My wife was out on her early morning jaunt through the neighborhood with Bruno the beast this morning and couldn't help noticing -- news maven as she is -- the number of drivers chatting away with cell phones at their ear.
It is after all the first day of the rest of our lives with our hands free, even though our minds may be far away in conversation.
And then she saw the motorcycle cops, red lights flashing, with victims pulled over to the side of the road.
Being the kind of person she is -- a cell phone hater -- she couldn't help commenting to one of the cops about the latest add-on to his role as server and protector of society.
"Just trying to save lives," he told her, with a friendly smile.
So watch yourself out there, friends, it's dangerous. The phone police are on the job -- and don't get hit by a stray bullet from some street thug.
It is after all the first day of the rest of our lives with our hands free, even though our minds may be far away in conversation.
And then she saw the motorcycle cops, red lights flashing, with victims pulled over to the side of the road.
Being the kind of person she is -- a cell phone hater -- she couldn't help commenting to one of the cops about the latest add-on to his role as server and protector of society.
"Just trying to save lives," he told her, with a friendly smile.
So watch yourself out there, friends, it's dangerous. The phone police are on the job -- and don't get hit by a stray bullet from some street thug.
Ron Kaye is the former editor of the Los Angeles Daily News where he spent 23 years helping to make the newspaper the voice of the San Fernando Valley and fighting for a city government that serves the people and not special interests.
Twice in recent years, Los Angeles Magazine listed Kaye among the city’s most influential people, specifically in the area of politics. Kaye has been variously described in the media as the “accidental anarchist,” “the Patrick Henry of the San Fernando Valley” and a “passionate populist.” He is now committed to
carrying on his crusade for a greater Los Angeles as an ordinary citizen. Previously, Ron worked at the Los Angeles Herald Examiner,
Associated Press, Cleveland Plain Dealer and The Australian as well as papers
in Fairbanks, Alaska and Yakima, Wash. He also wrote for Newsweek magazine, The Guardian in London and the Naitonal Enquirer.
Your wife approached a cop with Bruno?
Flagrant Revenue Raiser!!!
There is NO evidence to show that hands-free is any safer than 'hand-held'!
If "safety" was a factor on the highways, our corrupt city officials would go after the REAL problem...millions of illegals who are endangering our lives on and off the highways.
Now, our under-staffed police force is wasting our precious resources on collecting cell phone "fees", while crime goes unchecked! I'm sure they are feverishly working on "cell-phone cameras" to add to the ranks of the obscenely lucrative $381 'red light cameras'!!!
Canada is beginning to look more and more appealing to me!
I don't think California needed another vehicle law. LAPD and CHP don't enforce the one's that are on the books, now. All that needed to be done was to cite the goofballs that where changing lanes without signalling, speeding, running lights and so forth. If the phone was the reason for the sloppy driving, so be it. But, cite from the existing laws.
I don't agree with your term 'victim' Ron. These folks knew for months that a new law was going into effect. They had months to prepare for hands free or decide to have their cell calls off to the side of the road instead of while driving. L.A creates an atmosphere of permissiveness. The folks here rich or poor, male or female, young or old take it from there. Your own blog said that 80% of the dogs in L.A. are unlicensed. I would guess that one in twenty cars on the road in L.A. have removed their front plates to avoid red light cams and for other reasons. It passes. Few are cited if anyone is cited. Note how many folks will park in red zones or near hydrants especially on Ventura Blvd. because they know they won't get a cite in L.A.
I expect a small 'spurt' of enforcement at best from LAPD and CHP and then business as usual as far as cell phones. As far as LASD and smaller agencies, I recommend being 'heads up".
This is definitely a money-making scheme. Studies show talking with a headseat no safer, the issue is that the driver is engaged elsewhere mentally; and in my experience, headsets can can be worse since they encourage long, engaging conversations, even business negotiations you can't easily interrupt -- while using your hands, you tend to make quick calls and hang up the phone ASAP. Some of the worst drivers I've seen, e.g. who almost hit cars which stop ahead of them, are using headphones. If cops are too busy to enforce illegal ID when it comes to gangbangers, they shouldn't be used for this. Does this mean all those cops stopping cell phone users were NOT cruising for real criminals, looking for unregistered/licensed drivers running lights, or driving without kids in car seats, for example? Or not responding to car burglaries because those are too common to even write up?
I agree 12:49PM.....hand holding cell citations could be $$$. As others have mentioned its not truely about safety. If safety was the real issue people wouldn't use cell phones PERIOD if they were operating a motor vehicle. No way a pol would touch one! So we get a token gesture and the city can make some spending $$$.
I love a good snark!