We’ve all been cut off, hit or at least infuriated by a person talking on their cell phone while driving. Thankfully, a law that’s going into effect July 1, 2008 will make driving while talking on your cell phone illegal. However, the new law won’t be making us go completely dark. Motorists over the age of 18 will still be able to talk on the phone with the use of a hands free device.
There will not be a grace period for this new law, and if you are caught talking on a hand held cell phone while driving an officer can pull you over for that infraction alone. The base fine for the first offense is only $20; however, with the addition of penalty assessments, the fees can more than triple the base fine amount.
If you are convicted of an infraction of the wireless telephone law you won’t receive a violation point on your driver license; however, the conviction will appear on your driving record. There are some exceptions under which you may use your cell phone without a hands free device but they are only in case of an emergency situation and you are allowed to call a law enforcement agency, a medical provider, or the fire department.
With emerging new technologies, there are a few different avenues to choose from when you are deciding how you want to go hands free. The most expensive is Installed car-kits. A car-kit is a device installed with most of the wires running unseen behind your dash; some of the models will mute the stereo when you have a call and you can hear your call through the speaker system. If you are going to get a car-kit find one that is Bluetooth enabled so you won’t have to plug your cell into the dash. A car-kit would be a worth while convenience for someone who spends a lot of time in the car on the phone.
Portable car-kits are similar to an installed car-kit except they plug into your cigarette lighter or power outlet; usually the microphone and speaker are integrated into the same component. Portable car-kits still give you a hands free set-up and are useful for people who drive in rental cars frequently, and they are a cheaper alternative to the installed car-kits.
Wireless Headsets are ear pieces that are equipped with Bluetooth technology to replace the cord from the headset to the cell phone. You have to have a phone equipped with Bluetooth and since it is wireless, the ear piece has a battery with a talk time that lasts from about 5 to 9 hours. There are two styles of wireless ear pieces; one with a flex grip that clips onto your earlobe or over the ear clips. The smaller and lighter your headset is, the more comfortable it will be. Try to look for one as small as your budget will allow. Also look for a headset with built in volume control and an easy to press switch to accept and end calls without touching the handset. In the end wireless headsets make most sense for people who need to talk while working with their hands.
Wired Headsets are headsets that plug into your phone. These are less expensive but the not-so-long cord can be a pain, and trying to keep an ear bud in your ear is highly frustrating, but if you don’t feel like giving into Bluetooth for your phone, this is the way to go.
No matter which way you choose to go, you will initially have to kick out some money to make the transition to hands free, but in the end it pays to obey the law.