California Driving Laws |Hands Free |Cell Phone |Penalties |Fine

2010 California Legislative Update

California Senate Bill 1475 - New legislation has been introduced that will increase the fines and expand the scope of California's Hands Free and Text Messaging Law.

If the new bill is approved by State law-makers, it would also extend the law to bicyclists and add a point to your driving record.

For more information read the story on our our Legislative Blog, or read the Text of California Senate Bill 1475

California's "Hands-Free" Law

Thanks to California Senate Bill 1613 signed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger in 2006, Californians will have to put down their cell phone while driving and become hands-free by July 1st 2008. The new law requires motorists to use a hands-free device when using a cell phone while driving.

The new California driving law will impose a fine of $20 for a first-time offense and a $50 fine for each additional offense. The bill allows exceptions for calls to law enforcement agencies for emergency purposes, or emergency services personnel while operating an authorized emergency vehicle. In addition to these exceptions, commercial truck drivers, tow truck drivers and operators of farming vehicles are also exempt.

Californian's will be Asking: How can I become hands-free?

Becoming hands-free means you are talking on your cell phone while driving, yet both of your hand's are still on the steering wheel. Actually, you can have only one hand on the steering wheel, as long as the other hand is not on a cell phone. This is the intent of the new California driving law.

So, how do you become hands-free?

Here are your options for becoming Hands-Free:

Abstinence ( don't use your cell phone while driving)
Speaker Phone (your going to have to yell)
Use a bluetooth wireless device. (you know, those things that people stick in their ear)
Use a wired headset. ( most economical, ear buds plugged into your cell phone)
Install a car kit ( most expensive)

While the debate over whether this hands-free law will make California roads any safer continues, many believe that even though there are other distractions that cause driver inattentiveness, sb1613 will address one of the more visible reasons for driver negligence.

How many accidents are caused by distracted drivers?

That depends on who you ask. According to a Harvard study in 2002, 5% of all traffic accidents are caused by distracted cell-phone users. California Highway Patrol statistics show that cell-phone use is the top cause of accidents triggered by distracted drivers going all the way back to 2001. Whether or not a hands-free solution is the answer is still under debate.

At the bill-signing ceremony in Oakland , Governor Schwarzenegger said;

The simple fact is, it's dangerous to talk on your cell-phone while driving," "So getting people's hands off their phones and onto their steering wheels is going to make a big difference in road safety."

While it's difficult to argue with the Govenator, Sprint Nextel would beg to differ as the only cell phone company opposed to California's new hands-free law.

Read Cell-Phones, Accidents & Death