FINALLY a good move by ARNOLD in California!

[OY]

I did NOT vote for him - that said, he finally did a smart move:

http://www.latimes.com/news/printedi...1,541737.story
Gov. to Sign Hang-Up-and-Drive Bill
Legislation banning the use of hand-held cellphones while driving goes into effect in 2008.
By Nancy Vogel
Times Staff Writer

September 15, 2006

SACRAMENTO ? California will become the fourth state in the country to ban motorists from holding cellphones while driving under legislation Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger announced he will sign into law today.

The governor's office said Thursday that the signing will take place in Oakland, ending a five-year campaign by Sen. Joe Simitian (D-Palo Alto) to outlaw one of the most common distractions of California drivers.

Under the law, which will take effect in July 2008, Californians risk a minimum $20 fine for driving while yakking into a phone ? unless they are using a headset, speaker phone, ear bud or some other technology that frees both hands while they talk. Drivers in emergency situations would be exempt.

"Public safety is the governor's No. 1 priority," said Schwarzenegger spokeswoman Margita Thompson, "and this bill will make the streets and highways of California safer by ensuring that drivers have both hands available for driving."

The bill passed both legislative bodies in late August ? the Assembly 50-28, and the Senate 21-16. In both houses, the measure passed with largely Democratic support and the votes of a few Republicans.

Although 38 state legislatures considered bills to minimize driving distractions such as cellphones this year, only New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and the District of Columbia have banned drivers from using hand-held cellphones.

It took Simitian five attempts to get enough support in the Legislature to pass the bill, but Schwarzenegger warmed to the idea quickly.

In a July online interview in which a reporter asked questions solicited from the public, the governor said he had warned his 16-year-old daughter that she would lose her driving privileges if he caught her driving with her cellphone in her hands.

"I sometimes follow her to make sure that she doesn't make that mistake. If she makes that mistake, then I will take the car away from her, and she will drive with the bus, because it's inexcusable."

Though the only official opponent of the bill was the Sprint-Nextel cellular phone company, several lawmakers argued that the act of conversing ? not of holding a phone ? is the real distraction to drivers.

They also argued that children, the radio, pets, hamburgers and sodas are all as likely to divert drivers' attention as cellphones.

Some Republican lawmakers criticized the bill, SB1613, as "nanny government."

"What's next ? helmets while you're riding a horse? Airbags in the bathtub?" said Assemblyman Doug La Malfa (R-Richvale) during the Assembly floor debate last month.

But Simitian argued that the traffic safety risk of cellphone use while driving is "measurable and significant." In a letter sent Monday to the governor, the senator pointed to academic research in the Accident Analysis and Prevention journal that concluded that the risk of death is nine times greater for drivers who use a cellphone while driving.

California Highway Patrol data from 2004 show police reports for 775 accidents in which a driver at fault was using a hand-held cellphone.

There were only 28 reports of accidents in which drivers using hands-free phones were to blame. Preliminary data from last year show a similar pattern.

"When you're on your cellphone," wrote Simitian, "you are distracted at three different levels: aurally, visually and mentally. But what the hands-free requirement can and does accomplish is that ? you will have both hands free to control the vehicle during those split seconds that make the difference between life and death."

Simitian said he delayed implementation of the bill until July 2008 to help win the support of reluctant lawmakers, give the Department of Motor Vehicles time to update its drivers' handbook and give fair warning to motorists.

The CHP is expected to spend roughly $500,000 a year, starting next year, to educate motorists about the new law.

The idea for the bill came to Simitian before he was elected to the Assembly in 2000, when someone asked him at a candidates forum about a cellphone ban on drivers.

"Almost everybody I meet has a horror story they want to tell me," he said.

In addition to motorists in emergencies, the legislation does not apply to people using two-way radios in farm vehicles and tow trucks, although that exemption disappears in 2011.

And although the base fine for a violation is $20, cited driverswill pay more because of administrative charges tacked on by cities and counties. The base fine rises to $50 for subsequent offenses.

Simitian said he expected the pending ban in a state with 23 million licensed drivers to lead to better and cheaper hands-free cellphone technology.

Most cellphone makers now include such equipment with their phones.

California may also spur similar bans across the country, said Matt Sundeen, a transportation expert with the National Conference of State Legislatures.

Dozens of states recently have pondered bills aimed at minimizing driver distraction, such as banning unsecured pets in cars and prohibiting younger drivers from using cellphones.

"Clearly, Californians are attached to their cars and attached to their phones," said Sundeen, "and if a state that big passes a law it can have some inspiration on other states."

[baycouples]

This is very bad. It's not "holding" of the cell phone that makes the driving bad - it's BAD DRIVERS that make their driving bad. If they are bad drivers - they'll find the way to change a lane into you.

Also, this is something that shouldn't be dictated by the government at all.

[After Shock Media]

Originally Posted by baycouples

This is very bad. It's not "holding" of the cell phone that makes the driving bad - it's BAD DRIVERS that make their driving bad. If they are bad drivers - they'll find the way to change a lane into you.

Also, this is something that shouldn't be dictated by the government at all.

Nah, talking on the phone in general while driving is bad. Saw the mythbusters show on it and it convienced me.

I have no issue with making using a hand held phone while driving illegal. I am often on your side as far as Government and such issues, but alas this one is not one. Driving is not a right, it also easily effects others, and uses roads paid for with tax money, so I feel they should be able to dictate the rules.

[OY]

Originally Posted by baycouples

This is very bad. It's not "holding" of the cell phone that makes the driving bad - it's BAD DRIVERS that make their driving bad. If they are bad drivers - they'll find the way to change a lane into you.

Also, this is something that shouldn't be dictated by the government at all.

If you knew how many times I have had drivers on the phone (with phone in hand) almost hit me because they cant focus and use one hand only on the steering wheel, you would change your mind fast.

Take a already bad driver and add a cell phone = DISASTER

I say to take it even further and VOID insurance if you crash while on the phone without headset or similar. This IS something that should be dictated by the government for sure.

[Doctor Dre]

Originally Posted by baycouples

This is very bad. It's not "holding" of the cell phone that makes the driving bad - it's BAD DRIVERS that make their driving bad. If they are bad drivers - they'll find the way to change a lane into you.

Also, this is something that shouldn't be dictated by the government at all.

Cell phone and smoking are the biggest cause of accidents man...

[After Shock Media]

Originally Posted by Doctor Dre

Cell phone and smoking are the biggest cause of accidents man...

Smoking???

[PoKo]

what about eating hot dogs with ketchup and mayonaise on them? - You spill it on your clothes and off the way you go...

We've had this ban in Norway for quite a while now and almost nobody respects it, the copps included. It's not a bad law, but there are just too many other things that can affect your driving to ban just one...

[Sly]

I still don't understand how people talk on the phone so damn often. What are you all talking about? Cell phones have turned the average person into a 14 year old girl.

[Sly]

Originally Posted by PoKo

what about eating hot dogs with ketchup and mayonaise on them? - You spill it on your clothes and off the way you go...

We've had this ban in Norway for quite a while now and almost nobody respects it, the copps included. It's not a bad law, but there are just too many other things that can affect your driving to ban just one...

Yeh, I'm pretty curious how enforcement will work. Laws are hard to enforce if they aren't "legitimate" (seen as a fair and just law by the public), this could take years to come to full fruition. I would much rather have cops spending their time going after crimes of intent.

[After Shock Media]

Originally Posted by Sly

Yeh, I'm pretty curious how enforcement will work. Laws are hard to enforce if they aren't "legitimate" (seen as a fair and just law by the public), this could take years to come to full fruition. I would much rather have cops spending their time going after crimes of intent.

If they can film me at an intersection running a red or whatever and mail me a ticket, I am pretty sure they can grab me on the phone and do the same. No cops needed.

[Sly]

Originally Posted by After Shock Media

If they can film me at an intersection running a red or whatever and mail me a ticket, I am pretty sure they can grab me on the phone and do the same. No cops needed.

I can just now see the conversations "hey, just a sec, intersection coming up" *holds phone down* "ok, I'm back."

[Gabriel]

Originally Posted by PoKo

what about eating hot dogs with ketchup and mayonaise on them? - You spill it on your clothes and off the way you go...

We've had this ban in Norway for quite a while now and almost nobody respects it, the copps included. It's not a bad law, but there are just too many other things that can affect your driving to ban just one...

Its against the law to eat hot dogs with mayo and ketchup in the car? Holy Crap i can only pray this never becomes law in California, or where ever I reside.



How hard will this law be enforced? I see/know plenty of folks that can talk and drive, without any problems. I also see the people who are to involved in their conversation to realize whats going on around them, even out of their car.

[After Shock Media]

Originally Posted by Sly

I can just now see the conversations "hey, just a sec, intersection coming up" *holds phone down* "ok, I'm back."

Yeah but who cares. No cops needed and well they are distracted right? Not to mention people are just to fucking lazy to really do that. After a few 20.00 fines in the mail it will eventually sink in that it is cheaper to buy a ear piece.

[Gabriel]

Originally Posted by Sly

I still don't understand how people talk on the phone so damn often. What are you all talking about? Cell phones have turned the average person into a 14 year old girl.

For many it seems a cell phone helps them not make eye contact or deal with "akward" silence in social situations.

[diggz]

So increasing minimum wage and enforcing stricter greenhouse gas emission standards weren't good moves?

This cell phone bill is retarded... all you gotta do is get an earpiece and you are no longer on a "hand held phone."

[After Shock Media]

Originally Posted by diggz

So increasing minimum wage and enforcing stricter greenhouse gas emission standards weren't good moves?

This cell phone bill is retarded... all you gotta do is get an earpiece and you are no longer on a "hand held phone."

They are fine with that anyways.

[OY]

Point is that if this bill can reduce even 10% (which I believe it will without a doubt) it will save a TON of money and frustration, and even make insurance go down as a result of it.

Not to mention it will reduce the use of my voice YELLING at someone who is on a cell driving like an idiot without regard to what goes on around them a LOT.

[Martin3]

It's not the hand holding the phone that's thew problem. It's the assholes who can't talk and drive at the same time. Most people drive with only one hand anyways. Not going to change much.

[squishypimp]

yeah they got that law in NY State too.

[OG LennyT]

Originally Posted by Sly

I still don't understand how people talk on the phone so damn often. What are you all talking about? Cell phones have turned the average person into a 14 year old girl.

Exactly.. I fucking loathe cellphone holding dumbasses driving. When I have my cell on me, I make a call in the parking lot before I leave, call, receive voicemails at my next destination, etc... no need to blab on the cell while driving unless its an emergency.

[OY]

Originally Posted by Martin3

It's not the hand holding the phone that's thew problem. It's the assholes who can't talk and drive at the same time. Most people drive with only one hand anyways. Not going to change much.

And that might be true, BUT, combine that on top of holding the fucking thing - AND to top it off, being a WOMAN!!!!

(should kickstart the discussion)