113 Washington drivers ticketed for cell phone use

[depakid]

State troopers say nearly 300 drivers were stopped for investigation of using hand-held cellular telephones in the first half-month that a ban was in effect, and 113 have gotten tickets.

Troopers add that an unknown number of motorists ditched their cell phones after noticing a law enforcement vehicle.

In Oregon, teenagers under 18 are the only ones who can't drive and use a handheld cell phone. The law, which went into effect this year, carries a $90 fine. Lawmakers last year pondered a broader ban that would have prohibited use of handheld cell phones by all drivers. That effort died after lobbyists for wireless phone companies complained they were being singled out unfairly.


Under the Washington law that took effect July 1, motorists may be stopped and ticketed for handheld cell phone use if an enforcement officer believes they have also committed some other offense. Through July 15, more tickets were issued in the southeast and southcentral sector than in any other district.

More: http://blog.oregonlive.com/breakingnews/2008/07/113_washington_drivers_tickete.html

[exothermic]

1. Phone babblers ARE a big problem but I can't figure out why normal "careless driving" laws

which every state has aren't enough. (Some call it 'inattentive driving'...)

[MindPilot]

6. Agreed. Can't hold the phone up to your ear,

but you can still munch on that big mac, shave, apply makeup, read, mess with your iPod, and a zillion other things that are distracting.

Another feel-good do-nothing law that is just one more tax on getting there.

[exothermic]

8. Revenue. It's what makes America go around.

:shrug:

[enlightenment]

2. Good. I hope they get more of them.

And I have to say that the lobbyists' argument is quite possibly the most moronic thing I've seen in a month.

". . .wireless phone companies complained they were being singled out unfairly."

Good grief. That's like having the Maytag Man complain that because drivers can't use their tumble dryers while doing 70 down the highway the company is being singled out unfairly.

[LiberalFighter]

3. Too bad someone doesn't turn that lobbyist statement on them in public.

[Cronus Protagonist]

5. They ain't banning make-up, radios, stereos, walkmans, ipods, hats, and so forth

So in some respects, it is unfair.

[enlightenment]

15. Not particularly good examples.

Yes, there are some people who put their make-up on in the car; generally not whilst moving as taking a mascara brush in the eye kind of defeats the purpose. There are people who change clothes while driving, too. Both of those activities can get you a citation in most states, if you're caught doing it - inattention to the road or something of that ilk.

I don't know about where you live, but every state I've lived in has laws that prohibit using walkmans, ipods, and other gadgets that plug into your ears while driving.

A radio can be a distraction, yes, but you generally don't hold it in your hand, nor do you carry on a conversation with it (which requires you to divide your concentration even more than listening), so it really doesn't equate to a hand-held mobile phone.

You got me on the hat. How does a hat interfere with driving, unless you're talking about some massive Derby Day hat like Eliza wore in "My Fair Lady"?

[Cronus Protagonist]

4. They should ban make-up in cars too

That's worse than cell phones - make-up artists are not even looking at the road - they're looking in the mirror at themselves!

[depakid]

10. If a cop sees you doing that around here, that'll invite a careless driving ticket

[Tesha]

7. Good! I hope they issue thousands more!

(Posted from my iPhone, ironically enough!)

Tesha

[Bobbie Jo]

13. Second that one! nt

[Andy823]

9. I live in Washington state

And I think it's about time! I see drivers all the time with the phone to their ear running stop signs, pulling out in front of people, cutting corners and running over the curb, and running into other cars! It's crazy! I have had people behind me with a cell phone to their ear pass me, and I have followed them for over 20 miles while they still talked on the phone, and swerved back and forth between the white line and the yellow line of the highway. I even know of one women who was stopped by the police and kept talking on her phone instead of answering the police officer who stopped her! He kept telling her to hang up, she kept saying "just a minute"! It's crazy!

[uppityperson]

11. People wearing hearing aids can still hold phone in hand in WA.

edited to add state

[salguine]

12. ...but guns for EVERYBODY!!

Why doesn't the Supreme Court give a shit about DC's cell-phone-while-driving laws?

[tammywammy]

14. Because there's no constitutional right to a cell phone

There is one for a gun.