Issue date: 5/16/08 Section: News

Media Credit: Jason Barr

As you speed down 580, rushing toward Collier Canyon exit, your cell phone begins to ring inevitably while you contemplate answering it. Well as of July 1 your uncontrollable urges to answer your cellular device must cease or a $20 ticket will ensue.
A new law will be enforced beginning July 1 that no person operating a motor vehicle can use a hand held wireless telephone. According to the DMV Web site the base fine for the first offense is $20 and $50 for following offenses.
The violation will appear on a persons' driving record if convicted of the infraction, but they will not receive a point on their record.
Exceptions to this law include persons calling emergency services or motorists operating a vehicle on private property. Motorists will be required to use a hands free device like a bluetooth but are prohibited from using speaker phone or a push to talk device.
Although motorists can no longer use cell phones according to the new law texting is not specifically prohibited. Minors are also prohibited from using any hands free device.
Students on campus have mixed feeling on the new law. A nursing major Parwana Hakimi says, "I commute and people don't drive as well when they're talking on the phone, they will slow way down when traffic finally starts to move because they are on their cell phone."
Another student Suzanna Yun who is a third year at LPC says, " I love my bluetooth it's safer and I think they should just start making cars with hands free in them."
Although some students favor the new law and believe talking on a cell phone is distracting and possibly hazardous other students aren't so sure the new law is appropriate.
Biology major Alex Eggberger doesn't think the new cell phone law is necessary, "I have never been in an accident while talking on a cell phone and don't know anyone that has." Rodney Harrison also expressed mixed feelings about the law, "BlueTooth is really not practical anywhere else besides in the car."
So students have a little over a month left to figure out alternative means to talking on a cell phone while driving. The next time the urge to answer that incessant pulsating phone within your reach, just remember it might cost you.

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