Washington State has passed a new cell phone law which went into effect October 1, 2008. This law makes it illegal to talk on a cell phone while driving a car unless you have a hands free head set. Now let me start off by saying I am totally in favor of this law. I myself have a hand free head set that I bought when I got my phone. They are not that expensive and for me it was a safety issue. I have even gone as far as pulling over when driving when I have been involved in an intense conversation. I do it for my safety as well as the other drivers on the road.
I have witnessed other drivers that are not paying attention even without a phone. All you have to do is drive on the freeway during rush hour and you see all kinds of drivers, men shaving, women putting on makeup, even reading a news paper over the steering wheel. So as I said I think this is a good law and I hope other states will do the same. If your state does not have such a law please go ahead and get a hand free set for your cell phone it could be your life or mine that you save.
Now with that being said there is one problem with the law. The state gave an exception to police. They can still use their cell phones without a hand free set. Now think of the logic of this. They have way more going on than anyone else. They are not only watching their driving but everyone else. They are tiring to drive code 3, operate their lights and siren, talk on the radio and even work a laptop computer in their cars all while speeding through intersections and red lights. If anyone should use a hand free head set it is the police. They should be held to the same standard as everyone else especially sense it is so easy and the cost is minimal.
Now for some good news the Clark County Sheriff’s office feels the same way. They also believe that they should be held to the same standard sense it is a safety issue. Gary Lucas issued all deputies hand free sets and told them to use them. I only hope all the other police agencies follow their lead. Good job Clark County Sheriff!
