For the non-Californians out there, July 1st was the first day it became illegal to put a cell phone to your ear while driving. Sure, you can still look down at your phone and text. You can still scrutinize the screen of your phone and use GPS if you have it. (Heck, I still do cautiously for the sake of driving directions – with Google Maps Mobile and their “approximate” GPS-by-tower locator.) But you can’t be seen talking on the cell phone without a hands-free kit. Rules are rules, right?
By July 3rd, I met someone who had already gotten a ticket. The cost? $25.
But – early cell phone citation bragging rights aside – I thought this story especially awesome. My roommate’s friend Tee was over for her birthday this week and she told the story of her getting a ticket despite that “she had a hairband ready in her car.” On July 1st, exactly.
A hairband?
“Yeah, the cop pulled me over and I had the hair-head-band around my head and I stuck my cell phone underneath it like this.”
She proceeded to demonstrate how she had a cell phone tucked underneath an elastic headband just above her ear.
The cop said, “You think this is a joke?”
Tee said, “What! It’s hands-free! I ain’t using my hands!”
I think that at this point in the story I couldn’t stop laughing and doubled over on the couch.
Cop: “That’s not a real hands-free device. That doesn’t count.”
The ticket might have cost $25, and if Tee keeps using her particular “hands-free” device, it will be $50 if she gets pulled over again. But the story? I thought it was priceless.
So the lesson for all you Californians out there?
The lawmakers of California are in bed with Bluetooth device manufacturers.
[/FAIL]
http://www.failblog.org is the best site ever…..
@big league: Yeah, it’s pretty entertaining. I visit it at least weekly.
$25 isn’t that much. That’s less than a parking ticket. That’s “side-order” for cops. There are still idiots who drive holding cell phones, as they manage to get out of a parking space with a 15 point turn instead of 2.
@codemunky: I got a $50 parking ticket once. That was ludicrous, so I would hope at the very least it’s less than a parking ticket!
My husband claims that using the speakerphone function on his cellphone meets the new hands-free requirements? I even freakin’ bought him a bluetooth headset and he refuses to use it. Any idea if he’s right? I can’t seem to find the answer. Haven’t looked too hard yet though. That’s headband story is awesome though- I mean honestly, why not? She figured out a way to talk on her cellphone without busying up her hands. The cop should have let her go on ingenuity alone.
Hm, there’s all those studies saying that driving while talking on a hands free device is no less dangerous than driving while talking on a phone without one.
Personally, I think that your claim about CA legislators and bluetooth manufacturers being in bed together is not that far fetched!
@Darlene: I would have to say I agree with your hubby! Seriously – especially if you have a dock for your phone, how does that *not* meet the hands-free requirement? Besides, you can text and not get pulled over.
Then again, I would’ve thought Tee should’ve gotten off as well like you.
@lexybeast: It’s true – I witnessed it yesterday, actually. I’m thinking it’s actually more dangerous because there’s no constant reminder that you need to multi-task. It’s all about the mindset of slacking off that makes you worse off, I think.
Call me a conspiracy theorist but there’s so many ways in which this particular law doesn’t make sense. I guess – until they outlaw texting as well or holding your phone at all (as opposed to just to your ear).
haha hilarious story! i can’t believe she tried that.
oh the burger is from “the counter”
hope all is well!
@jason: I couldn’t either!