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Cops start enforcing cell phone driving law
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imgDana Smith of Napa got an expensive reminder on Tuesday morning about the new cell phone law requiring drivers to use an hands free device. She had forgotten about the new law and was spotted on Trancas Street speaking on her phone and was pulled over and ticketed. J.L. Sousa/Register | Buy photos -
imgCalifornia Highway Patrol officer Jaret Paulson questions a driver on Imola Avenue on Tuesday morning. Beginning Tuesday, motorists are required to use a hands free device if they are using a cell phone while operating a motor vehicle. J.L. Sousa/Register | Buy photos
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CommentDana Smith showed she can multi-task early Tuesday when she maneuvered her Nissan from Trancas Street onto Beard Road while holding her cell phone to her ear.
Police, however, were not impressed. Smith became one of the first Napans to be busted with an $88 citation for talking on a cell phone without a hands-free device while driving.
Police, however, were not impressed. Smith became one of the first Napans to be busted with an $88 citation for talking on a cell phone without a hands-free device while driving.
Others be warned: Ignorance of the newly-enforced law is no excuse. Neither is forgetting.
On Tuesday the new cell phone law took effect. At 8:30 a.m., Tuesday, this Register reporter hopped into a CHP car, driven by CHP Officer Jaret Paulson, and took off looking for cell phone violators. Smith, 27, didn’t deny she knew about the new law.
On Tuesday the new cell phone law took effect. At 8:30 a.m., Tuesday, this Register reporter hopped into a CHP car, driven by CHP Officer Jaret Paulson, and took off looking for cell phone violators. Smith, 27, didn’t deny she knew about the new law.
“I was just talking to my dad this morning at coffee and he reminded me about the new cell phone law. I don’t have cell phone service where I live off Soda Canyon Road. I drove from the mountain and saw I had a message. I just picked up the phone and dialed my voice mail,” Smith said. “I just forget. I’m sure not happy about getting a ticket. But it’s my fault. No one can say they didn’t know abut the new law. It’s been on TV, in newspapers and everyone is talking about it. I just forgot. I guess I’m just a creature of habit.”
Overall, it appeared motorists were obeying the new law. After more than an hour and a half of cell phone patrol, Paulson had only issued the citation to Smith.
Overall, it appeared motorists were obeying the new law. After more than an hour and a half of cell phone patrol, Paulson had only issued the citation to Smith.
During that time, Paulson stopped two other motorists for suspected cell phone violations. Neither was given citation.
One driver claimed he was putting his Bluetooth into his ear. It turned out the other driver, upon Paulson’s inspection of the cell phone, had made or taken no recent calls.
“This is exactly what we wanted — compliance with the law. We’re not out here to give people citations. We are hoping our presence will get drivers to follow the law,” Paulson said.
“There will be no grace period and no warnings,” Paulson said. “The word is out. We, along with the media, have been educating the public about the cell phone law for months.”
California is the first state in the west to enact the cell phone law.
The new law is even more strict for drivers under 18. They are prohibited from using a cell phone, pager or any other electronic communication or mobile service device — even a hands-free one — while driving.
The only exception is in the case of an emergency, where drivers can call medical, police and fire officials.
It doesn’t matter if parents give minors permission to use a cell phone or whether a parent is in the car with the minor. The law is simple — under 18, no cell phone while driving.
Neither the law specific to teens or the more general law apply to passengers.
Although it is not illegal to text message or dial a cell phone while driving, CHP strongly discourages drivers from doing anything that takes their attention away from the road.
One driver claimed he was putting his Bluetooth into his ear. It turned out the other driver, upon Paulson’s inspection of the cell phone, had made or taken no recent calls.
“This is exactly what we wanted — compliance with the law. We’re not out here to give people citations. We are hoping our presence will get drivers to follow the law,” Paulson said.
“There will be no grace period and no warnings,” Paulson said. “The word is out. We, along with the media, have been educating the public about the cell phone law for months.”
California is the first state in the west to enact the cell phone law.
The new law is even more strict for drivers under 18. They are prohibited from using a cell phone, pager or any other electronic communication or mobile service device — even a hands-free one — while driving.
The only exception is in the case of an emergency, where drivers can call medical, police and fire officials.
It doesn’t matter if parents give minors permission to use a cell phone or whether a parent is in the car with the minor. The law is simple — under 18, no cell phone while driving.
Neither the law specific to teens or the more general law apply to passengers.
Although it is not illegal to text message or dial a cell phone while driving, CHP strongly discourages drivers from doing anything that takes their attention away from the road.
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firewater wrote on Jul 2, 2008 6:31 AM:
crusherfan wrote on Jul 2, 2008 7:19 AM:
areyouserious wrote on Jul 2, 2008 7:59 AM:
I especially hate those little dogs that ride in the driver's lap! LAME! "
musikluvr wrote on Jul 2, 2008 9:07 AM:
napa wine guy wrote on Jul 2, 2008 9:33 AM:
Who inspected the cell phone the cops??? They should not be allowed to inspect you phone "
mardog wrote on Jul 2, 2008 10:02 AM:
mikek wrote on Jul 2, 2008 10:03 AM:
napadad wrote on Jul 2, 2008 10:11 AM:
nanner wrote on Jul 2, 2008 10:14 AM:
CaliGirl wrote on Jul 2, 2008 10:43 AM:
Seriously, I think the law is fantastic, should of happened years ago. Charge what ever the law allows......and sock it to them, one and all.
My only beef is Napa once again jacking the price of things up to suit their needs....for example pending bankruptcy, so let's charge our citizens even more money.......
Geez......will it never end? It just happens to be the cell users this time, what or who will it be next time? "
i4aneye wrote on Jul 2, 2008 10:54 AM:
prunepicker wrote on Jul 2, 2008 10:58 AM:
napaao wrote on Jul 2, 2008 11:00 AM:
chunk wrote on Jul 2, 2008 11:05 AM:
ozguy wrote on Jul 2, 2008 11:23 AM:
Native74 wrote on Jul 2, 2008 11:36 AM:
Also, I thought the cell phone law stated that you had to have another infraction in order for the cop to pull you over? It would explain the higher penalty, but NVR didn't state that either. Care to elaborate the story? "
napabrat wrote on Jul 2, 2008 11:48 AM:
CaliGirl wrote on Jul 2, 2008 12:03 PM:
I say way to go, give them all tickets....it’s about time....! "
Dwayne wrote on Jul 2, 2008 12:15 PM:
A: For drivers under the age of 18, this is considered a SECONDARY violation meaning that a law enforcement officer may cite you for using a "hands-free" wireless device if you were pulled over for another violation. However, the prohibition against using a handheld wireless device while driving is a PRIMARY violation for which a law enforcement officer can pull you over. "
MichelleG wrote on Jul 2, 2008 1:02 PM:
ValleyKitten wrote on Jul 2, 2008 1:10 PM:
JustMy$.02 wrote on Jul 2, 2008 2:10 PM:
funnyme wrote on Jul 2, 2008 2:13 PM:
Am I right or what? "
JMB wrote on Jul 2, 2008 2:26 PM:
napavalleynative wrote on Jul 2, 2008 2:44 PM:
napavalleynative wrote on Jul 2, 2008 2:48 PM:
frenchtoast wrote on Jul 2, 2008 4:06 PM:
napan007 wrote on Jul 2, 2008 4:54 PM:
And also, jeez. If you love your dog, make sure he/she is safe in your car! They make harness seatbelts for dogs or you can secure a dog crate to the bottom of the car after removing a seat (in minivans/SUVs). I wish there were laws for protecting pets in cars. "
asahigo wrote on Jul 2, 2008 5:02 PM:
A: The law does not specifically prohibit that, but an officer can pull over and issue a citation to a driver of any age if, in the officer’s opinion, the driver was distracted and not operating the vehicle safely. Sending text messages while driving is unsafe at any speed and is strongly discouraged. http://www.dmv.ca.gov/cellularphonelaws/index.htm "
chunk wrote on Jul 2, 2008 5:11 PM:
crusherfan wrote on Jul 2, 2008 5:27 PM:
reason-ator wrote on Jul 2, 2008 8:21 PM:
Number eleven and twelve were males, but I'm gonna leave that part out. "
Suze wrote on Jul 2, 2008 8:55 PM:
lacerkki1 wrote on Jul 2, 2008 9:07 PM:
winemd wrote on Jul 2, 2008 9:36 PM:
napadad wrote on Jul 2, 2008 10:03 PM:
jenny99 wrote on Jul 2, 2008 11:55 PM:
native74 wrote on Jul 2, 2008 11:56 PM:
I prefer hands free all the time regardless and especially if I'm on a country road alone (just in case some whack job is following!). However, my company is still in the costly process of giving us all who need a hands free device. If ONLY they had let me use my own phone I wouldn't have to carry around two and now two hands free devices (non-compatibility issue). Technology... "
TFYTMP wrote on Jul 8, 2008 7:07 AM:
MichelleG wrote on Jul 8, 2008 12:16 PM:
" 90% of the drivers on their cell phones at the intersection of Jefferson and Trancas are women. "
Musikluvr, repeating yourself over and over is not a great way to convince anyone that the ridiculous statistic you’ve made up is even remotely accurate. It sounds like a baseless generalization to me. . But then again, I could see how it would be hard to explain a percentage like this when you have no factual data to support it. "
silence dogood wrote on Jul 8, 2008 7:21 PM:
areyouserious wrote on Jul 8, 2008 9:33 PM:
These are not serious cyclists. They are average riders who are not strong enough to be in the street as they should be. If I were a weaker rider, I would ride on the sidewalk too. You people dirve like crazed idiots force feeding yoursleves micky d's, tobacco, starbucks, and text messaging all over the place. As a seasoned bicyclist, I am not afraid of you. I managed to put a fist sized dent in the hood of the last car that ran a stop sign in front of me. He did not stop causing me to crash into his fender. I stopped just short of bending my front tire and then slammed my fist into his hood as I was re-gaining my balance. I think he stops at all stop signs now. And I AM SURE he respects cyclists as well. "
napadad wrote on Jul 9, 2008 9:51 AM:
napadad wrote on Jul 9, 2008 9:53 AM:
savetycoon wrote on Jul 9, 2008 5:13 PM:
that would make a BIG BIG POSITIVE affect on the U.S. "
barefoot wrote on Jul 9, 2008 10:37 PM:
hudds5 wrote on Jul 11, 2008 3:30 PM:
wowquebonita wrote on Jul 15, 2008 12:35 AM:
injoy wrote on Jul 16, 2008 11:43 AM:
Shame on you, Long Arm of the Law! "