Story Courtesy Sac Bee
Governor signs bill banning cell phones for teen drivers
Sept 14th Update:
State Sen. Joe Simitian, D-Palo Alto, the bill’s sponsor, said SB 33 is a “secondary offense law” — which means authorities can’t pull over teens for simply using the devices. But they can be cited under the law if they are pulled over for other violations, such as driving erratically.
Chief Teresa Becher of the CHP’s Golden Gate Division said the Highway Patrol is unleashing an educational campaign on the new law and unsafe use of cell phones and other electronic devices. While she said officers may not be flagging down young drivers by the scores, she said they will be watching for erratic behavior among teens.
“You can always tell somebody on a cell phone. … They’re going slower, then they’re going faster or they’re weaving around in their lane,” Becher said.
By Peter Hecht – Bee Capitol Bureau
Published 3:15 pm PDT Thursday, September 13, 2007 Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger today signed legislation to ban 16- and 17-year-old drivers from using cell phones, lap top computers and other electronic devices while they are driving.
In signing Senate Bill 33 by Sen. Joe Simitian, D-Palo Alto, the governor said he hoped to protect the lives of California’s youngest drivers and other motorists by keeping electronic gadgets out of the hands of “teen drivers…more easily distracted” on the road.
Any comments?
The bill will become law July 1. The same day another law — prohibiting all Californians from using cell phones unless they are hands-free models — will also go into effect.
The new bill targeting drivers under 18 would impose fines of $20 for a first offense and $50 per additional offense.
“I just want to remind all of our teenagers. Even those this law doesn’t take place until next July, please don’t use cell phones while you’re driving right now,” Schwarzenegger said in the bill signing ceremony at Sequoia High School in Redwood City. “Start that right now. Don’t use cell phones. Don’t pagers. Don’t use laptops or anything that can distract you because you could lose your life.”
Any comments?
I was under the impression that AB 301 already prohibited using laptops while driving, but this analysis of AB 301 indicates otherwise: “Also, laptop computers, which are capable of playing DVDs and can operate with batteries or an AC adapter, might also be exempt from the prohibition.”
Why is it that just teenagers are baned from using these devices while driving? I have seen many an adult make near mistakes while driving while chatting on their phone because they were distracted.
Anonymous 6:10 a.m.
My sense is that this restiction was based purely on accident statistics and not as a punishment to all teenage drivers. What about adults reading a map or putting on makeup to cite a few example of distractions while driving. We could add many other examples of multi-tasking at a risk to those around us. I see it every day.
Another feel good law that is primarily fluff because it is unenforceable unless the police are going to profile people based on how old they appear to be to the the officer and pull them over on suspicion of fitting this age bracket. Age profiling is just as bad as racial and skin color profiling that Homeland Security is periodically accused of doing.
Can you imagine seeing a 87 year
old lady text messaging while
driving on the 405 to Long Beach?
Wow, how about some 50 year old
guy on Viagra trying desparately to find a date before the effects of his pill runs out? Or, maybe
someone on Xanax or Prozac driving
on the 405 at rush hour? Maybe
having to take double the dose?