California says No To Talking On Your Mobile When Driving

Tag : Mobile Watch


Even though many people know that, when driving, it is helpful tokeep all distractions aside and focus on the job at hand, very fewlive by the rule and try to save time by beginning differentactivities rather inappropriate during their trips. Some work ontheir laptops, some eat, others fix their make-up, play video gamesor watch movies. There arent any laws against all these apparentlyharmless activities but the state of California recently decided onscratching of the list one of the drivers favorite occupations.

Starting with July 1, all drivers must use a hands-free device suchas a Bluetooth headset piece when talking on their cell phones.

The law was expected for quite some time now and it aims atreducing the number of accidents caused by drivers paying moreattention to their answer key than to the road.
When caught for the first time talking on their mobiles withoutsuch a device, drivers will have to pay a $20 fine and from thesecond time on, a $50 ticket.

There are certain exceptions to the law, which involve theemergency personnel driving in authorized vehicles on their way toemergencies or similar work related duties and also commercialdrivers, with class A or B licenses. These exceptions will only beadmitted until 2011 when a new set of rules will be released.

There are several other states with similar laws includingConnecticut, New Jersey, Utah, New York, Washington D.C. and theVirgin Islands. Other states such as New Mexico, Massachusetts,Michigan, Illinois and Pennsylvania, even though failed to approvestatewide laws, do allow their local jurisdictions to enforcerestrictions for cell phone use.