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Schwarzenegger Calls for Banning Hand-Held Cellphone Use While Driving
Los Angeles Times ^ | July 13, 2006 | Jordan Rau

Posted on 07/13/2006 3:02:43 PM PDT by calcowgirl

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Wednesday condemned one of the most prototypical Los Angeles driving practices — grasping a steering wheel with one hand and a cellphone with the other — and gave a strong boost to legislative efforts to outlaw hand-held mobile phones throughout California.

During an online interview with a reporter broadcast over the Internet, Schwarzenegger called such driving distractions "terrible" and "inexcusable" and said: "We have to see if the right way to go is through a bill or any other way, but I think we must make sure that people don't use phones, because it not only endangers them but it endangers everyone else out there."

He said he has tailed his 16-year-old daughter, Katherine, while she was driving and warned her she would be taking the bus if he caught her using her cellphone while behind the wheel.

For the last five years, California lawmakers have introduced bills banning hand-held cellphones but to no avail. But in May, the measure squeezed through the state Senate, which had been the strongest place of resistance, with no votes to spare. The bill will be voted on in the Assembly next month; because that chamber approved a similar measure in 2003, its prospects are considered strong, and one committee has already endorsed it.

Sen. Joe Simitian (D-Palo Alto), the sponsor of SB 1613, said he was encouraged by Schwarzenegger's comments. "... If approved by the Assembly and signed by Schwarzenegger, Simitian's bill would make driving while using a hand-held cellphone an infraction, punishable by a $20 fine for the first offense and $50 for subsequent ones. The rule would take effect July 1, 2008, and would be enforced by the CHP as well as local police and sheriff's departments.

(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...


TOPICS: Government; News/Current Events; US: California
KEYWORDS: ab613; callegislation; cellphones; schwarzenegger; simitian
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1 posted on 07/13/2006 3:02:45 PM PDT by calcowgirl
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To: calcowgirl
Schwarzenegger said he had not yet reviewed Simitian's bill. But he spoke emphatically about the subject... The governor continued: "You're absolutely correct that more people get injured or die because of being on the phone or pressing all the sophisticated buttons in the car, because now every car comes with 100 buttons.

What next? Outlawing buttons in cars?

2 posted on 07/13/2006 3:03:20 PM PDT by calcowgirl ("Liberalism is just Communism sold by the drink." P. J. O'Rourke)
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To: calcowgirl

Oh Conan, protect us from ourselves!!!


3 posted on 07/13/2006 3:04:34 PM PDT by samadams2000
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To: calcowgirl

I'd rather him sponser a bill that allows me to run those cell phone users off the road when they are going 45 mph in the fast lane......*wink*


4 posted on 07/13/2006 3:06:40 PM PDT by NorCalRepub
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To: calcowgirl

Peachy! I know what's next cowgirl. Ten and Two. I see a future law that requires all drivers to keep their hands in the ten and two position. If you slip and accidently find the nine and three position you will be fined $20! You don't even want to know what the fine will be for keeping both hands at the six o'clock position!


5 posted on 07/13/2006 3:07:34 PM PDT by CAluvdubya (What's so hard to understand about the word illegal?)
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To: calcowgirl
What next? Outlawing buttons in cars?

No, outlawing driving without both hands on the wheel at all times. Oh, and no daydreaming or "zoning out," either.

6 posted on 07/13/2006 3:07:43 PM PDT by sourcery (A libertarian is a conservative who has been mugged ...by his own government)
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To: sourcery; CAluvdubya

That might pose some issues for those of us driving standards :)


7 posted on 07/13/2006 3:10:55 PM PDT by ECM (Government is a make-work program for lawyers.)
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To: calcowgirl
It's about time. While you're at it ban eating, reading magazines, applying warpaint, flossing, drying your hair by sticking your head out the window and other moronic behavior.
8 posted on 07/13/2006 3:11:34 PM PDT by Ben Mugged
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To: calcowgirl

More feel-good legislation that fails to address the underlying problem. Several studies have shown it's not holding the phone that causes distraction, it's the conversation with a disembodied voice who's in a different mental space. (No, this doesn't mean all cell phone use should be banned).


9 posted on 07/13/2006 3:11:51 PM PDT by ThinkDifferent
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To: ECM

Those will be outlawed too! :-)


10 posted on 07/13/2006 3:13:56 PM PDT by CAluvdubya (What's so hard to understand about the word illegal?)
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To: calcowgirl

So I guess it's all right to be distracted by a voice-activated, hands-free phone.


11 posted on 07/13/2006 3:17:22 PM PDT by nonsporting
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To: calcowgirl

As bad as I hate to admit it, I think we have a problem. People tend to slow way down or weave with them. It doesn't make sense to me though. We can talk to passengers and listen to the radio without any problem while driving with one hand.


12 posted on 07/13/2006 3:18:48 PM PDT by CindyDawg
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To: Ben Mugged
It's about time. While you're at it ban eating, reading magazines, applying warpaint, flossing, drying your hair by sticking your head out the window and other moronic behavior.

And the famous saying will be changed to "In the Spring a young man's fancy turns to thoughts of keeping his eyes on the road and both hands on the wheel."

Will I be able to use a regular handset if I rubber-band the phone to my head? See officer - no hands.

13 posted on 07/13/2006 3:19:02 PM PDT by KarlInOhio (Loose lips sink ships - and the New York Times really doesn't have a problem with sinking ships.)
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To: Ben Mugged
It's about time. While you're at it ban eating, reading magazines, applying warpaint, flossing, drying your hair by sticking your head out the window and other moronic behavior.

Why not just ban driving? It's dangerous you know? Someone might get hurt.

14 posted on 07/13/2006 3:21:54 PM PDT by calcowgirl ("Liberalism is just Communism sold by the drink." P. J. O'Rourke)
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To: calcowgirl
Reminds me of the parody commercial Rush use to have on his show a few years ago, when this cell phone / driving debate started, for a cell phone that was disguised as a package of french fries.

At the rates states are going it might actually be a viable product...

15 posted on 07/13/2006 3:27:22 PM PDT by apillar
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To: calcowgirl
Now THIS is an extremely effective use of law enforcement resources. /sarc

I think I'll rush out and purchase stock in blue tooth companies.

16 posted on 07/13/2006 3:31:18 PM PDT by The Iceman Cometh (Just another evil conservative)
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To: calcowgirl

It's better to use a hands-free cell phone arrangement while driving a car.

That way you still have a free hand for your handgun.


17 posted on 07/13/2006 3:33:15 PM PDT by Disambiguator (I'm not paranoid, just pragmatic.)
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To: calcowgirl

Just another reason why I won't vote for him. He will be the first Republican ever that I have not voted for in the general election. Why? Because he's not a Republican. It would be like voting in the Dem primary for the less radical Dem. I will check out the third parties, and see if one looks ok. If not, I won't vote for anyone. I'll wait til the GOP runs a Republican.


18 posted on 07/13/2006 3:34:18 PM PDT by Defiant (MSM are holding us hostage. Vote Dems into power, or they will let the terrorists win.)
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To: Defiant

Arnold's got a little Nazi left in him, doesn't he?


19 posted on 07/13/2006 3:35:50 PM PDT by Neville72 (uist)
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To: calcowgirl

I hope this is just "don't get outflanked to the left by Phil Angelides" election-year hot air that never leads to enacted legislation. Scary.


20 posted on 07/13/2006 3:37:11 PM PDT by pogo101
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