phone Law

 

California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has signed legislation that prohibits the use of handheld mobile phones while driving in the state.

Effective July 1, 2008, the legislation prohibits drivers from using a wireless telephone while operating a motor vehicle unless the driver uses a hands-free device. Drivers who violate the law will face a base fine of $20 for a first offense and $50 for each subsequent offense.

I can’t talk on my cell phone while I’m driving?

What a dopey law!

Can I still eat a chili dog while I’m driving? Can I drink a beverage? Can I try to find my favorite song on the CD player? Can I perform any number of activities that require the use of at least one hand and are at least as distracting as a phone call?

Has anyone else noticed that we have too many laws? And that every new one takes away one more precious freedom or one more hard-earned dollar, usually for no good reason?

  3 comments for “California Enacts a Cell Phone Law

  1. 11 Apr 2008 at 12:07 pm

    To be honest witcha, I totally missed this one. It shows why this sort of thing happens all too frequently…like the anti-smoking laws. I am totally anti smoking so the no smoking laws didnt bother me. I need to more watchful. Here is an example from another industry NOW in the news.
    http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120787056112706437.html?mod=djemBestOfTheWeb

  2. steve macdonald
    22 May 2008 at 2:48 pm

    No good reason? Are you nuts? There are studies that show that a driver talking on a cell phone is more impaired than a drunk driver. MORE impaired! Anybody behind the wheel talking on a cell phone belongs behind bars.

    But even so, you apparently didn’t read the lines you quoted. It’s not illegal to gab on your phone while your driving, you just have to be using a hands-free device.

    So get a headset or a speaker phone and you can keep on killing people.

  3. PE
    PE
    23 May 2008 at 8:16 am

    Hi Ho Steverino –

    Can you post links to a few of those studies? Probably you can’t because the premise is obvious bullcrap when you think about it for half a second. There ought to be a law against believing everything people tell you. It’s a lot more dangerous than talking on a cell phone.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *