State by state graph (sumarized).

http://www.iihs.org/laws/cellphonelaws.aspx

Note - In addition to the Illinois laws noted in the table, the city of Chicago has its own law requiring a hands-free device for cell phone use while driving.

Too many damn laws.

I'm not much for new laws but as far as I'm concerned most people are dangerous in a car and cell phones make them deadly.

Hang up and drive! Or get a ticket.

When car phones were regulated, much like ham radio... people had to take a test, agree to a few rules and undergo some training. Sure, much of it was unnecessary, erred on the side of TMI (too Much INformation), but what it did do is give you a frame of reference and instill some respect for the rights of other, who shared the airways, the roads, etc.

Cheap cell phones removed a lot of the drama, basically took instant communication out the hands of the rich and the authorities and placed it in the hands of the common man. The exclusivity was reduced. Now anyone with a $30 a month plan is just as connected as a DuPont, Trump, Kennedy, cop, fireman or soldier. The bad thing was it came - after CB radio, so a lot of bad habit had already developed, which brings us all the way to today and the mess we have now.

I, for one, was relieved when they imposed a few rules on Cell phone use; matter of fact they haven't gone nearly far enough yet. They still haven't address the loud mouth that will not get off his or hre behind and take their call to the Lobby while the rest of us are trying to enjoy a movie, Theater or musical performance - not to mention Church...yes, phones still go off during church, despite signs everywhere and the warning given at the beginning of every service.

I believe in the Democratization of communication - but as we all realize, with rights come responsiblities. Right now we are way ahead on the Rights and Privildeges side - not so much so on the responsibilites and respect side of the social contract.

Where is a good, low level, local radio/cell phone jamming device when you need one. We can put a man on the Moon, but still can't block cell phones inside a building.

No, I do not like that we now have one more thing we can get fined for, arrested for or be stopped on the highway about - preventing our freedom of movement, providing "Big Brother" one more way to track our movements ... but as always, it only took a few bad actors to ruin a good for all the rest of us.I finally got a cell phone last winter, so far only afew people and business related associates have the number. I can go 2, 3 or 4 days without it ringing. But somehow the number is "leaking" out anyway... I even got a call on my cell, asking me to donate to a political party (one that I do not agree with) - how the he!*&%$ did that happen. I hate technology sometimes.

There are already laws for distracted driving. If we are going to have one for cell phones, where is the law regulating Big Mac consumption or Coffee consumption in cars. When are we going to ban conversation amongst people in a car? It is all bs and it is all mostly ways to raise money for the various governmental levels. I am going to use my cell phone when I wish. You will have to trust that I know when it is too dangerous to use the thing. The most insidious mindset is the 'for the public good' mindset. It allows anything....and I do mean anything. It also lowers each and every one of us to the lowest common denominator.

As far as jamming phones, that is the most asinine thing one could advocate. How would you take it if your jamming prevented help being summoned for someone in midst of a heart attack? I Know, I Know. We did just fine before the arrival of cell phones! People complaining about people talking on them in public places such as stores are wrong headed in their thinking. It is no different than a couple of people walking along talking while in the same environment. If you would not be offended by someone talking to a person in an environment, then you have no logical reason to object to a person talking on a cell phone. Would YOU frequent a store that forbade talking to others in a store? When you would NOT talk to a friend present in an environment is when you would not talk on the phone to the same friend. IE - in a theater...at a register....in a dangerous traffic situation.

The dangerous time in a vehicle is in cell phone dialing. That is why I have my most used numbers on speed dial. I think there are vast improvements to be made in the hands-free arena. Sound quality..ease of use...and integration are all lacking at the affordable end of the spectrum. I have a compounded issue with sound quality and volume because I wear hearing aids. I am partially deaf due to near fatal illness shortly after birth.

I am not happy with my current phone as far as ease of dialing is concerned. I have an Omnia and the touch screen can be aggravating.

There are better ways to handle any situation than a heavy handed self righteous way.

I am constantly looking for ways to improve the safety factor in my automotive cellular use. Can't we all work towards that instead of the negative solution???

Some of what you say is valid. Unfortunately... as I ranted - the few have ruined it for the many.

You did notice that I mentioned a local area, low power cell phone jammer and why they haven't developed on yet? The point is to not infringe on the people in the building on the other side of the wall or the person that need to make an emergency call... its not unreasonable to wall to the door and make that emergency call or better yet; contact the store manager, floor clerk, receptionist or broadcast on the intercom for a doctor. A call from someone who is rational, controlled and hopefully dispassionate - will get emergency help on the way a lot faster, with the right equipment than 10 or 15 excited shoppers all calling 911. Half the stores we go in - most people don't know the address or what floor to direct them to anyway.

80% of the cell phone calls I am forced to listen to in public areas should be "Private", with a capital "P". I have no desire to know who loves who more, what Billy Bob intends to do to Becky Sue - its hard not to stare, which makes everyone within ear shot feel like a Perv, eavesdropping on a conversation that is being forced on us. There is no justification for washing dirty laundry in the public pool, expecting no one to take notice.

Recently I posted that my rust-free, 80's Bronco, which had new running gear, steering box, cooling system, Wheels and tires...all within the last 2 years. Was totaled by a Sweet little thing, cute little 20-something, on her cell phone,  ran through a red light - never hit the brakes, at 50+, on a residential street. Lets just replay the woulda, coulda's of someone crossing the street; who wasn't in a 5800lb Bronco (which I mentioned - was totaled! Frame bent, axle broken, passenger side seat moved over to center console). After getting out of the truck, unbelievably ironic - a 30's something lady, pushing a stroller (cute couple of twins (?) were in it); seeing me dazed - she made the call to the police, ambulance and tow trucks. I had my cell, in my pocket, but didn't even remember I had it until I was home safe. Let's just say the situational stress does not allow us to think rationally at times.

So, as much as I hate to be bound by arbitrary rules, laws, regulations - when there is a clear and present danger that people are unconscious about their own safety, and disregard the safety of law abiding people going about their lawful daily business  - then it may be time to regulate what common sense seems to have failed to do.

The coffee, conversations, smoking, putting on makeup while driving at 80 mph and even fiddling with the radio; are not a good example of loss of personal freedoms. Loss of concentration maybe; but not a reasonable loss of freedom if you are driving a 2 ton car.

If you are having  a conversation that gets you that involved; by the way, thats the most dangerous part of using a cell phone, next is texting, dialing is way down the list; most folks are aware of that danger. What really narrows our focus in a conversation is thinking of the next thing to say. Our higher brain (math, conversations, disruptions) have the ability to overpower things like breathing, heartbeats; something like a deep conversation will easily change our focus. Might be a time to pull over and talk it out? If its just light conversation to relieve the boredom, it might even be a benefit - besides 4-eyes watching the road might even help.

"sorry for editing the post so late... I had to check a reference and revise a comment I made. Besides, my spelling was terrible"

[QUOTE]

David P Falls
(Login dpfalls) Re: When common courtesy fails - you need laws August 22 2009, 7:54 PM

"You will have to trust that I know when it is too dangerous to use the thing."

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

I trust you. It's the other 99% of the clueless idiots out there that I don't trust.

When it comes right down to it if everyone focused on their driving 100% and drove as if their life depended on it there would be hardly any "accidents" at all. Most "accidents" aren't accidents at all. They are due to the fact that someone isn't driving their car in a responsible manner.

I'm off my soap box on this subject. I guess I might be a 'little' sensitive. I hate to give an inch in my personal crusade against "The Government"... but once in a while I am forced to concede the most flagrant idiots must be controlled, contained or at the very least convicted.

While there are general laws against distracted driving - obviously they weren't doing the job. I'm starting to wonder if Hands-free cell phone use, the law here in California, will help?

I respect and acknowledge your points. I will even concede that I have scared the crap out of myself once.

I would be interested in knowing how many cellular incidents occur when talking vs dialing. Logic suggests to me that the dialing is the most dangerous part. It was during the dialing that my butt got to nibble the seat. I always check around me before doing anything. I wait until I have a large buffer around me.

I cannot find anything worth a damn for handsfree. ALWAYS a problem hearing for me or the other party. For a headset, I have to take a hearing aid out, then put the damn headset on. So for me, it is actually involved. I can get a bluetooth interface for my hearing aids believe it or not, but we are talking $2k+. Not exactly affordable. I WILL find something good eventually.

Texting is even more distracting, but more people talk than text. I expect Texting is and will increase in use and as a cause. from VTTI study.

http://www.ttnews.com/articles/basetemplate.aspx?storyid=22452

Texting has the worst of the cellphone issue...Taking one's eyes off the road. This, I cannot and will not defend. I know I aggravate my company. They issue us Blackberries for email use only. I will call rather than respond to an email on many occassions. I am not going to type a two paragraph email while going down the road at 70mph. Texting is like reading a book while driving. Cell conversation is like talking to others in the car.