Chatty Cathy Can’t Drive in Cali

Yes, it’s finally going into effect. As of July 1, 2008,  California is putting into effect those ever-feared laws about driving while using your cell phone.

Let me lay out the facts for you (then offer up my opinion):

• Drivers over 18 can only use a hands-free device when driving in the car
• Drivers under 18 cannot use a hands-free device (which means no cellphone use at all)
• You can only use a phone (sans hands-free) to call an emergency service (i.e. 911, Police, Fire)
• Push-to-Talk doesn’t qualify as “hands-free”, but Speakerphone does
• The law doesn’t prohibit drivers from dialing while driving
• The law doesn’t specifiy about texting while driving, so it’s okay, but not recommended

Don’t be scared by those people telling you it’s a couple hundred for the ticket. The fines are $20 for a first offense and $50 for subsequent offenses. The DMV is reported about the ticket, but you don’t receive a point on your record.

This law is stupid.

Sure, we are removing a distraction from drivers. If it’s the physicality of needing two hands then you can’t eat, change the station, or in anyway occupy one of your hands?  If it’s the mental atmosphere of engaging in conversation, you can’t talk to anyone in your car or listen too intently to your music or talk radio? Well then maybe it’s both. Maybe it’s the combination of those two distractions.

If the intent is to minimize cell phone use in the car, it won’t work. People who talk on their cell phones are going to talk on their cell phones regardless of the law. If they use speakerphone (which still occupies that second hand) or a bluetooth device, it won’t change the concentration they are putting on their phone conversation versus their driving.

For me, the hastle of getting and using  a hands-free device is more distracting than just putting the phone up to my ear.  Some can say that having the phone at your ear blocks your vision, but how deep can we carry that? Having passengers in your car blocks you vision. Not looking blocks your vision, too. I think more people just don’t look.

And why is it okay to text? With texting, you have to take you eyes off the road and look just at  your phone. You have to actively use one hand, typing– and for some people using a second hand. How is that safe? I would fully support a no-texting-while-driving law because that’s just common sense.

There is definitely a safe way and an an unsafe way to use your phone in the car, but ‘hands-free’ laws aren’t the answer. I think the state is going to be a looking at a lot of revenue (in small doses) from this law.  They should have made the fine higher. (Thanks to us, they didn’t.)

Check out this site for a full Q&A.