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Do you think talking on cell phones while driving should be a ticketed offense?

I have a bumber sticker that says *Hang up the damb phone and drive* I hate driving and having another driver anywhere near me when I see they're on the phone. I know their full attention is NOT on the road and whats around them! Insurance companys should ask people if theu use their cell phones in their car and charge extra if they do. I know NUMEROUS people that have had accidents while driving and talking on their phone.

Public Comments

1. <<<<<<<YES>>>>>>> I completely agree with you 100 percent..
2. There are some states where it is illegal. That's why more car are Bluetooth enabled now. Hopefully all the other states take up the same penalties as the ones that ban it. If you MUST talk on your cell phone while driving, spend the extra 200 bucks or so and buy a bluetooth enabler to talk through your radio.
3. YES... I have come very close to being hit by someone on the cell phone and driving too.
4. It's already illegal where I live (New York) yet I see drivers yakking on the phone all the time and the police never stop anyone. What a joke.
5. Not only issuing a violation ticket but their license should be suspended for,say, 6 months. I don't' care if he/she meet an accident, it's his/her fault but don't involve an innocent driver who follows traffic rules.
6. some people can drive and talk i can some people can not you should not get a ticket that ear piece that they say you are supposed to use distracts me more i thought this was supposed to be a free country you have to wear seat belts i dont want to its my life the kids in cars yes adults should make there own choice free country my ass
7. I FIRMLY AGREE THAT THE PoLICE SHOULD HEAVILY FINE THESE PEOPLE!! There are few substancial reasons to justify the use of yet another distracton. It's bad enough that we are eating and drinking bev's and changing music and scrurring around traffic AND NOT using our BLINKERS properly to have to add the use of conversation,.....grrrrrrrrr I am with YOU!!
8. Yes, and thankfully states are beginning to agree and set laws in place. State Banned? Notes Alabama No Alaska No Arkansas Partial School bus drivers are banned from using a cell phone. Arizona Partial A bill to introduce a ban was lost by a 4-3 vote in the Senate Transportation Committee. Bus drivers are banned from using a cell phone California Yes Beginning July 1, 2008, violators face a US$20 fine for a first offense and a US$50 ticket for subsequent infractions. Law passed Sept 2007 bans all under-18s from using a phone at all, even with hands free kit. Colorado No Teens with restricted licenses are banned - but can only be stooped for another violation first Connecticut Yes Banned with effect from Oct. 2005 - teens are also forbidden from using hands free kits while moving Delaware No A driver can already be prosecuted for "inattentive driving" - which can include using a cell phone. Studies into the issue have been requested District of Columbia Yes Banned from July 2004 Florida Partial State Attorney General said that cities can set local regulations - July 2001. Overturned by Governor Bush.. Georgia Partial School bus drivers banned from using cell phones while driving. DeKalb County has fines when crashes can be attributed to driving while using a cell phone. Hawaii Being debated A bill has been introduced in Hawaii's legislature by Sen. Joseph Souki, D-Wailuku-Waiehu. Idaho No Illinois Partial School bus drivers are banned - Chicago has passed a bill banning driving while using a phone, fines of US$50 per infraction. Indiana No Ban proposed by State Sen. Rose Antich Carr - Jan 2004 Iowa Being debated Kansas No Bill to introduce ban failed in 2000 Kentucky No Louisiana Being debated House has passed a bill to ban - now being transfered to the Senate for approval Maine Partial Minors and those on learner driving licenses may not use a cell phone while driving Maryland No Bill to ban dropped Feb. 2001. New proposal in the House, proposed by Delegates Arnick and Mandel Massachusetts Partial Bill for most users pending - but bus drivers already banned. Drivers required to keep at least one hand on the steering wheel while holding a phone. Michigan No Minnesota Partial Teenagers and provisional drivers are banned - $100 fine plus delays in license upgrades for offenders Mississippi No Legislation prevents local councils enacting their own ban. Missouri No Montana No Nebraska No Bill planned by State Sen. Jim Cudaback - Jan 2004 Nevada No State bill to introduce ban failed April 1999. Local bill in Clark County also blocked Nov. 2001. Nevada state passed bill banning local regulations, March 2003. New Hampshire Partial Not explicitly banned, but you can be prosecuted if using a cell phone when involved in an driving accident. New Jersey Yes Banned from 2004, updated from March 2008 - fine US$100 New Mexico Partial Being debated - local ban in the cities of Santa Fe, Albuquerque, Taos, and Las Vegas New York Yes Ban effective from Nov. 2001 North Carolina Being debated Study into the effects of cell phone usage while driving being carried out. North Dakota Being debated Bill proposed by Sen. Harvey Tallackson, D-Grafton, Feb 2005 Ohio Partial The City of Cleveland is discussing a ban. Ban in place in Brooklyn. Oklahoma No Bill to introduce ban failed in May 1999. Legislation prevents local councils enacting their own ban. Oregon No A new bill enacted in Jan 2002 forbids the local governments from implementing their own cell phone ban. Pennsylvania Partial Local cities have their own laws - state legislation pending Rhode Island No Governor Almond rejected a ban - July 2001. School buses are banned from using a cell phone. Proposal for a ban being debated, April 2004. South Carolina Partial Bill to ban holders of a beginner's permit, conditional or special restricted driver's license passed by House committee, April 2008 South Dakota No Tennessee Partial School buses are banned from using a cell phone Texas No Senate Bill 154 proposed. If passed would come into effect from 2008. A previous attempt in 2005 failed Utah No Bill to introduce ban failed March 1998. Highland city planning a ban - Feb 2005 Vermont No Virginia Partial Bill banning minors passed Jan 2005. Bill banning 16-17yr olds with conditional licenses passed March 2007 Washington Partial Ban imposed, to come into effect from July 2008. Driving while sending text messages separately banned with effect from Jan 1st 2008 West Virginia No Bill proposed in 1999, but never debated Wisconsin No Bill to introduce ban failed in April 1998. Bill to ban younger drivers only being debated. Wyoming No Bill proposed by Rep. Floyd Esquibel but not debated (accurate to April 2008, and a country list can be found here: http://www.cellular-news.com/car_bans/ ) What upsets me even more is the number of young people who TEXT message while driving. Now an aside to steplift who doesn't really answer the question, but instead does a rant that ends with his complaint that this, being a free country, he should be allowed to ignore safety rules such as wearing his seat belt. Sir, when exercising your individual rights affects MY pocketbook, the state has a vested interest to step in and regulate your behavior. Click it, or ticket. Simple as that and yes, that is one of the areas where the state has a financial interest in your behavior and can regulate it since by not wearing it you can statistically cost the taxpayers money.
9. No, cell phones should not be banned while driving. I agree that using a cell phone takes away from a person's ability to drive, but the problem becomes where do you draw the line. Talking on a cell phone is unacceptable, but applying lipstick is okay? Why isn't giving someone the finger illegal? The amount of time it takes to look at the other person, make sure s/he is looking back, then giving an obscene gesture/words takes away from your concentration. How about trying to discipline kids in the back seat? A crying baby or two (or more) fighting kids in the back seat is far more distracting than a cell phone. What about talking to your passenger(s)? Some passengers can be really distracting when intoxicated... but nobody ever questions people who volunteer to be designated drivers (they're practically heroes in some circles) yet they can be worse off than those on a cell phone. What about driving when a person is tired? Will there be a device that tests how much sleep a person has gotten at night and if, say, a person has less than 7 hours sleep they are given a fine? There are thousands of things that distract drivers while driving... cell phones are just the most convenient to label because they are easiest to spot, and easiest to enforce.
10. I wish it was illegal. However, the insane people who think they can just STOP in the road and slowly drift to the side when they get a phone call make me crazier than the idiots who are swerving in and out of lanes while they share stories with whomever it is that they simply CAN'T live without for an hour. I hate to say it, but teenage girls seem to be the worst for the crazy driving, and old men with nice cars are most often the jerks who stop in the middle of the road or highway because they are taking a call!!! I believe people should be arrested and detained like drunks until they agree to shut up and drive!!!!
11. Absolutely, and in NYS where I live and work it is.
12. 100000000% YES
13. yes most definitely it should be ,no one should be talking on a cell phone while behind the wheel of a vehicle