caloso

https://blogs.sacbee.com/crime/archiv...to-area-6.html

I approve.

Limey1212

Like you I approve, just a pity its not a zero tolerance policy all the time not just a couple of days. But yeah, on the whole a good thing.

Did you read some of the comments? Apparently, its only "other" drivers that are the problem not the commentators themselves LOL

B. Carfree

I love zero-tolerance for any and all moving violations. The CHP and the other participants, deserve praise from all for doing this most dangerous of jobs. I'm pretty sure doing traffic stops is the most dangerous job in law enforcement. Sadly, my city and county police/sheriffs are cowards and won't do traffic stops.

dynodonn 

I see more motorists than ever driving around with a cellphone to their ear, crack down or not, it doesn't seem to deter a lot of our local Cali motorists.

travelmama

Exactly.

coffeecake

My province recently passed a law, making it illegal to operate a cell while driving a motor vehicle. Problem is, they included a clause excluding headsets. I believe it's been proven that it doesn't matter if you're talking on a bluetooth or physically holding the cell to your ear, it's still a distraction.

Anyways, I still see lots of people driving around, talking or texting - hasn't made much of a difference, except there's at least 300 people in my city who are $300 poorer and minus four points off their license. It's almost worse - now, when people get a call, they pull over and whip out the phone. It doesn't matter where they are - freeway, bike lane, wherever. Now other people are slowing down to pass them, craning their necks to see what's wrong. Such a liability on the freeways here.

sd_mike

I find it sad that so many no longer hold the phone to their ear, but hold the phone up using the speakerphone. Now, last I checked, that isn't HANDS FREE is it? Are they that cheap they cannot purchase a hands-free device or just plain ignorant of what hands-free actually means? As to the various comments, so many complain that the police are using their phones - they are EXEMPT from the law - good or bad, still exempt. These operations shouldn't be advertised, seems to defeat the purpose. Just ticket the idiots without warning them, they've had their chance already.

Digital_Cowboy

+1,000

Chris516

Today, I saw a woman pulling out of parking space just move her phone from her hand to between her ear and her shoulder.

Since it is still legal in the D.C.-Metro area to do that stupid behavior, I didn't say anything.

prathmann

The ban on only 'handheld' calls is pretty meaningless. As already mentioned, the safety studies show that it's the loss of attention due to concentrating on the phone call that causes the problem, not the act of holding the phone in your hand. The legislation just lets the politicians say they've done something, lets the cellular phone companies sell more accessories, increases police revenues, and does almost nothing to actually improve safety.

Biker395 

X1000

And if the current fines aren't enough to pay for enforcement, increase them.

caloso

I just wish they'd have zero tolerance on texting and phoning every day, 24 hours a day.

1989Pre 

https://www.wickedlocal.com/stoneham/...ne-distraction

Spire

Good initiative, but talk about slaps on the wrist...

SCROUDS

As we see with speeding, fines don't do much. I'm all for mandatory community service. We'll start at a day for first offenses and quickly ramp up from there.

Spire

+1!

Something that impacts everybody (20$ probably means nothing to a lot of people)

Biker395 

+1 on mandatory community service.

I'd do both.

Increasing penalties doesn't do much to deter behavior. But increasing enforcement does, and the fines pay for enforcement.

MTBLover

Completely agree.

Seattle Forrest

Well ... the distraction comes from having a (two-way) conversation with a person whom isn't there, whom you can't see (to "read" body language), not from holding a phone to your ear with one hand.

What's dangerous for the goose is perfectly safe for the gander.

BianchiDave

Well not exactly exempt, while on duty they would be for duty cell phones (for calls only not texting) but many departments do have a policy in place stating an officer should pull over to use the cell phone while driving unless an emergency overrides such.
Same thing for seatbelts most states that have a mandatory seatbelt law exempt the police. But again most departments have a policy stating officers must wear the seat belt for high speeds. Most of us don’t wear the belt driving around in the city (slow speed) in case we have to get out at a moment’s notice (such as someone shooting out the window.)

I stop when I receive a phone call but mainly because it’s in my pocket and I can’t get to it unless I stop.

sd_mike

The best solution for fines would be the German way. You pay according to your net worth. The whole "I can afford the ticket" crap would end in a hurry if you paid thousands for a speeding or cell phone ticket. The United States has to be one of the most backwards countries on the planet when it comes to so many things. People actually think it is only their business when they are doing them on a public roadway - nope - it is everyone's business. A friend of mine was nearly killed by some idiot on a cell phone - caused his car to flip over three times on the freeway. No phone call is worth another persons life, sad some think so.

Digital_Cowboy

Are the systems that patch the bluetooth through the stereo/GPS system safer, or does it present the same dangers?

caloso

Anybody notice any increased enforcement today?

Dchiefransom

Motorists, cyclists, people walking. Too many of them are clueless about their surroundings.

atbman

As Prathman said, it's the effect on the brain/though processes of carrying out the conversation which causes the loss of concentration, not the instrument itself.

Why this should be worse than carrying on a convesation with a passenger, I don't know - has anyone come across anything on that? I do know that all the research papers I've come across support the theory that using a cellphone is as bad as, or worse than DUI.