Was talking on the phone the other day while driving....

Come to a stop sign and the WSP is out of his car hiding near the intersection... As he sees me on my phone he signals me over. After getting the $124 ticket (traffic violation) he tells me I could have avoided it by "having my cell phone on speaker and holding it out in front of me"... I asked him what the difference was and he said when a person holds the phone to their ear it blocks their perephrial vision and that's how the law is written...

Any loop holes on this before I send in the check with the ticket?

Keith

Are there any exceptions for emergencies, doing business etc.? Or plead no habla English. Seems to work for the foreigners.

Tell the Judge you were abducted by Aliens.

That's what I was wondering....

Anyone?

Keith

pretty cut and dry law:


Sec. 3. RCW 46.61.667 and 2007 c 417 s 2 are each amended to read
24 as follows:
25 (1) Except as provided in subsections (2) and (3) of this section,
26 a person operating a moving motor vehicle while holding a wireless
27 communications device to his or her ear is guilty of a traffic
28 infraction.
29 (2) Subsection (1) of this section does not apply to a person
30 operating:
31 (a) An authorized emergency vehicle, or a tow truck responding to
32 a disabled vehicle;
33 (b) A moving motor vehicle using a wireless communications device
34 in hands-free mode;
35 (c) A moving motor vehicle using a hand-held wireless
36 communications device to:
37 (i) Report illegal activity;
1 (ii) Summon medical or other emergency help;
2 (iii) Prevent injury to a person or property; or
3 (iv) Relay information that is time sensitive between a transit or
4 for-hire operator and that operator's dispatcher, in which the device
5 is permanently affixed to the vehicle;

Sounds like I'll send the check in....

What was the point of the law in the first place? Revenue??

I can understand no texting or emailing but to talk on a phone "to your ear" is just stupid...

Keith

Remember when they said it would only be a secondary offense? Remember that when you vote. There are a number of items out there where the legislature has dicked us, and there are a number of items on teh ballot where they fully intend to dick us. Vote wisely.

Yeah, clearly checked as a traffic violation on the ticket.....

Keith

You must have been trying to report a suspected game violation you saw? That's my story and I'm sticking to it. With no other tickets it should get thrown. You can also ask for a defferment. I think you get one of those every 2 years. As long as you don't reoffend, ticket and record go away. No fine.

Grow your hair out...

I received a speeding ticket and since I hadn't had a ticket for over 7 years, the deferment was an option. It was about $200 for the deferment processing and the ticket would have been $156, so it was more costly for the deferment costwise. How much my insurance would have gone up or at all I don't know.
If you get a ticket during the one year deferment period, both tickets are due.

I feel so much safer-

Tell the judge you were reporting a suspicious WSP officer hiding near an intersection. Or just tell the judge to F off.

I like the law. I've been behind too many people who's brain seems to shut down when on the phone.

Mark the calendar, as much as I hate to, I agree with the goat fuker.

+10000 But PLEASE dont shout into your HFD when near me in airports, shopping,or resturants!!!!!!!

Well, I filled out the check for the $124 ticket. I made it out for $124.01 and told them to keep the change as a tip or if they chose to give the excess amount to the officer for a christmas bonus....

I think it's a viable law for those they can't do 2 things at once... But for a person who has never been in a wreck it's a waste of time.

I did pass a cop yesterday morning while on the phone but this time I had it on speaker and was holding it out in front of me... I gave him a wave....

Keith

Let's see,
yep,
Not speeding, driving straight, attentive, nothing there, wait, the guys a menace, I think I saw him talking on the phone. Thats it, we must protect everyone from the distinct possiblility he may do something dangerous sometime in the future rather than actually look for someone who is. Lets put whip out in traffic, chase him down and pull him over on a busy highway.

Or maybe, just maybe, driving while using your cellphone is really frickin' dangerous (quoting a FOX news source, just in case you think this is more of those eggheaded liberals crampin' your style):

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,201586,00.html

Just a guess but I bet 99.99% of people think they are safe drivers while talking on the phone but have witnessed others that aren't.

Over the weekend I conducted a test and verified that using a cell phone while driving took my eyes off the road 20X more than when I was just opening a beer. I favor the cell phone law.

The hard stuff is preferable. Less empties.

Not as many pee stops either.

As an industry insider with loads of experience both in breaking the law and driving while using the cell phone. I think this law is bullsh!t.

Talking on the phone isnt the likely cause to the 2000+ deaths per year attributable to cellular phone use. It's when people are trying to find their phone, dial it, answer it, text on it, checking out that hot pic of your wife your buddy just sent...etc where you are MOST distracted. Talking whilke driving is a simple as walking and chewing gum....

Using the celly in the car on speaker or with a headset does not eliminate or reduce the factors noted above that are more likely to contribute to an accident....which is why I think the law is BUNK. I'm amazed the politcos in this state thought it up! (sarcasm)
Personally, I think all phone use should be 100% avoided while in the car....for everyone except me

There didn't need to be a special law for cell phones, it's just "feel good" legislation. It was already illegal to drive carelessly and it was also already illegal to drive recklessly...

When are they going to outlaw eating in a moving vehicle? Too me, I see more people swirving while digging their cheese burger out of a bag than I do people talking on the phone...

It's one thing to be told "no you can't do that".... But to claim it makes the roads safer is bullshiat....

Keith

You may want to re think the extra .01 on your fine payment. I tried it once with a similar note about a tip and I was summoned to court and ended up paying an additional fine of $75 and the threat of contempt of court.Pplus judge reamed me good in front of the whole court room which is worse than the ticket. Apparently you will force the court to write you a check for the >.01 refund which is real expensive and a waste of time. Don't pay in pennies either even if the court is clear across the country

A little late now, the check was already sent out...

Just creating more jobs I guess, not such a bad thing....

Keith

gonna be interesting.