california handsfree law

Thanks California Senate Bill 1613 (SB1613), the Government of Arnold Schwarzenegger in 2006, Californians have to their mobile phone while driving and will be hands-free by July 1, 2008.

The Act, brought forward by Sen. Joe Simitian, D-Palo Alto, motorists have a hands-free device while using a mobile phone while driving. The new law will impose a fine of $ 20 for the first offense and a fine of $ 50 for each additional violation. The bill allows exceptions for calls to law enforcement authorities for the emergency, or emergency services personnel while operating an authorized fire department vehicles.

In addition to these exceptions, commercial truck drivers, two truck drivers and operators of agricultural vehicles are also exempt.

The question for many Californians will be: How can I use the hands free?

Hands to be free means that you are on your cell phone while driving, but also from your side are still on the steering wheel. Actually, only one hand on the wheel, as long as the other side is not on a cell phone.

It is interesting that you can still eat cheeseburger and french fries from your favorite fast-food restaurant with one hand while you steer with the other hand, without a ticket. The same applies to the marketing for makeup, brushing teeth, trimming nose hairs, and other single-handed driving too disgusting to mention ... but I digress.

Yes, how is it hands free?

Now my California friend, there is more than one way to be hands free.

1. Abstinence (do not use your phone while driving)

2. Speakerphone (loud scream when you are in your car alone, and others believe that you are a schizophrenic)

3. Use a Bluetooth device. (You know these things, people stay in their ear's)

4. Use a "wired" headset. (Most of the economic, the ear buds is in your cellphone)

5. Install a "car kit" (loud talking, if your in the car alone, and others believe that you are a schizophrenic)

While the debate over whether California is all sb1613 roads safer continues, many believe that, although there are other distractions to the driver's inattention, sb1613 is one of the reasons for the driver on your negligence.

How many accidents are really distract the driver by mobile phone? That depends on who you ask. According to a Harvard study in 2002, 5% of all traffic accidents by distracted cell phone users. California Highway Patrol statistics show that mobile phone use is the top cause of accidents caused by distracted drivers going all the way back to 2001. At the bill signing ceremony in Oakland, Governor Schwarzenegger said:

"" The simple fact is, it is dangerous to talk on your cell phone while driving, "" "" To get people's hands and their cell phones on their steering wheels is to make a big difference in road safety. "

Although it is difficult to argue with the Govenator, Sprint Nextel would beg to differ as the only mobile enterprise against sb1613.

Sprint Nextel

"SB1613 is not the real public issue of inattentive driving and singles out just one potential distraction, the handheld wireless phone," said a letter from Sprint Nextel to the governor demanding his veto. "It ignores many other significant causes of inattentive driving, including drowsiness, smoking, and adjusting the radio / CD player. And it is not necessary to distinguish between inexperienced teen drivers, which can be easily distracted, and experienced adult drivers whose experience and maturity they are completely responsible for the operation of a car safely and talk on a cell phone. "

Good points on both sides, but the bill has and will live in July 2008. It will be interesting to see how many drivers actually pulled over for cell phone violations. The fact is, today I drive through the streets and highways in California, and it seems almost everyone has a phone to their ears, to be honest, I do not think there is enough resources to law enforcement agencies all ticket sb1613 hurt.

For $ 20 or $ 50, some people are likely to play and to use their cellphone on the road. And for some of us, we welcome the break in connection for a change. In my world of technology, I'm wired in the world all day at work, on the way home with my cell phone and wired back from my computer at home, in July 2008 is my drive time to improve.

Steve Abat has a website at http://www.drivinglaws.org the information on driving and cell phone laws in the United States.