Almost a month ago a new CA law went into effect banning cell phone use while driving. You had to have a hands-free device, but the joke of the law was that you couldn't talk on the phone while driving, but you could text :)
Well, today the CA Senate approved a bill to outlaw texting....but the Governor said he won't sign any bills into law until we get a budget. If approved the fines would be around the same as for cellphone use...$20 for the first offense, and $50 for the next.
And if all that doesn't make you believe CA is trying to make drivers pay attention to the road, they also passed a bill outlawing pets on laps (or in arms) While driving. This one if signed into law wouldn't go into effect until July of next year, 2009. I always did wonder what would happen if Fido got too excited while riding in the drivers lap.....If this law gets signed, the fine would actually be more than for using your cellphone or texting !
OK, so now I am waiting for them to ban eating while driving....no more driving through McDonald's and eating that hamburger on our way to our next appointment..... LOL :)
By: Kathy McGraw- CELLing Realty
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Real Estate for SO CAL. specifically the Pass Area, Cabazon and Whitewater. Calif Blog: http://CaliforniaRealEstateAndLife.com CA DRE LIC#01445865
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Kathy,
First of all you would think texting is more dangerous than talking but what do they politicians know? Pets....now my dog used to like to sit on my lap while driving but lately he is showing his age and is sitting in the passengers seat:)
I thought that would happen soon, after your CA bill was passed. I think it is all good, too many folks die each year from car accidents. I wonder if my dog, ( one of 4) would be heartbroken if he couldn't sit in Mikes' lap?
Hi Kathy: I've been listening to this controversy this morning, also. Frankly, a bill shouldn't have to be passed banning TEXT MESSAGING while driving...people SHOULD have enough sense NOT to be doing it while driving. PERIOD. I can't imagine trying to TEXT while driving. Actually, I can barely text while sitting in a stationary chair. What's next is my question?
I get annoyed with all the laws that are suppose to keep us safe. Where is the survival of the fitest? I don't want accidents any more than the next social-wacco BUT really do we need a law saying wear a seatbelt, don't talk on a phone etc.... Some of my best driving is while on the phone, I miss exits and get to see the countryside and even get to add to my talley of roadkill on the backroads!
Hope it works out for CA, we will be seeing it in 20yrs in MO! be good cw
Neal- the texting part was forgotten in the first bill that became law, and has been a joke ever since. Now as to the Pets.....it sounds to me like someone up in Sacramento is on a roll to get us to pay attention while driving :) Glad to hear Roscoe is still hanging in there, and going on rides.
Missy- Yes, it was inevitable that the previous error in the law would get rectified. As for dogs...yes they can be just as distracting, although when you add the word "cute" people think different :)
Kat- Unbelievable isn't it? It seems we are regulating people to act responsibly and I don't think that's possible. The people that did it before will still do it, and the ones that hadn't thought of it won't do it. Oh, and I agree with the texting....heck I would kill everyone from Banning to Lake Arrowhead if I was trying to text and drive LOL :)
Cheryl-Funny friend, funny......I can identify with the missed exits though :) I will have to say I agree that I get tired of being regulated though....but what to do? I already lived overseas and let me tell you I prefer our laws ....even the ridiculous ones :)
All these darn driving rules, next they will want to ban drivers from turning around and talking to their back seat passangers.
My youngest daughter won't drive 2 ft with out her kids in a car seat. I told her of the trip we took through KS where her dad slept in the back seat, one brother was in the rear window, the other brother on the back floor and her sister sat up front with me. (I was driving) She asked, where was I (the baby), I told her most of the time you lay in your carrier on the passenger side floor, except when I had to nurse you, then I guess you were the co-driver. My guess is one can't do that in CA either!! cheryl(oh yes I did) willis
Don't drop those French Fries Kathy, You may swerve off the road. California sure does come up with a lot of laws.
Bill-Oh no....say it's not so...LOL :)
Cheryl- I remember the days (in CA) when my son was a baby, and we put his infant seat on the floor also. Oh and those long rides in the Station Wagons with beds made up for late night traveling.....I really think many of the kids today are missing out, although they probably are safer. I too believe we have too much regulation. As I said you can't regulate common sense :)
Gary- Hey you watched the same People's Court that I did... LOL :) Yep, leave it to CA for laws.....
***Have you sold that lovely Ranchette in Sheldon MO yet :)
Kathy-
...gee...I can't drive and twitter anymore!
Or, just fill in the blank:
"I can't drive and _____________ anymore..."
Hey, with the price of gas, who CAN drive anymore?
Blog 0n,
Steve
Obeoman
Kathy - California with another budget stalemate... hard to believe, isn't it? The texting while driving should be a no-brainer!
I wear my ear thingy all the time and I made it a habit a few years ago. Texting I don't do anyway but I sure mouthed a few to a teenager weaving all over the road and when I passed I saw her texting.
Hi Steve- That's pretty funny, but probably has a lot of truth in it :) Just fill in the blanks...yep that's Ca for you :)
Tom-Can you believe we still don't have a budget again? I was laughing at some of them that wanted to take off for the Convention....but Politics being what they are....without a budget stay in Sacramento...:)
Sally-I have to wear my ear piece now, even though I don't like them. As far as texting...unbelievable that anyone would even consider texting while driving !!!
I was wondering when they were going to fix that little glitch! I am so glad my car automatically switches me to hands-free when I get in it.
Hi Kathy,
The irony of all this is, it's not so much the 'talking' part that's so dangerous while people are driving, it's the 'dialing' part. That's when people are staring at their phone, and are all over the road. And even with the modified law, they can still do that.
: )
Pam- You have a car that switches you to hands free ??? Wow, what will they think of next :)
Micahel- You are so right......isn't it amazing when we try to regulate everything it's like a snowball, you just keep going :)
I try to schedule my appointments after the rush hour is over but sometimes can't. The other day as I was on the way to a CE class I was sitting at a standstill on the freeway....
Pretty soon a car went by me in the carpool lane -- only the driver in the car and she was talking on the cell phone and it wasn't hands free!!
Now that person I wanted to get stopped by the highway patrol but of course that didn't happen...it just didn't seem fair.
Even if I could figure out how to text on my cell I wouldn't do it while driving.
I always thought, "Gee, I can talk or dial or text just fine." Then a few days ago I looked up and realized I was about to kill a road worker
What a wake up call!
Noone was hurt but I literally felt sick to my stomach with the thought of what I'd almost done.
Ever since, I refuse to punch buttons on my phone while driving. No more reaching. No more scrolling.
No more.
Hi Kathy-I try to stay off the cell phone on the road, even with hands free..as far as pets, I tend to agree..I had my cat on my lap and he got scared and peeled out on my leg. Those claws would have gone deeper I might of had a car accident. Some animals are well behaved in the car but some are not. We put the cage in the seatbelt and leave the cage door open. Gotta keep my baby safe..but of course able to escape if need be.
Hi Kathy
Too bad we got to have these laws in place before we pay attention to the road. I am guilty of having used the cell phone while driving, and being Californian, I say, it's good and timely that the laws were passed. As for Fido, thankfully, my black lab is too big to sit on my lap. He's not allowed either. The other day, I called and spoke to my client, and reported on the progress of the transaction. After conversing for about 2 minutes, he told me he couldn't talk further as he's driving and using his cell phone and not his bluetooth. Of course, I told him that we should hang up and talk later. And guess what, he's also a resident of California!
Hi Kathy,
California is just leading the way, other states will soon follow. Can anyone drive and text? I understand driving and talking but not texting. As for a dog on the lap............lots of pet owners (and pets) will not like this. My Mom had a dog seat for her dog so he could sit in the back and see out the window.
I know teenagers who can text with one hand without ever looking at the phone. I am amazed at this feat. As far a pets... I have felt they needed to be contained while driving and also I am guilty of not containing them.
That pet thing is no joke, I called a lady in for drunk driving when I kept seeing her cross the center line and almost get hit by three big trucks. Police called me back to tell me that she had a pet on her lap and that is why she was all over the road.
Then great, put the dog in a seat and drive or neither of you will make it.
Todd- Exactly the type of thing I worry about. Thank you for sharing your story, because as you witnessed she almost got hit a couple times.....it can be dangerous to have a pet in your lap.
I actually think cell phone and texting are dangerous while driving. I 've had too many near accidents from people who were busy on their cell phones. I don't know about pets on laps. My cats are afraid of riding in the car, so I leave them at home. But seat belts are an infringement on people's rights. The government has gotten far too intrusive into people's lives.