Washington's cell phone driving law gets tougher

unhappy said on May 22, 2010 at 9:44 PM

this law is stupid... maybe you can make a law concerning the deportation of illegals and save your taxpayers from being victims.. we need real laws. the over payed traffic enforcement (WSP) can write tickets anytime... we need real law enforcement to get rid of the illegals...

taxdollarsponge said on March 28, 2010 at 11:22 AM

Laws like this make me want to shoot the messenger,but that is already happening.

patriot01 said on March 27, 2010 at 9:30 PM

Gov. Chris Gregoire signed into law a bill that makes it a primary offense to be caught holding a cell phone to your ear while driving, or to be reading, writing or sending text messages. This bill may be a hinderence for some of you drivers out there; in said that, I feel thats' one more thing the government taking control of. So, what's next? Passing a law that you can not eat whle the vehicle is moving! God forbit that a hot frenchfries fell onto your lap while you are driving or spilled the hot tea. First it was the seat belt law was a secondary violation, and now its the primary. Pretty soon this new law will become a primary traffic violation as well. Once the government thinks it can do anything - it will keep on doing so!

fishinguide69 said on March 27, 2010 at 4:18 PM

I like the idea of this but they had better enforce it to the officers who also talk on their phones while driving. It's getting a little old watching cops tailgate people on the freeway going to and from work while talking on their phones.

kbbcoop said on March 27, 2010 at 10:12 AM

i have had it with cell phones anyways, we all got along just fine without them just several years ago. Wednesday night I intentionally broke mine and threw it away. there is a sense of freedom of getting in your car and going for a drive or a Starbucks run without people calling asking where u went, when u coming back, can u run to the store while u are out, can u get me a latte too...etc...etc....etc...Its been 3 days without it and life is good! And when someone says "I have been calling your cell looking for you", I just smile and say I got rid of it. The look on their faces is priceless...! Hey, call me on my home phone, when I AM AVAILABLE!!!

zee918 said on March 27, 2010 at 8:14 AM

Well let's see here...the government has control over your earnings and taxes, the government has control what info will be shared with who once the health care bill is in effect, they also have control over your will.....that if you don't sign up and PAY for your health insurance the wrath of God will decend. Hmmmm, I can understand why the rules for cell phones, truly I can, BUT the first cell phones were and still are sometimes call your "mobile" phone. ??? Next they're make rules that you can't use it while walking down the road!! I've said it before and I'll say it until I'm blue in the face......WHY IS THE GOVERNMENT into each and EVERY area of it's citizens.?!?!?!. They regulate everything from prescription control, to taxes to personal issues such as same sex marriage, who you can and can't tell, if you tell you'll be discharged, BUT these same men and women go into the field everyday not knowing whether or not they'll get back to their familys or not. Fair?!?!?!?

javajoe said on March 27, 2010 at 7:58 AM

Sen. Tracey Eide, how about focusing on a law that stops "taxing after" driving to Olympia?

scott_bellevue said on March 27, 2010 at 7:14 AM

Every single time I get on the freeway or am waiting at a stop light, and somebody is driving like an idiot, the driver in question is on the phone. It's about time. Now we should start also prosecuting people who throw their cigarette butts out the window. Every single time I drive somewhere I see somebody throwing their live cigarette out the window.

jirwin said on March 26, 2010 at 10:20 PM

okay so i totally agree that this law really needing to be passed. But totally cutting teens out of using their phone even with a headset device is pretty stupid.

clluk said on March 26, 2010 at 9:53 PM

dakotanative!! Great Idea!! calling in a drunk or a person just littered!! Then there is the road rage call. BRILLENT!!

dakotanative said on March 26, 2010 at 8:49 PM

Good idea. Poor execution. Having emergency responsders talking while dodging in and out of traffic is genius. Tow truck drivers don't need an exemption any more than a plumber being dispatched. You can't talk with the phone to your ear, but you can look down to dial. How bright is that? If you do get pulled over, all you have to do is say you were calling in a drunk driver.

beangrinder said on March 26, 2010 at 8:19 PM

It's about time, but the fine isn't nearly enough! Now.......how about all you glassy-eyed freaks stay off your hands-free phones, too!

smileawhile said on March 26, 2010 at 8:01 PM

awesome. now what do I do about my electronic lease?

baldeagle said on March 26, 2010 at 7:46 PM

Monkey see monkey do, how do you expect the cop to enforce this when they are guilty themselves. Oh, I know....... well get the DUI citation Jihad!

clluk said on March 26, 2010 at 7:18 PM

I believe the latest study showed there was no increase in accidents due to talking on the cell phones. At what point will be become illegal to change radio stations, look at your GPS, or even adjust your cruise control? Then what about those people that sing along with their radios or ipods, isn't that a distraction as well?

bellevuetom said on March 26, 2010 at 5:52 PM

I am all for the fine. I am amazed of the number of ppl that still talked without a headset/bluetooth....esp women younger than 40. They look at me and shrug their shoulders when I ask them why they dont use their headset/bluetooth..... Time to give tickets to drivers that have pets in their laps when driving, that is more dangerous then a cell phone. Also...maybe put a stop to the burger/taco meal while driving. Also...reading a book while driving s/b illegal.... I have seen some drivers read while in rush hour traffic. More phones should have voice activation!!!!!! This would cut down on the DWD, dialing-while-driving. dd1234...COPS and some others are exempt because many factors. I have asked the same question...and a Kirkland policman gave me info.

livinglife said on March 26, 2010 at 5:29 PM

one thing I don't understand is how are they going to tell the age of somebody driving? I mean obviously you can tell about how old somebody is but now they may pull somebody over who is 20 using a headset assuming they're under the age and now the person who got pulled over is going to be upset that they got pulled over for no reason.

clear2copy said on March 26, 2010 at 4:15 PM

because, dd1234 they're doing their jobs.

datruth said on March 26, 2010 at 4:11 PM

Thanks to the Weiss's for pursuing cell phones in running vehicles. Just hope the local and state police stop this driving idiots after June 4. Till than they will getting beep from me an the #1 signal.

shemomo said on March 26, 2010 at 3:39 PM

fallcityres - the increased safety - actually fewer deaths and serious injuries - is due to the way cars are built now... nothing to do with the cell phone issue... I have also avoided catastrophe many times when drives are focused on their cell phone or texting - it has been proven many times that it is more dangerous than drunk drivers... I suspect you are one of the offenders...

dd1234 said on March 26, 2010 at 3:32 PM

Why is it 4 out of 5 cops have a cell phone up to their heads ?

grendel said on March 26, 2010 at 3:23 PM

This is unfortunately a necessary law. As much as I hate the idea of not being able to text in the car, more than a few studies have revealed that texting while driving is equal to or more dangerous than driving under the influence. I too can't count the number of times I've been almost sideswiped by someone looking down at a cell phone, on a few occasions I've almost been rear-ended in slow freeway traffic by these ignoramuses. I'd actually like to see vehicle manufacturers include a text-inhibiting device in vehicles which would prevent the sending and receiving of texts, unless a voice-activated system is in place. One problem I see with the law though is the part of the law where dialing a cell phone is ok but texting isn't, that seems as though it would be difficult for the gendarmes to differentiate.

aziza said on March 26, 2010 at 3:19 PM

Good. Hang up and drive.

legoes said on March 26, 2010 at 3:01 PM

phooey!

1beachperson said on March 26, 2010 at 2:45 PM

Remember - you're driving a vehicle, NOT A PHONE BOOTH! Get in, sit down, shut up and drive!

brucelee said on March 26, 2010 at 2:44 PM

Get tougher on those who don't stop at the stop signs, those who go ten miles over the speed limit, and those who cut in dangerously!

tedco959 said on March 26, 2010 at 2:34 PM

What is this? Another reason to pull someone over to check there carseat restraints?

corey19753 said on March 26, 2010 at 2:14 PM

Just another way to get more money from the taxpayers... Start taxing beer along side the rest of the sin taxes... why you are at it. Just remember Gregliar, Patty Murray and Senator Cant-do - live in government office is coming to an end next re-election. After Gregliars last threat about the 20% cut and looking like a fool because that would be the best solution anyway - I'm sure her advisors are telling her to lay low for awhile. She can't erase all she hasn't done for the state of Washington nor will we forget.

freddy6666 said on March 26, 2010 at 2:11 PM

It is about time that Olympia and the Wicked Witch of Olympia did something right. There has been many a time when I almost got hit in my car and also motorcycle from a person talking on their cell phone.

taylorb1 said on March 26, 2010 at 2:09 PM

I'm sure there are plenty of these government-haters who would like to see other "intrustions" done away with...let's start with speed limits! Then traffic lights! And instead we'll just "educate" drivers as to how to behave. I also love the bait-and-switch business which lazy people love to bring up to challenge a law they don't like...they do it by asking about some other form of stupid behavior and wonder why that isn't also against the law. Sorry, that doesn't cut it either. If there was evidence that chewing on a burrito or burger caused as many accidents as do cell phone abusers, then we would need a law.

goldiemae said on March 26, 2010 at 1:44 PM

Mr. Conservative and Waterkider... Even behind the wheel of your personal vehicle, you are still on a PUBLIC roadway...your personal freedom is subjected to the RESPONSIBILITY that comes with the privilege of driving on said PUBLIC roadway which includes not doing things that endanger other people...such as texting, shaving, reading the newspaper, your email, talking on the phone, or even to passengers if you are incapable of doing while maintaining attention to the primary responsibility of driving safely. Freedom is NOT free, it's price is responsibility.

monoblocks said on March 26, 2010 at 1:32 PM

Me like. A lot. Can't tell you how many times I've come across some nimrod driver on their frickin' cell, completely oblivious to the world around them. A couple of weeks ago I was nearly t-boned by an idiot in his VW, while he was blithely yapping away on his cell. Apparently the cellphone somehow inhibited this jerk's ability to recognize red octagonal signs that read 'STOP'. As much as I normally dislike further piling on of laws, this particular one is long overdue. Cellphone-using drivers...a true menace to society.

jethrobodine said on March 26, 2010 at 12:55 PM

What? only $124.00. It should be at least $500.00. A few years ago a woman yapping on her cellphone rear-ended a stalled car on I-5 and KILLED a family of 4. Do you even realize how F'ing stupid you look yapping on your phone while you are driving? No need to give warning tickets. It should be a PRIORITY for law enforcement to pull these idiots over and fine the heck out of them.

2sweet said on March 26, 2010 at 12:43 PM

I am happy for this new law. No offense to my ladies, but it seems everytime when I am driving, its always a woman in a SUV thats talking on her cell phone, not paying attention to the road at all, and swerving. Once you pass them and realize that they are indeed talking on their cell phone, they will try to give you the dirty look. You already cant drive something that you barely can see over the steering wheel so why talk on your cell? I feel that this is good. I will feel much better driving on the road with my kids now. :)

waterkider said on March 26, 2010 at 12:36 PM

Just another ‘excuse’ the police can use to pull you over. How will you defend yourself on a he said /she said offense. Are they going to take your picture while your holding your phone? Speeding laws at least have speed detectors to help prove their case. More bureaucracy that will clog up our already busy courts. Victimless crime laws are basically anti-freedom laws. Government should not be in the business of protecting ourselves from ourselves, those are the risks and benefits of life. Neither should we be penalized for a offenses that have YET to cause anyone else any harm. Gov. Chris Gregoire signs things with no regard to their long term affects only her short term career goals! Btw, I can’t stand people who drive inattentively using cell phones; it just should not be our governments’ responsibility to regulate, TRY EDUCATE.

usmcveteran said on March 26, 2010 at 12:34 PM

Why would emergency personel be exempt from the same rule. The last time I attended Law Enforcement Academy in the military, I don't recall them teaching us how to drive and text, talk or read at the same time. If they do teach it at the acdemy, wouldn't hurt to impliment that in Drivers Ed as well, people are going to violate the rules anyway. If your going to make a rule, make it affective to everyone who is behind the wheel. But I'm just a tax paying citizen so my 2 cents doesn't matter.

fallcityres said on March 26, 2010 at 12:14 PM

Just in time as the Feds released a study saying our highways are the SAFEST that they have been in 50 years. Rules for rules sake, or is it just another hidden tax?

libertariannw said on March 26, 2010 at 11:41 AM

Right. In other words, they're exempt from the law. Even if they weren't exempt, they'll never get a ticke for it. Cops don't give tickets to other cops. If you're a cop, you can pretty much do as you please, drive as fast as you want and violate any traffic law there is. After all, they're trained.

mr_conservative said on March 26, 2010 at 11:41 AM

I don't like the increasing intrusion on personal freedom, because this is a law that should never be if people would just get a clue. As soon as the Bluetooth law took effect, you didn't see many people holding their phones and talking while driving. After they figured out that they wouldn't get pulled over for doing it, they went back to doing it. Jeez, I hate cell phones.

oldguy said on March 26, 2010 at 11:32 AM

Does "illegal" really mean anything? Ever hear of illegal immigration?

lindenposterbud said on March 26, 2010 at 11:30 AM

Sunnyseattle, it is against the law, it is called inattentive driving. Most cities have it, but they only write a ticket when there is another offense.

brainkiller said on March 26, 2010 at 11:24 AM

Once again the government doesn’t get it. Every credible study shows that it is not the act of holding a phone to your ear that creates a distraction; it is the conversation that is occurring that is the distraction. With this logic, or lack thereof, why didn’t the legislature ban smoking while driving, or eating and drinking in the car, or having small animals running about the car while it is in motion. Why not take this line of thinking its logical end; all drivers will be fined $124 if their hands are not at ten and two while the vehicle is underway. Come on you clowns in Olympia let’s keep our eye on the ball and balance the budget and properly fund basic education!

sunnyseattle said on March 26, 2010 at 11:21 AM

When will driving with your dog in you lap, putting on make-up, or shaving and eating be treated the same way? Government intrusion in our lives just never stops.

dede1978 said on March 26, 2010 at 11:15 AM

I think it's about time they passed the law. I see too many people, both men and women talking on the phone way too much. I have been guilty of talking on my phone while driving, but only long enough to tell who ever that I'm driving and I'll call them back or to tell the husband and/or kids that I'm on my way home or where ever and will be there soon. I guess they'll have to wait until I can stop to let them know what's up or where I am. The problem, is most won't stop even after they get a ticket for it......

1beachperson said on March 26, 2010 at 11:15 AM

It's about time! I can't tell you the number of times I've had someone drift into my lane on the freeway while talking or texting, or pull out in front of me, or stop dead and not move so they can talk or text. By the way, NONE of these were police officers. In fact, I rarely see a police officer on his/her cell phone while driving - they don't like to do it and avoid it if at all possible - I work with several, and they tell me that while they are trained to multi-task this way, they avoid it if possible. It's the stupid guy that just pulled in front of me, or the stupid woman who is yaking and drifting across lanes, or the person who is so intense in the conversation they don't pay any attention to what's going on around them and seem to forget they're NOT the only person on the road - EVER!

doodleme said on March 26, 2010 at 11:06 AM

as for the comment on police officers and their driving with a phone with no headset - I asked that question to a seattle police officer friend, he said that they receive training on this.

lindenposterbud said on March 26, 2010 at 11:05 AM

For all of you that think this bill sucks; you are probably the ones I see driving on the freeway looking down at your phone while driving 45 in a 60 or moving from one side of the lane to the other, too busy with your texting or talking and not looking around to see what is going on (like cars lined up behind you). By the way, police, emergency crews, etc. are exempt. I love it when something like this happens and the coments are: ban the radios, no singing, no talking. Don't be an idiot, texting and using a phone to your ear are far worse than the above (unless you are trying to dance will listen to music. Same thing happened when they passed the seat belt law. My 2 cents.

farmer01 said on March 26, 2010 at 11:04 AM

What a joke what about the people eating fast food or do their makeup

marie63 said on March 26, 2010 at 10:50 AM

Umm, I think checking email and doing anything else on a hand-held device falls under the "reading" category of the updated law. I'm glad this is taking effect, but I wonder how they will address the police talking on their cell phones and working on the laptops they all have installed in their cars WHILE THEY ARE DRIVING. I was following a police car two days ago and their head was turned sideways for almost 4 blocks in the city with the occasional glance forward. It was kind of scary.

graham said on March 26, 2010 at 10:42 AM

Give every one on a cell phone who is driveing a $1500 ticked & make it sting. I hate to say it but women are worse a yaking on the cell while driveing

tomorrow said on March 26, 2010 at 10:38 AM

So I can still check my e-mail and surf the web on my iPhone while I'm driving? I guess so as long as I'm not holding my phone to my ear or texting.