Posted on 08/16/2011 7:08:28 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
Driving while talking on a cellphone or texting may get costlier if Gov. Jerry Brown signs a bill that passed out of the Legislature yesterday to increase the fines for the offenses.
Senate Bill 28, authored by state Sen. Joe Simitian, D-Palo Alto, will also add a “point” on driving records for second offenses, leading to higher insurance rates for those who do not comply with the state’s hands-free law, which went into effect in July 2008.
The bill also will now apply to bicyclists, who were unintentionally omitted from Simitian’s original hands-free law.
“Bicyclists also have to abide by the rules of the road,” Simitian said.
Currently, the fine for a first offense for violating the hands-free law is $20 and $50 for the second offense. The new fines will be $50 for the first offense and $100 for the second.
“The fine is relatively modest compared to other traffic fines,” Simitian said yesterday.
With penalties and fees, the total cost for a first offense would go up from about $189 to $309, depending on the county.
Part of the fee increase will go toward a fund for distracted-driver education through the state Office of Traffic Safety. SB 28 also makes it a primary offense for teen drivers who violate the law. Drivers under 18 are prevented from using any devices, hands-free or not, under Senate Bill 33, which Simitian also authored. SB 28 will allow the state to now qualify for federal funding on distracted driving.
Since the hands-free law went into effect three years ago, fatal traffic accidents and collisions have dropped significantly in the state, Simitian said.
“We’ve seen good results but we need more compliance,” Simitian said.
Driver distractions are the leading cause of most vehicle crashes, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
(Excerpt) Read more at smdailyjournal.com ...
People who are delusional, and can barely deal with driving.
Taking their eyes off the road just makes it a matter of time.
Most people can carry on a conversation with a passenger without taking their eyes off the road.
You cant outlaw stupid.
Were would we lock them all up? LoL
Uh, no.
And it is not the same as DUI.
Trying reading next time.
I said in CA reckless driving violations are nearly as severe and DUI. This is a good law and covers street racing etc.
Hey, here’s an idea… if you don’t WANT them to get more revenues: DON’T TEXT WHILE DRIVING.
What about C.B. Radios? What is the difference in talking on one of them and a cellphone?
If the baby's crying, stop the car and deal with it.
I would think it a simple programming function for the cellular provider to make the phone inoperable above a walking speed or to ring and then be answered when not moving.
But then, that would solve the problem...
The government should step in at the VERY moment one’s actions endanger society as a whole.
someone else can probalby put it in words better than me, but for the most part cb chatter is not a CONVERSATION directed at you every time you finish talking. it is more like listening to a telegraph. you talk *when convenient, with possibly long delays between comments*, then put the mic down and see what noises come out of the box, if any. The parts of the brain and attention it uses do seem substantially different.
It's about damn time.
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