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California Cell Phone Law Changes - What The Changes Mean To You
Arnold Schwarzenegger, California Governor has put his signature to the legislation prohibiting drivers from using a cell phone without a hands free devices (wired and wireless headsets while driving a motor vehicle. Drivers who chose to violate this law, with effect from July 1, 2008, will be faced with a first offense base fine of $20 and a further fine of $50 for any subsequent breaches of this each law. California joins the District of Columbia, Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, and some local jurisdictions in this prohibition of the use of handheld mobile phones ie cell phones while driving.
The only exceptions to the law are as follows:
Drivers are allowed to use a wireless telephone (cell phone) for real emergency purposes.
Drivers of commercial vehicles are permitted to use push-to-talk phones until July 1, 2011. Drivers of emergency response vehicles may use a cell phone without a hands-free device.
There are serious liability issues for employers if an employee, making a work-related cell phone call while driving has an accident incurring injury to another person. Both the employer and the employee may be found liable and a lawsuit is likely to be filed against both parties.
Employers are best advised to check local and state laws and to instruct employees in writing that they should not use cell phones to make calls while driving and to allow incoming calls to be picked up by voice mail so they can return the call when it is safe to do so. However, if it is decided to go hands free, a great resource available for all headsets including the Aliph Bluetooth Headset is www.SimplyUsedPhones.com.
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