California — Teen drivers would be barred from driving while using cell phones of any kind - even if fitted with hands-free equipment - under legislation that passed the California Assembly on Monday.
The bill also would prohibit drivers younger than 18 from using text-messaging devices, laptop computers or pagers. If signed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, the bill would take effect in July.
Violators would be fined $20 for a first offense; repeat offenders could be punished with a $50 fine.
The author of the legislation, state Sen. Joe Simitian, D-Palo Alto , said a new law was necessary because car accidents are the No. 1 cause of death among teenagers. His measure, SB 33, passed the Senate in April and now returns there for a final vote on amendments made by the Assembly.
Starting in July, all drivers, regardless of age, must have their hands free while using a cell phone, under a law Schwarzenegger signed last year.
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Ragingbear (anonymous) says…
Cell phone drivers should have their hands chopped off.
People who talk on their phone while driving are just as impaired as somebody who was a .08 BAC, that would make them legally drunk.
Those who text while driving should be put in prison until they are 70.
Confrontation (anonymous) says…
Teens and adults who drive while talking on their cell phones should face the loss of their licenses. Everyone thinks that cell phones don't impact their driving, but they have to be true idiots if they really believe it.
Ragingbear (anonymous) says…
There was an episode of Mythbusters where they tested it under police supervision. They actually performed slightly better with a .08 BAC than they did while talking on a cell phone.
As for texting... I would say they would be closer to a 1.6 BAC. Which in layman's terms translates into staggeringly drunk with the inability to focus on single objects.
Confrontation (anonymous) says…
I completely believe it. Most of the bad drivers that I see are either too old to drive or talking on a cell. It's really scary when they meet both of those criteria!
Leprechaunking13 (anonymous) says…
People in Lawrence can't drive without cell phones, so there really is no sense in saying how bad they are with them. Besides that I see atleast 3 cops driving talking on cell phones EVERY day.