The architect of California's ban on drivers' use of hand-held cell phones has made good on his promise to encore with a state ban on text messaging while operating a motor vehicle. Sen. Joe Simitian, D.-Palo Alto, saw his SB 28 pass the California state Senate by a 25-14 margin, almost entirely without Republican support. Update: Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed the text-messaging driving ban into law on Sept. 24, 2008. Schwarzenegger, a Republican, indicated previously that he'd be supportive of taking action to prevent drivers from tapping out messages on cell phones and other portable … [Read more...]
Archives for 2008
iPhones and driving: Caution in order
July 27, 2008 by 1 Comment
The iPhone 3G does a lot of amazing things, but voice dialing isn't one of them. This means that drivers have to somehow use the virtual keyboard to dial out, a dubious proposition safety-wise. What makes dialing extra tricky is the iPhone's lack of raised buttons, which help the tactile figure out where the number keys are located. This hitch gives both iPhones safety issues beyond the usual driving-while-talking problems. Most decent cell phones have voice dialing. The iPhone, curiously, does not. Ooops. And these guys live in California! "(Lack of) voice dialing is a serious … [Read more...]
North Carolina: Cell phone laws, legislation
July 7, 2008 by 29 Comments
Cell phone, texting legislation news: Rep. Frank Iler says drivers' attention to their pets presents a danger on state roadways. He's filed House Bill 394, which would clamp down on the distractions of having animals being held or sitting in the driver's lap. Fines at $100 plus costs. State voters overwhelming support a ban on holding of electronic devices by drivers, polling suggests. A Meredith College poll of almost 700 voters found that more than 80 percent supported the ban. The results were about the same as when the question was asked about distracted driving in 2018. "Citizens see … [Read more...]
Maryland: Cell phone laws, legislation
July 4, 2008 by 43 Comments
Maryland distracted driving update: A 2020 bill seeks to allow police and related agencies to capture images of distracted drivers. Similar to red-light cameras, the system would send images to suspected offenders via the mail, along notices of the fines. Authorities would be required to post roadway notices that the distracted driving monitoring system is in use. The sponsor is state Sen. Katherine Klausmeier. A similar plan that would apply only in Montgomery County was rejected in mid-February by the House Environment and Transportation Committee. Distracted driving is being cited as a … [Read more...]
Alaska: Cell phone laws, legislation
July 3, 2008 by 4 Comments
Cell phone/text messaging update: Anchorage's Assembly has proposed a ban on using handheld cell phones in active school zones. The April 9 move follows state adoption in 2018 of a measure allowing municipalities to control portable electronics use by drivers near schools. The Anchorage law would come with a $500 fine for offenders. The governor signed into law a 2016 bill that encourages law officers to stop and cite drivers who are text messaging. Alaska's state distracted driving offenses previously ranged from class A misdemeanors (simple texting) to class A felonies (causing a death) … [Read more...]
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