Free Republic

SACRAMENTO – Californians who want to talk on the phone while driving will have to invest in a hands-free headset or use speaker phones under a new law signed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger this morning. The law, which will take effect in July 2008, prohibits motorists from holding a cell phone while driving. It establishes fines and requires motorists to use hands-free technology, such as Bluetooth or an earplug. The law is intended to cut down on traffic accidents. Hand-held cell phones contributed to six fatal accidents in the state last year, according to the California Highway Patrol. For Californians,...

A few years ago, New York State passed a largely unenforced ban on using cell phones while driving.Apparently, however, at least one (most likely) fine-hungry politician wants to see the law enforced. The Associated Press is reporting that:A Brooklyn state assemblyman wants a special hotline to report drivers who are talking on hand-held cell phones. Assemblyman Feliz Ortiz says the hotline would connect to the State Department of Motor Vehicles. The caller would report the time, date, location and license plate number of the car being driven by the talker. Think about this for more than two seconds and it...