Comments on: Washington state: Cell phone laws, legislation

By: michael hunter

michael hunter — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 18:35:48 +0000

I see more police driving and talking on cell phones, I was told by a local Police Dept. That they are allowed so they can communicate with the desk, is this true? I thought that’s why they have a radio and desk officer.

By: Don Bell

Don Bell — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 22:40:05 +0000

The law as written does not recognize the true danger time in using cell phones while driving. It forbids talking with it to your ear, but it explicitly permitts you to key in a number, The reality is that the only time in the whole process that your eyes are not on the road is when keying. Talking is easy, we do it all the time, “dailing” requires we look down to the phone, not the road.

By the way, GPS use has the same problems while fiddling with the device.

This is truly an ignorant piece of law writing since it does not address the true source of the problem. Go back and do your homework !

By: Richard Stursa

Richard Stursa — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 01:09:24 +0000

All you have to do is sit in traffic at a stop light in Issaquah and watch the one out of three drivers try to make left hand turns while talking on a hand held phone to realize that the Washington state law on hands free use is not only not working but people are literally thumbing their noses at the law. A few sting ops at intersections with tickets written instead of warnings might stop this kind of crap. PLEASE FIND SOME WAY TO ENFORCE THIS LAW!!

By: Editor

Editor — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 01:14:41 +0000

Randy: The law seems to prohibit use of cell phone cameras by teenage drivers, but allow use by adults. It would be up to the cop and the judge to determine if you are in violation of the letter of the law ... certainly you'd be in violation of the spirit of the law. Read the distracted driving bill modifications approved by the Washington Legislature (several links on the page).

By: randy ahern

randy ahern — Sun, 13 Feb 2011 18:56:54 +0000

what about using phone camera?

By: Judy McFarlane

Judy McFarlane — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 23:12:08 +0000

I have read in our local paper Wenatche World that people with hearing aids may talk on their phone going down the same highway that I drive on. Is this true? Also what about those truck drivers going 75 mpr down the same highway using their CB radio’s? Whats the deal with them. So can I have a CB radio and talk on it as I’m going down the highway or street or avenue?
Just thinking out loud. but I would like to know the answers to these questions.

By: Is Washington’s Hands-Free Law Working? | Seattle Injury Lawyers Phillips & Webster

Thu, 16 Jul 2009 16:49:05 +0000

[...] of enforcement, Washington was busy writing tickets for these violations last year, according to Hands Free Info, a Web site that tracks these [...]