“Hands-Free” and “No-Text” Automotive Laws – Not Worth Breaking in Sacramento

It is the leading cause of distracted driving auto collisions in California. If this fact isn't enough to get Sacramento automotive drivers to put down their phones and drive responsibly, perhaps the financial repercussions will be.
 
Dec. 27, 2010 - PRLog -- Sacramento, CA - January 2010 - It is the leading cause of distracted driving auto collisions in California, increasing one’s risk of a crash by 23 times. It causes an estimated 6% of car crashes, resulting in approximately 2,600 deaths and as many as 330,000 injuries per year in the U.S. It’s even more dangerous than drunk driving and driving an automobile under the influence of marijuana. If these facts aren’t enough to get Sacramento automotive http://automotive.sacramentoinsights.com/ drivers to put down their phones and drive responsibly, perhaps the financial repercussions will be.

It has been more than a year since the “hands-free” cell phone law was first introduced in Sacramento. The law states that adults are required to use hands-free devices when using a cell phone while driving an automobile. Though many drivers have chosen to follow the law by using a blue tooth or ear piece, it is evident by the more than 100,000 citations issued statewide in the law's first 13 months that many in Sacramento are opting to continue to break the law and use their cell phone without a hands-free device. While the law has been in effect since July 2008, this does not mean that auto regulation of the law has declined, in fact it has increased within Sacramento.

If cost is an issue, consider this: The cost of a blue tooth device ranges from around $30 to $150 depending on the quality of the device. In contrast, the bail amount for a first offense can be well over $300. In addition to the high fee, Sacramento drivers should know that while the infraction won’t add points to your DMV record, it will still be reflected on your automotive driving record.

Also affected by additional fees are tickets received for breaking the no-text law, which was enacted by Sacramento based lawmakers in January 2009. This law prohibits an automotive driver from using an electronic wireless communications device to write, send or read text-based messages while operating a motor vehicle. This law specifically addresses, but is not limited to, instant messages and all forms of e-mail based correspondence. Similar to the hands-free law, car drivers are subject to a $20 fee for the first offense and $50 for each subsequent offense, which after penalty fees, can end up totaling more than triple or quadruple the base fine.

If the risk factors and dangers of using a cell phone while driving haven’t been enough to motivate Sacramento drivers to put down the phone while driving an automobile, hopefully knowing the dent it will put in their wallet will. For more information regarding cell phone laws and safe driving practices, check out the California Department of Motor Vehicles http://www.sacramentoinsights.com/business/department-mot... at dmv.ca.gov.

Article http://sacramentoinsights.com/articles/%E2%80%9Chands-fre... courtesy of the North Sac News.

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