California bans cell phone use for under 18 drivers

[Railroader]

California bans cell-phone use for teen drivers - Wireless World - MSNBC.com (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20776386?GT1=10357)

I'm glad to see this. We also have a ban on handheld cell phone using going into effect next year (you'll need a headset or some sort of handsfree device to use it in the car, though use by law enforcement and use by people in an emergency will both be exempted), these needed laws have been a long time coming.

[mth785]

This is one of the stupidest laws ever passed. Can you tell how old someone going passed you at 35MPH is? Are people magically capable of talking on the phone while driving when they turn 18? There are already laws about inattentive driving, why not just enforce them?

[soccerjohn]

They should crack down on the people who text message and drive at the same time. Some people do drive slower when they are talking on the phone so I don't think that limiting the age to over 18 would be benifical. Just my $.02.

[chokaay]

This is one of the stupidest laws ever passed. Can you tell how old someone going passed you at 35MPH is? Are people magically capable of talking on the phone while driving when they turn 18? There are already laws about inattentive driving, why not just enforce them?


Yeah, I agree... I see these as one of those laws that get enforced only if you get pulled over for something else... just like the "no front license plate" law.

I think it'll be easier to enforce after July 2008, when the complete ban on talking on cell phones WITHOUT a handsfree set while driving takes effect (that way the police won't have to worry whether or not the driver is younger than 18 or not).

[Railroader]

I don't, until kids today can learn how to use cell phones safely, all will have to live with this. If you want to blame somebody, blame the jerks that created the need for this law.

[jgebis]

There are already laws about inattentive driving, why not just enforce them?

This is exactly correct. If someone is not paying attention while they're driving, they should get in trouble, regardless of whether they are talking on a phone, reading a book, shaving, applying makeup, whatever. I think politicians make laws like this (specific to a hot issue, when pre-existing laws would work fine if enforced) just to get into the news.

[Railroader]

Existing laws don't specifically cover this.

[mth785]

Existing laws don't specifically cover this.

Existing laws might not cover talking on the phone but they do cover the effects of not paying attention to what your doing while your driving.