On January 1 of this year, I posted an entry enthusiastically endorsing a new California law, slated to go into effect on July 1, making it illegal to drive while talking on a cell phone without a hands-free device (and would prohibit the behavior entirely for anyone under 18 years old). I said way to go California!

Well, folks, things haven’t exactly turned out like I imagined. For what I thought would happen was: people would actually obey the law.

HA! Oh, silly me!

Now, I haven’t seen any data, performed any studies, or done anything “scientific” in preparation for making this report, however, what I believe is: this law hasn’t changed shit.

People here are still driving while talking. And driving while texting. They’re endangering themselves and others to just about the same extent they were prior to July 1.

It pisses me off. I wish I could take down the license plate number of every car I’ve seen whose driver is flaunting this law. And, well: do something with it!

I am unable to do that, obviously. It would be a full-time job.

But, just so you know, I’m not doing nothing. Here’s the email exchange I had yesterday with the local police. (The “Twin Cities” referred to here are the towns of Larkspur and Corte Madera , California.)

Message Number 1 (TechnoMonk)

Greetings,

On Saturday, August 30, 2008, at app. 3:50 p.m., I was traveling west on Sir Francis Drake Blvd. from Hwy 101 to the Bon Air Shopping Center. I was following a Twin Cities police car, license plate #1225302. The driver of this vehicle weaved into the other lane about three times during the very short time I was following him. I believe that he was using a cell phone without a hands-free device.

Distressing. I thought we had a law.

Message Number 2 (Captain McDuffee)

Thank you for your email regarding the unsafe driving you witnessed. It doesn’t appear from your email that you actually observed the officer using a cellphone, is that correct? The unsafe driving may be the result of the officer using the Mobile Data Terminal in the patrol car.

In either case, I will speak to the officer about his driving. Once again, thank you for bringing this to my attention.

Message Number 3 (TechnoMonk)

Captain McDuffee,

Thanks for the quick reply.

It was, of course, the weaving that caught my eye.

At that time of day, going that direction, the sun was somewhat in my eyes. However, the driver’s head was tilted slightly to the right. His right arm was held to position his hand near his ear. I didn’t exactly see the cell phone, but it sure was a cell phone pose. The head, hand (and phone?) were in silhouette. I’d put my certainty level at about 90% that it was a cell phone.

Of course, nothing will ever come of this…it just made me feel good!