" I'm all over it. I'm a good to go. I'm dialed in and hands free! Of course I'm still drinking coffee, playing Rush on my MP3, smoking my cigar all the while I'm talking on the phone, but at least I'm doing my part to comply with the (idiotic) law.... "

" Yup, I have my earpiece in the car and use it now. Regardless of the new law, I know I'll still see Soccer Moms, Constuction Guys, and young females in BMWs yakking away with a phone to their ear, just like they do now. My favorite are the ladies who are backing out of their driveway with a phone to their ear because they CAN'T WAIT 30 seconds to get on the road before calling girlfriends. "

" Will enforcement be as good as it is for the anti-boom-box-in the car law?
BHOOM!
BHOOM!
BHOOM!
It will? Then I'm not too concerned. "

" My Motorola was $59.99 last year at Costco. You'd think they might be a little cheaper, bu then again that was a great deal with an additional car AND house charger. The clarity/speaker is really great as well!

It's the kind that slides up over the visor of your car (similar to a garage door opener). Very slick and portable...even in the garden. Ear buds just bother me. "

" Remember that it's not a primary offense, so they won't be cited if that's all their doing wrong. "

" Wonder if we can 2 for 1

Redlight runners and phone abusers!!!

that will fill the cities coffers "

" I have had cell phones for nearly 20 years and they all have had hands free functions. What's the issue? "

" I've been hands free for 2 years myself. I don't use the phone much regardless, but my car has a built in phone so it's easy for emergencies.

My biggest pet peeves with people talking on their cell phones while driving with their kids in the car is that the kids are getting ripped off from having that time with their parents. Here a Mom or Dad has a captive audience and time with their children and they ignore them and talk on their cell's. Grrrrrrrr "

" unfortunately , studies show the same distraction from looking at the road is common when using the hands free variety or even talking to someone in the car. we tend to overestimate our ability to multitask. "

" been hands free for the last 5 years. and just understand that even though you are wireless and have both hands on the wheel, does not necessarily mean that you are "safer" there is a research study done out of Utah that shows that even driving hands free is just as bad if not worse than not handsfree. Your mind is still not engaged with driving a 2 ton vehicle. "

" Salespeople may tell you that Bluetooth earpieces are the low-cost solution to hands-free calling -- but a closer look reveals these claims to be misleading.

Here is a list of disadvantages that the earpiece manufacturers and resellers don't want you to know about:

Nearly all Bluetooth earpieces have an internal battery that can't be removed. These batteries have a short life of approximately 300 charges, or approximately one earpiece per year (less if you recharge every day). And prices range from $20-$300, averaging about $50.
The earpiece can't be used while it is charging.
The earpieces don't fit everyone comfortably. One size definitely doesn't fit all; yet you cannot try the earpiece before you buy.
The earpieces are uncomfortable for those who wear glasses or sunglasses.
For reasons of hygiene, the earpieces should not be shared.
Earpieces are easily lost, stolen, or broken.
Bluetooth headsets, on average, last just 26 hours when not in use and only 2 to 3 hours when talking.
The life of the battery starts to decline once you begin to use it, hence the talk time and standby time decreases.

Many users purchase more than one Bluetooth earpiece, then finally give up and buy an integrated Bluetooth car kit.
Potential harmful effects from radiation through the earpiece.
Most people find the earpieces uncomfortable and ugly, and/or experience lousy audio quality.
Many people will buy the earpiece believing it is more cost effective, ultimately they end up buying an integrated car kit because they just find it cumbersome to use.

www.safewireless.com "

" Sammy, you are right on the money. As for people being ready for hands free, this could possible be the biggest ticketed item, even in front of seatbelts. I watch these kids driving and texting. Wow, now that's talent. "

" I've been using an earpiece for about two years now. I didn't like my first one but the one I'm using now (for almost a year) is fine. I don't use the phone much when I'm driving around town. Usually I use the phone on my drive home from work in St. Helena during daylight and in good weather. It seems to be ok -- talking on the phone is no good in busy traffic times when lots of things are going on at once, that's for sure. I know when it is ok and when it is not. "

" I just got back from Staples. I bought my new ear piece there. It cost me $4.99 plus tax of course.....

YUP! You guessed it! I bought a bag of rubber bands. YUP, that should do the trick... And if ticketing goes the way of the Stop sign runner, red light runner, and neighborhood speeder, I should not EVER NEED TO OPEN MY BAG of super duty rubber bands cause I won't ever get pulled over talking on the phone...

besides now that that hand is free, I can use it to roll cigarettes, drink super size coffees and slurpees, hold my lady's hand, make inappropriate gestures, or eat my super size fries...


just kidding, DANG! "

" sure, im ready...

oh, that earbud isnt compatible with my hearing aid?..
Neither is that one...?.. how about.. no, not that one either...

Feeling a little left out of the lightweight headset solution crowd.

I guess I just wont answer the annoying thing :) "

" Talking on your cell phone while driving automatically causes a blind spot on the side that your talking on. I talk on it while driving on I-5 north towards Oregon sometimes but it's too hard around town so I don't even do it. I dont' know how all these people do it. Sure I can multi-task but these are two things that shouldn't be put together. I don't care who you are. "

" I think that those blue tooth things look very ridiculous. I would rather not use my phone while driving. Its funny how some people use it as jewlery and think it looks cool. "

" Am I ever ready!! Nothing annoys me more than to sit at a green light behind the fool in front of me, more interested in their phone call than in their driving. The worst offenders??? Our local Law Inforcement Officers. They use their cell phones just as much as the general public and should be setting a better example. I realize they're one of the select few allowed to use their cell phones, but they should limit them to business and leave the social calls for later. You can tell by their demeanor whether it's business or social.

But to answer Dwayne, you are wrong, you CAN be pulled over and given a ticket for cell phone use alone.

Warn you teenage drivers, Motorists under 18 may NOT use a wireless telephone OR hands-free device while operating a motor vehicle.

What if you have an emergency? You are allowed to use your wireless phone to make emergency calls to a law enforcement agency, medical provider or fire department.

What are the fines? $20. for first and $50. for subsepuent convictions. They can be more with penalty assessments.

Will you receive a point on your driving record? No, but it will appear on your driving record, meaning your insurance provider will see it.

Do these laws apply to out of state drivers? Of course they do.

Are push to talk features OK? NO unless you're operating a commercial motor truck or truck tractor (not pickups). farm vehicles or tow trucks.

Go the CA.CHP web site and check it out. "

" I agree the Bluetooth things look ridiculous on people who wear them everywhere, even in the supermarket. However, Bluetooth is a valid solution for use inside a car. "

" So...is it against the law to eat while driving, hold a cigarette while driving, have one arm out the window? I'm sorry but the distraction is from the conversation not the phone unless of course you are texting while driving. What about the child in the back seat trying to squirm out of their car seat and the person tailgating you and sirens coming from...somewhere??? So many distractions. Either you are a competent driver able to deal with it or you are not. Handsfree will not change anythingl Just another revenue generator. Go after speeders. They are the really dangerous ones. "

" I thought I would try being hands free before July. To my surprise I found I am MORE distracted than before. Now I can talk on the the phone, put on my makeup, yell at my kids, and drink my coffee all at the same time!! GOOD JOB!! "

" Everyone here assumes you have to wear a bluetooth ear piece to be hands free. The integrated car kits can be very costly. Both Motorola and Jabra make easy-to-use, one-button operation, visor clip-on blue tooth units for $40 - $75. They have very long battery life and are simple to set up. Personally I hate the earpiece units. Why would anyone want to actually admit they have been "assimilated"?

As to Kevin's comment "doing my part to comply with the (idiotic) law...." - perhaps not so idiotic when you see young people texting while they are attempting to drive or almost being run over in parking lots while mom gabs away on her cellphone and doesn't pay attention to backing up or making turns.

No, this law was long overdue. I personally wish the fines were steeper; it would get people's attention a lot faster. "

" Being the father of two girls under the age of 25, I am GLAD the law is in effect. I pay enough on insurance as it is. What bothers me about bluetooth is..its NOT secure. So those of you gabbing out there may want to venture out to an electronics store, buy a digital scanner and listen in..

My solution to calls... PULL OVER! "

" Pulling over to the side of the freeway can be far more dangerous than talking on a phone. I don't recommend adark1's suggestion. If you have to stop, exit the freeway completely at an exit and stop at a business or gas station.... "

" Actually, Kevin is *chokes* correct. Stopping at a gas station etc., IMHO is the BEST solution....Uhmmm kevin? DO NOT make a habit of having me agree with you...Bad for my reputation! :) "

" E bay! Cheap! Need help finding one??

Post a cell carrier and your model of phone ie= nokia 6555 , and ill find it for you and send you an item # "

" I didn't know about Bluetooth. I just thought those folks had been assimilated by the Borg. "

" As an American Canyon - Napa morning commuter, I'm glad this happened. I can't tell you how many vehicles (not on those gas-hogging SUVs folks...) and have been bewildered and amazed at how people drive. Starbucks in one hand, cell in the other...all this while staring through their rear view screaming at their kids :/

I have had hands-free in my vehicles for years. My Titan had it, my Mustang has it. My motorcyle has a GPS mount on it that allows me to see who is calling, and I can pull over and 'talk' if need be. But then again, I know it's always the wife, so I continue my ride ;)

Point is, go get a hands-free unit installed, connect with your bluetooth enabled phone and yap to your hearts content while paying a litte bit more attention to me driving my 7 year old son home, or me riding my motorcycle in the lane to your right.

Thank You Napa and Good Night! "

" i can just see it on July 1st, the CHP is pulling over all of these mini-vans and BMWs!

if they're lucky they can get a twofer with the DUI's on saturdays and sundays coming down Hwy 29! "

" Pretty much all cel phones have a speakerphone... just put it on speaker, set it on your lap and talk away!!! "

" But two cents, that would take away all the fun of trying to get your phone to dial by voice control. I have found that if I talk like Lon Cheney mine works some of the time.... "

" To Two Cents

I have been talking on my speaker phone for years now....however under the new law I do not believe this is acceptable, too much hand time required to dial and hit the send and off buttons....those blue tooth sets are supposed to eliminate the need to do more than tap your ear to answer and hang up your phone, dialing is supposed to be by voice......

The only thing I (and others) have going for us is the officer cant see the phone in your lap and cant see you dialing unless you bring the phone up above the window edge on the door.....they have to "see" you to give you a ticket.

My personal opinion is that no one should be allowed to use a cell phone while driving, we did it for year and we never thought a thing about it...I try most of the time to talk only when stopped or out of the car completely. "

" I honestly don't think we should have this law at all. I understand that people have got into wreck because they use their cellphones while driving so people that had an accident while using a cell phone should be under this law and should get that privilege taken away from them.

I'm 17 and have been driving for a year and have never even had a close call in getting into a wreck, it's just who can multitask I guess you can say.

I guess it's cool that we can use a bluetooth but i don't feel like going out and buying and $80 bluetooth for my cell phone.

I just honestly thing we shouldn't have this law and already, it's creating controversy. "

" So WiestATV, you don't think we should have a cellphone law because you've driven for a year already without getting into a wreck?
When I was in my twenties (long ago) I drove many a time while DUI and never got into a wreck either. So, using your line of reasoning, there's no need for DUI laws either. We should all be allowed to cause one fatal accident before we get restricted... "

" How about no dogs and no make up laws. I see more people driving with their dogs standing on their lap looking out the window. It cracks me up to see women driving down the road swirving while looking in the rear view mirror putting on eye liner. Do they have to lose an eye before they make a law. "