Many accidents are caused by the use of cell phones....but I am concerned about where this ends.

What's next? No water bottle drinking, no talking allowed while driving. Both hands must be on the wheel at the same time.

Eating a Big Mac while driving, now that's dangerous...

I've got an idea, how about a law that you cannot drive a car without a drivers lic. and insurance. Oh thats right, it is a law, for at least some of us.

I have an idea. You can drive in the US if you are illegal. That should take a few million cars of the road.

Nice, a law based on a complete misunderstanding of science. Holding the cell phone to your ear is not what distracts you when you are driving, it's holding a conversation. You use a different part of your brain when you have a conversation with someone and you lose focus on your surroundings during that conversation. A hands-free device is not going to make driving while talking any safer.

Basically, while you are driving you need to slow down and pay attention to your driving and nothing else.

For teens, the most distracting and dangerous factor in many accidents is other teens in the car, not the cell phone.

Don't know why it took me so long to go hands free. Now, I can change the radio station, drink my starbucks, and reach over the back seat and slap the kids, and when I'm in the car alone....an opportunity for cheap thrills.

I think this new law is way more dangerous. My phone rings, WAIT - I've got to find my ear plug - WAIT - I've got to get it plugged into the phone and into my ear - or if wireless, I've got to find my blue tooth, get it on my ear, turn it on and get it synched - this chaos is 10x worse that just answering the phone . . . . come on.

This is kind of like telling people they must eat hands free while driving. In other words, eat some chips, but not a hamburger.

The BIGGER picture....il's illegal to talk on the phone while driving but it's not illegal to text while driving...um hello who wrote the stupid law....

dacmom- a fix for that is in the works.

http://www.redding.com/news/2008/jun/21/motorists-may-not-be-able-to-thumb-their-phones/

Thanks for the chuckle. Too funny, but oh so true!

The thing that bugged me was watching drivers over the last few days. I can't count how many were using cell phones, almost like they were getting in their last few legal calls before the law came into effect. Do they really think that it was safe to use them, just because there wasn't a law? Once more, the idiots win.

i really don't like people talking while driving, but it does not make an ounce of sense to let people text while driving or WORSE YET SMOKING WHILE DRIVING! GUESS DRIVING WHILE HOLDING A LIT CIGARETTE EMITTING TOXIC SMOKE IS NOT DANGEROUS?

but then the tobacco companies would make less & we know big tobacco/big business runs the country

its about as stupid as the seatbelt law. they pass a law making mandatory to wear a seatbelt, then years later pass a law making it illegal for people to smoke in a car with a child under 16. & they can't pull a driver over for that offense alone! guess they felt it's more important (make more money) off seatbelt violations, than protecting a helpless child from inhaling his thoughtless parents second-hand smoke

What gets me is the Idiots that have to use their cell phone while driving...
A SHOPPING CART! Make a list you Morons, go shopping stop wandering around wasting oxygen.

Well believewhatchawant I've been doing it for years and never had a related accident or even a close encounter as a result of smoking. Neither did my dad or my grandfather before me. I think you just look for any opportunity you can find to harass us smokers.

You are probably right mooreted, lets see what happens. When out of state people fly into California, as reported on bay area news this morning, no one had any idea they could not have a cell phone on their ear. I hope there are signs out there on the roadways stating this new law...Ha! maybe someday. Perhaps post some of these laws on the reader boards. Very few words, of course.

please do not reach behind the seat silvaron. Waaaay to dangerous.

I think smoking or drinking soda should be next. Then onto picking the nose.. If we are going to have a nazi gov. then lets go.Rights are for the free and we are far from that

I think smoking or drinking soda should be next. Then onto picking the nose.. If we are going to have a nazi gov. then lets go.Rights are for the free and we are far from that

I don't know if I am the only one who has observed this, but how many of you has seen the cops out there chatting away on THEIR cell phones while driving? The Redding cops around here are awful, I see them on the phone almost all the time.

I hope that this doesn't end up another "Do as I say, not as I do" law.

isn't kind of like talking into a "mic" that the truckers use to use. Or do they still use mics? My brother has used a phone driveing with a cord since they first came out on the coast. Some people can do it and some people can't. I know I couldn't, one reason I don't own a cell phone.

I am generally against freedom restricting laws. However, I think this is a good law.
I drive alot, and I have seen alot of folks being TOTALLY distracted on their phones and making traffic manuevers at the same time.

Ditto. My mother-in-law was in an accident in which the driver of the other vehicle was too engrossed in her cell phone conversation to see that there was another vehicle beside her before she tried making her illegal left turn. And countless times I've seen poor judgements from people on cell phones while driving. If this cuts down on the amount of accidents, I think it's worth it. Safety first, imo.

Maybe now that this law is in effect people will have a free hand to use their turn signals.

Thank you government for protecting me. I like it when you tuck me in at night.

That lady would have been just as distracted with a blue-tooth ear- piece in her ear.

Look, no law is going to stop idiot drivers from speeding down the road lost in their own little world and not paying any attention.

You can't fix stupid.

this law is only going to result in more people text messaging while driving.

I do wonder how many accidents are going to happen over the next few weeks that are realated to people trying to figure out thier "handsfree" device????

A good routine: Turn the Bluetooth device on, put it on the ear and then start the car. Keep conversations short.

I sooooo agree wit you in every way. Now its ok to talk to someone even longer now. I think cops just don't like when they pull someone over and they are talking on the phone and tell's the officer "hold on please my boyfriend is asking me what i want at the drive thru at taco bell ". What they need to do is outlaw women putting on makeup. Radio's are next.

just wait for some cop playing with the onboard computers they have to hit someone or something. hands free phones are fine but a call comes in and you look to check caller i.d or you dail out oops your distracted and involved in an accident .if your going to talk on the phone for any extended time pull over and park .

V12, it is now illegal to talk on phones while driving, but video taping is not considered hazardous... (note sarcasm) It would be quite ironic if you got a ticket for doing this :) I do however think it is a good idea, there are many drivers out there that have forgotten that driving is a privelege, and pay more attention to whats inside their car as opposed to whats on the outside. Good luck to you!

Hi bikeegirl,

But that's where I keep my ice chest and cold beer.

I bet the people that are complaining the most on here are the ones that can't drive without talking on the phone...try waiting until you get to your destination then call them back. How many of these people have such important decisions to make that it can't wait 10 minutes???!!!

Honey...what did you want for dinner?

Oh that movie last night was soooo great!

(insert your own stupid conversation here)

Not that I am disputing your statement for yourself, but your statement is really a fallacy. The reason you say that smokers (or other things that distract the driver) don't have close encounters is because you don't know when they happen. That is because many of those individuals are oblivious that what is happening and drive on like nothing.

Some of those bluetooth devices are more complicated...such as, push twice for this, once quickly for that, etc... Well, I am just resolved to pull over. Sorry to people who call me while driving if I don't answer right away. I will tell you in the "no accounting for stupid" department, I used to drive to work as a teenager while removing curlers and applying mascara and lipstick- and still considered myself a better driver than my brother who (still) tailgates.

I prefer to not use my cell at all while on the road. There is no one I want to talk to that badly. They can leave a message.

There is a website, you can go to and order a FREE - hands free headset. You pick your type of telephone and just order one. You do have to pay $3.00 for shipping. I got one and it works great. I could not find one for $3.00 around here. the site is:
www.freeheadset.org.

I think this is the basis for a good law, but the idiots that wrote it need to pull their heads out of their a$$'s, how could a law pass that allows people to text while driving, I have heard that they are reviewing the law to disallow texting, but it should have been illegal in the first place. The penalties should be much higher for teens caught using a cell phone while driving, sure there are a lot of you out there that think this is a stupid law, but wait until one of these idiots slams into the back of you and the nightmare of dealing with insurance company begins, or worse you or a family member gets hurt just because some idiot had to talk to their friend on the phone while driving.

I agree with that. I just find the comments posted by believewhatchawant to be truly annoying because they are always trying to belittle smokers when if fact 'anything' done in a moving vehicle other than driving can be a distraction to a driver.

Yeah, like looking into other cars and ranting at their smoking.

I remember when drinking alcohol was against the law. yesterday fireworks, today cell phones. but I do think that cell phones are a main reason why society today has lost moral fiber. how many accidents have been caused by asian drivers vs those with cell phones. I would like to know. I don't think all of them are bad drivers and understand it is a gereralization from those of us who remember American prison camps in the early 40s (how quick people forget we won the war). Why don't they simply add it to DMV driving tests? The world was better before these phones and understanding bills is almost impossible. that is what I think.

What do you mean by "I don't think all of them are bad drivers and understand it is a gereralization from those of us who remember American prison camps in the early 40s (how quick people forget we won the war)."

I would really like an explanation of that.

I have been smoking for over 70 years. 2 packs of pall mall red non filter cigarettes. And I know people get mad when I drive with my grandchildren but they are the same people who were not born here. give me a break!

What does being born here have to do with an opinion of your grandchildren's health? People born in other countries can't give a hoot?

Alice you have some good points and your comments are clearly from an older generation. My grandpa used to say never trust anyone Japanese, Italian or
German. lol. I don't think your generalization is okay about asian drivers. I agree we could have it added to our drivers tests & put a mark on your issues license such as having to wear glasses or donor. I really don't think that you should be smoking with others in the car. It's called second hand smoke!

As for the cell phone enforcement, I think there had to be at least 1/3 of the people on their phones this morning. PS who's going to let those from out of state or other countries know?

I am saying that most people in my time get that some asian drivers are not the best in the world. This is just like most people who drive with cell phones. I am not being racist just honest. If you don't like it to bad, and move to the bay area or los angeles where they have taken over.

Some people realize that bad drivers are from all races. And telling someone to move if they don't like what you have to say is juvenile.

This morning on Lake I saw the Police making easy money off of people who don't read. Two motorcycles and a squad car and a pair of binoculars just looking for someone dumb enough to talk on the phone, or not wear a seat belt.
Believewhatyouwant; If you don't like the smoke, don't ride in my car.
BTW headsets are at the 99¢ store, mine works just fine, thank you.

This law does not make anybody safer. The issue is not holding your hand to your ear, it's the distraction of talking to someone in another locale.

If anything, people will let their guard down thinking they are safer now and accidents will probably go up.

He only harasses TOBACCO smokers, smoke WEED and you'll be his best friend.

tate138, you know what i find 'annoying', is the cigarette litter all over every street, sidewalk, & trail. where do you think the billions of cigarette butts on the side of the highway come from? they are thrown out by filthy, inconsiderate cig smokers like yourself. they are the number #1 most polluted item on the planet, not too mention the fire danger they pose from idiots throwing them out their window onto the road. i made a point that if they are going to make it illegal to drive & talk on a cellphone, why should it be legal to drive while smoking/holding a lit cigarette? i believe this new law is a good law, but they should really add in distractions such as smoking & texting, which i think are just as, if not more dangerous.

When was the last time you saw a cop use turn signals? The CHP are especially bad at no signaling.

OOOh, that's one of my pet peeves! No turn signals! Is it that hard to let everyone know that you're going to move over?

wingnutt, look around any place you go today & guaranteed you can not walk 2 feet without walking over a cigarette butt. i do not like the pollution left behind from pot growers in the forests either, but i doubt marijuana smokers will ever pollute this planet the way cig smokers do. are you alright with a company based in our country that deliberately sells a product (cigarettes) that they know kill over 430,000 people a year? Phillip Morris, now Altria, bought out Nabisco & Kraft, so now you buy your children crackers & cheese that are made by a company that murders millions. sure no big deal, wake up people!

It's not murder when smokers poison themselves. Everyone, now-a-days, knows that cigarettes kill. Yes, it's horrible, I know, but the people who keep these companies in business are to blame too.

Once again calling names. As I've made it blatantly obvious to you in past posts, I am a considerate smoker. I use my ashtrays, smoke in designated areas and refrain from smoking when children ride in my vehicle (not that it happens very often). I also have agreed in past posts that there are numerous idiots that just throw cig butts all over the place. There are also whiny, annoying, hypocrites such as YOURSELF who place all smokers (good or bad) into one category. What makes you think I'm filthy? I'm a very clean person I'll have you know! No, I think you're the one who's inconsiderate. I personally believe if people used common sense while driving there would be no need for these laws at all, but alas that will never happen. Just like inconsiderate a$$es such as yourself will never quit flapping their gums about people they don't even know.

believewhatchawant;
I see you still haven't been picking up those butts you like to complain about.

HappyPhil, phil are you "happy" to pick up dog poop in your yard from neighborhood dogs? its the same thing. and as a matter of fact, my family & i do go out & clean up the parks of other peoples "trash".
relax tate138, i know you had not had a cigarette in 10 mins, you sure get angry when you don't get your drug fix of nicotine every 10 mins..

Not angry, just annoyed. Going to smoke now and relax.

don't get annoyed tate138, like the great bob marley once said "everything is gonna be alright".

maybe...once I finish another cigarette

Wow some of these comments can get pretty interesting. I am also concidered a smoker and a very clean one. I dont through my cig butts out the window of the car and I definatly dont through them on the ground and yes there are a lot of them that do but it is not necessary to catgorize all smokers in one. There are good and bad in all catagories. example...Christians. I believe I am a Christian but there are other people who claim to be and are far from it. So it is definatly not fair to push your opinion of people or about people.......

Bob Marley also said "I am not perfect and dont live my life to be, but before you point your finger make sure your hands are clean"

i use antibiotic soap on my hands

hahaha that is funny, your saying your hands have never been dirty?

bpete1002, no they been plenty dirty, thats why i use soap. it's just sad when our family goes to the lake, beach, on a walking trail miles from people & still the ground is covered with cigarette butts. they are the most polluted item on the planet & the number 1 killer, yet they remain legal ONLY because our government makes billions along with big tobacco at the expense of millions of deaths & extensive pollution to our planet. guess its no big deal to you people, you would rather know who won american idol or what celebrity just got pregnant. back to the subject, if one intelligent person can explain why it makes more sense to ban cellphones while driving & NOT cigarettes, i will be quiet, for awhile at least.

Wow you talk as though you know me... Oh wait that is right you dont. I do agree with you when you say it is bad how cigarette butts are everywhere you go. It is grose to see them on the ground as it is grose to see trash. When you start to say that is no big deal to you people I do get offended because I am not like thoes other people and yet you assume I am, didnt your mom ever teach you that assuming only makes an a$$ out of you. I dont push anyone else to smoke, I do it for me. Yes I do know the long term effects of smoking and it is my life to do with it how I want to. I am not hurting anyone else by doing it, so keep your opinions about me to yourself. Plus smoking and driving is a lot different than talking on the phone. You can still have both hands on the wheel (unless you are taking a drag and even then it is for a half a second) and you are not caught up in conversation being distracted. So ya it is completely different. I dont know why you think it is worse to smoke and drive than to talk on the phone and drive.

maybe you should try sticking your phone up your a$$ for better reception

sure, smoking & driving is not dangerous at all.
your in denial.

Well thats mature!!!

Well thats mature!!!

Hey I never said it was not dangerous but I dont want you to sit there and try and tell me how discusting I am and how smoking and driving is WAY more dangerious than talking on the phone and driving. I am just making an honest point that Talking on the phone is more. Plus yes I may smoke and drive but I am sure you are not the safest driver in the world that does absolutly nothing wrong. Come on now! We are all human.

what you want to be reaching for a cold for, silvaron?

And when I drop my cig in my lap while driving I calmly flip my turn signal on, look behind my right shoulder, check the mirrors, and pull over to the right shoulder, completely off the road, turn on the hazards, and then proceed to look for the cig. And then because it touched the ground of my car it is dirty and I don't want to put it back in my mouth so I throw it out the window and get back on the road after lighting a second one.

"unless you're taking a drag, and even then it's for half a second". That's a fast drag. And in half a second at 75mph you're still traveling 55ft forward in a large metal killing machine. That's okay with you?

Seriously, I imagine the reaction to a dropped cig is similar to my reaction to the dang bumblebee that flew into my car while in Yosemite last week. I actually had to pull over and abandon ship fast. :) Good thing my wife and I can laugh at ourselves.

Hey you are right, and as I stated above I never said it wans't dangerous all I am stating is that talking on the phone is a lot more. Driving in general is dangerous anything can happen as it is pointed out even a bee can fly into the car and make you pull over. It was stated that if a real reason is brought up as to why smoking and driving is not as dangerous as talking on the phone is then they will chill out "at least for a little bit" That is all I was saying. I have no problem with the law that has passed. But I refuse to have them make it sound like I am the cause of accidents because I smoke and drive. PLEASE!!! You head can itch or you can sneeze, all of thoes things are dangerous too.

I was driving down Hartnell once and watched a woman, in a station wagon full of kids, pitch her lit cigarette out the drivers window, only to be sucked right in the back window, much to the horror of the kids in the back seat.
There's a little instant karma for ya...

And isn't THAT a stupid thing that texting is still allowed... how is that hands free? Shouldn't it run along the same lines as talking on the phone? At least when people are yakking on their phone they're still (at least hopefully!) looking forward. If you're texting how can you even do that?

Idiot drivers are still idiot drivers with or without a cell hone stuck in their ear!

taizy77 - You wrote...."I don't know if I am the only one who has observed this, but how many of you has seen the cops out there chatting away on THEIR cell phones while driving? The Redding cops around here are awful, I see them on the phone almost all the time.

I hope that this doesn't end up another "Do as I say, not as I do" law."

Actually, the law exempts on-duty emergency personnel, for obvious reasons. I like your snide comment regarding RPD officers chatting away on their cell phones. Do you know who they are talking with when you see them on the phone? Odds are they are handling a call for service while enroute to another call for service. They do this regularly to keep pending calls from stacking up and people like yourself from complaining about police response times. Did you ever think they might be speaking to the victim of a crime, reassuring them that help is on the way.

And don't tell me they should be wearing a bluetooth either, as this would not be a safe thing to do for an officer. They already are tasked with having to listen to the police radio, pay attention to the computer sending them calls, as well as updating them with pending calls, keeping an eye out for potential hazards, etc. Having something else, such as a bluetooth in their ear would not be safe. It would be a distraction, and could potentially be hazardous when dealing with a dangerous situation.

Next time you see an officer talking on the phone while driving down the street maybe you will think differently. I certainly hope so.

blue;
Hey that's all well and good but would it kill them to use a blinker light now and again?

Chuck - Not sure if you are referring to a particular incident you observed, but you do know you aren't required to signal every time you make a turn, don't you?

hmmmm, I saw on the TV, Chico station, tonight that the chps were writing tickets for cellphone use. Like actively seeking cellphone users out. Soooo, guess you folks better get your handsfree ear thingys, pronto.

my 4:55ish post was in errrr. Was under pressure to get off the computer.

So why do you want to reach over your seat into your ice chest for a cold beer for? To tease the cops? Unopened of course...Or you will for sure get a ticket having an opened beer in your vehicle while driving. Are you sure you want to risk either stunt?

Officers should have different laws and rules. They are the ones who are protecting us. Some of you are so defensive...guess you have been caught too many times. There are many personal information that police and fire departments need to relay to each other that should not be shared over the radios for all to hear on the scanners. Keep up the good work CHP and RP and our Sherrifs....God bless all our public officers. I Promise to use my bluetooth and not put on my mascara anymore either.

Blue tooth and other hands free manufacturers love this new law. Who wrote it?
Get your hands free set at the 99¢ store and save money.
In response to believewhatchawant;
If you clean up a pristine spot when you arrive you can focus on the beauty, not the butts. Then if you still need to complain about something, try Monsanto and GMO food it is forcing on the world. Roundup ready crops kill bees and cause health problems in those that eat this unnatural produce.
There's something to rant about.

My hubby was wondering why I do not use a turn signal all the time, as he does. Are you sure and he is wrong? Fine with me because I think it is silly using a turn signal alllll the time. Especially in a left turn lane and one sits and sits and sits for the light to go green and it is a turn lane so why use a turn signal?

We use turn signals to let other people know our intentions.

Life was sooo much quieter before cell phones.I do not have one and don't want one.If some one calls me and I am not home , they can call back.If it is an emergency ... Well they can call my wife on her cell phone.I am not trying to be sexist but most of the people I see driving and talking are women or girls.

You can't make sense out of what the State does, they do not think rational.

This law is good. No cell phones at all would make it better.

While driving into a parking lot today, a lady driving a Subaru rounded a line of cars and swung so wide she almost hit the side of my vehicle. Why? She was trying to negotiate the turn with one hand, while yapping on a cell phone with the other. Adding insult to injury, she was clueless. She was so engrossed in her phone conversation that I seriously do not think she saw me.

A poster earlier said, "Holding the cell phone to your ear is not what distracts you when you are driving, it's holding a conversation." I think this is partly true. While driving down the road and speaking to a passenger, there does not seem to be the same brain-fade distraction as there is when one is on a phone. While speaking on a phone, the brain detaches from reality.

GO ON EBAY AND GET YOUR WIRELESS BLUETOOTH - MUCH CHEAPER !!! THE CELL PHONE STORES RIP YOU OFF.
I needed a charger for my phone, went into Verizon, they wanted $30.00, then I went online and got one for $5.00 - SEE....Shop around !!!!!

I'm pretty sure you have to use a signal indicator at a four-way stop sign, to change lanes, to turn into a parking lot, etc. I just think they should lead by example. And what's distracting for us is distracting for everyone.

To Jan. It's just like this.... get in, buckle up, put on your headset, turn it on, look both ways and drive. Yes, may take a little more time to get away from the parking spot, but it's the law.

Remember when we use to sit in the back of a pickup truck, even old yeller was back there with yea, no seatbelts anywhere, amazing how many people survived the older days.

bikeegirl - The California Vehicle Code states that when turning your vehicle, such as changing lanes, etc., you have to use your turn signal only if it affects another driver. If your turning movement doesn't affect another driver, you don't have to use your signal.

We were out and about today and tried really hard to survey the cell phone users who were driving and talking. All the people we saw were of the 21 and under age (looking that is), I guess they didn't get the message or don't read the papers or watch the news. Fools! Hope each and every one of the lil' buggers gets nailed!

Well I am glad this happened. But I got a question; What about texting,eating, putting make-up on, reading a map(if you do not have garmin),smoking and blowing the toxic smoke out the window or flicking the cigarette out the window,drinking,or throwing anything out the window,what about the police and chatting or answering their walkie-talkies,typing on their computers? No laws on any of these things!!! I am so glad they have their priorities straight. NOT!!!!!!!

LOL ~ this is true! My husband never posts here OR reads this stuff, but he is one of these....hehe. He cannot drive without doing this....I've said this before, he seriously thinks driving is so boring that he uses it to return calls and "talk" and he closes his office most days AFTER I get off work and I am home and watching my shows all nicely and he is on the way home and just HAS to call to "yak" because he is bored as usual....haha, so I have to pause the dish and wait until he gets done...interesting he is a very good driver and has always used the blue tooth thingy way before the law took effect, so what can I say....he just loves to yap on the phone, kind of like women do....oh well, I just have to LOL, but omg! Sometimes I let the VM get it, and then he says....where were you, and I just say....out with the doggies!....when he will say....well you ARE missing your shows...geez, he knows me way too well, sometimes I hate that cell phone, really I do. I hide mine in the car in my purse. Calls can wait, I might miss a good song on the radio, anyway.

risky v12. Lets see what happens. Will you be another RLF and be banned forever? Not sure why your comment was removed but to say what you said was "whoa". I didn't remember any foul language.

Good morning bikeegirl, have a good day!