California to Ban Cell Phones/Laptops/Mobile Devices on Road

[zekrahminator]

While California certainly wouldn't be the first state to enact such legislature, it would be the first to take it to such a degree. If a proposed bill passes through California legislature, any teenager (under 18) found driving with a cell phone, or any mobile device, for that matter (PDA, laptop, etc.) will be fined. California gets $20 richer the first time a teenager is caught text-messaging on the road and $50 for every subsequent offense. There is no word as to whether or not this ban would extend to all California motorists, and not just the junior ones.

Source: EnGadget

[Sasqui]

I assume this means "using" such a device? Or are those letigious f*ckers in California calling them contraband in cars? (I wouldn't put it past them - it's a screwed up state). What about hands-free calling and GPS navigation?

[zekrahminator]

I'd guess that because cell phones are banned, hands-free is banned, but there should be no problem with carrying the "contraband" in your car .

GPS is practically built into cars nowadays. I can hardly imagine the everyday cop pulling someone over for using a nav system .

[Ketxxx]

Haha, bout time. Might reduce the stupidly high road accident levels there.

[Sasqui]

Originally Posted by Ketxxx

Haha, bout time. Might reduce the stupidly high road accident levels there.

True... one could argue that Darwins law will kill them off , but the innocent get hurt too.

[keakar]

Originally Posted by Ketxxx

Haha, bout time. Might reduce the stupidly high road accident levels there.

well things are much better now that lindsays out of town

[XooM]

I'm in new york, where we've had a cellphone usage ban for several years now, and its so weird when i go out of state and suddenly EVERYBODY is on their cellphone and driving like a fucktard

[d44ve]

I think its a good idea... I am constantly seeing idiot drivers while on their cell phones.

They don't pay attention. I don't think I could even count how many times I saw someone making a left turn and almost hit the car\road divider\ anything next to them because they are not paying attention

[Zero Cool]

been banned over here since ever... its kind of obvious! phoning while driving is like drunk driving... you cant even have a deciliter of beer to be allowed to drive here. strict rules but quite obvious

[JrRacinFan]

I think just as long as you are using a hands-free set/bluetooth bud, you are good to go. But then again, I very rarely use my cell....

I mean cmon, using a hands free set would be the same as if a person was sitting right next to you in the car.

Just my take on this.

[Sasqui]

Originally Posted by zekrahminator

GPS is practically built into cars nowadays. I can hardly imagine the everyday cop pulling someone over for using a nav system .

You'd hope so, but my phone has GPS navigation software and receiver... would that make me a criminal? Californication.

[Kreij]

This is just a knee jerk reaction by politicians to make it look like their actually accomplishing something.

I am not saying you should allow this behavior, but didn't California already have laws on the books that cover "inattentive driving" ?

Of course they did !

They do not need new laws, they just need to tell the LEO's to start enforcing the ones already in place.

Just my 2 cents.

[DaMulta]

I would be getting tickets then, because I would still use my cell phone freely.

I do understand the need, because SOME people can't drive when talking on the phone. Hell, some people can't drive in the first place then throw in a phone into the equation and boom it gets really bad.

What I hate the most is seeing people read the newspaper, or women doing their hair and makeup on the road. Now that is crazy IMO.

[AsRock]

Yay

[Namslas90]

Actually weather or not this is a good thing remains to be seen. At lest when these idiots are on their cellphones they are only going 70 MPH. Thats right, the cell phone SLOWS THEM DOWN. Normally they drive about 90, not paying attention to anything but whats in front of them(other than eating/mak-up/the stereo,etc). Most of you don't realize just how many cars (and people) we have out here in cali. I'll tell ya though it's about 20 million more cars than the roads have room for. Yeah, cell phones may have been blamed for accidents, but making it illeagle to use them while driving, wont stop these morons from driving and crashing like idiots; Because, now everybody will cause accidents while pulling over to talk and then trying to get back into traffic.

This morning it's the normal Pre-Holiday weekend nightmare. It normally takes me 20 minutes round trip to get the kids to school. Welll, this morning it took 58 minutes, because of 9 accidents in the area including the main highway and almost every street that accesses the highway. I'm taking the day off.(no choice - can't go anywghere anyways), and all my appointments allready called saying "forget it" you won't get here till tonight anyways.

[Steevo]

I have been almost ran down by soccer moms in their big pieces of shit while catching up on the latest gossip while dropping of the kids before going to their play pretend office job, oblivious to me in my little red car.


95% of people need to stop to use the phone, me included. That would prevent them from being killed by people like me when they hit me and I am forced to shove their cell down their throat.

[zekrahminator]

Originally Posted by Kreij

This is just a knee jerk reaction by politicians to make it look like their actually accomplishing something.

Nice .

[hv43082]

They need to enforce the same law here in Miami. Native Miamians cannot drive for sure. And all of them talk on their cells when they are driving. Miami must have the worst drivers in America, period.

[Namslas90]

Originally Posted by Kreij

This is just a knee jerk reaction by politicians to make it look like their actually accomplishing something.

Originally Posted by zekrahminator

Nice .

Actually more accuratly; It distracts Californians of the problem that the roads can't support the amount of traffic and are falling apart due to lack of funding.

What I don't understand is that we have more people paying taxes than we have ever had, yet there is no money to fix ANYTHING with.(and the politicians still get their pay raises, I havn't gotten a pay raise in 6 years).

[anticlutch]

New laws are cheaper than new roads. Over here in Southern Cali, the 5, the 405, the 605, and the 57 freeways are pretty bad (the 91 is getting just as bad too). Instead of spending billions of dollars that California doesn't have in order to widen and/or renovate these roads, politicians can just make a new law like this and actually make some money. I, for one, think that this law should not only be applied to minors but to people of all ages. I heard that we had to start using hands free devices starting from July but I guess that wasn't true...

[Namslas90]

Originally Posted by anticlutch

New laws are cheaper than new roads. Over here in Southern Cali, the 5, the 405, the 605, and the 57 freeways are pretty bad (the 91 is getting just as bad too). Instead of spending billions of dollars that California doesn't have in order to widen and/or renovate these roads, politicians can just make a new law like this and actually make some money. I, for one, think that this law should not only be applied to minors but to people of all ages. I heard that we had to start using hands free devices starting from July but I guess that wasn't true...

Nah, that one did'nt pass. Why don't we have the money, we have more taxpayers than any other state?!!

[anticlutch]

Crap... so I guess I've been using it for no reason (not that I use my cell phone that much anyway).

Sure we have more taxpayers than any other state but AFAIK we still have a huge budget deficit that not even things like bond measures and higher taxes could take care of. Either way, our roads suck and we don't have the money to fix them.

[Namslas90]

Originally Posted by anticlutch

Crap... so I guess I've been using it for no reason (not that I use my cell phone that much anyway).

Sure we have more taxpayers than any other state but AFAIK we still have a huge budget deficit that not even things like bond measures and higher taxes could take care of. Either way, our roads suck and we don't have the money to fix them.

Yeah, thats the truth, but where does all the money go? It just doesn't make any sense.
States with one-fourth the revenue don't have a third of the problems we do!!??

[Kreij]

Originally Posted by Namslas90

Yeah, thats the truth, but where does all the money go? It just doesn't make any sense.
States with one-fourth the revenue don't have a third of the problems we do!!??

You are subsidizing Mexico's educational and health care systems.

[Namslas90]

Originally Posted by Kreij

You are subsidizing Mexico's educational and health care systems.

Yeah, they get FREE medical care, and I can't afford IT.