WA. cell phone law --Update: takes effect on Tuesday, July 1, 2008! (live in, legal)

[mark6052]

A new washington state LAW requires to not talk on a cell phone unless its hands free. Its amazing how many people continue to hold onto the cell phone while driving. Police included. Whats it going to take to hang up and drive?! It seems like everybody needs to talk to somebody.

[chris]

it doesn't go into effect until sometime next year (it can only come too soon).

[WendyK]

As a guilty cell phone holding driver, I've been preparing myself to figure out how to use the hands free phone while driving. Today I was driving and talking when a police car pulled along side me and made me a little paranoid. I know it's not the law yet, but I still felt guilty doing that in front of a cop when everyone knows that after Jan. 1, we could get fined. Guess I need to have my teenagers show me how the little ear thingy works!

[Woof_]

it is also a secondary offense. that means you cant be pulled over for being on the phone, but can get two tickets if you were on it say when you got busted for speeding.

[StealthRabbit]

The first portion of the law takes affect in July (no Texting...) AFAIK

as an accident free commercial driver for 35 yrs, and being hit 3 times in a year by cell phone talking SUVs (who cause massive chain reactions on PNW rain slickened stops)... I am more than ready for an aggressive law, not that I'm not guilty myself...on very rare occasion. I won't be going hands free, VM will be adequate.

[tudorjason]

These types of laws wouldn't have to be passed if people concentrated on their driving first.

I often talk on my cell while driving. And I think, that for myself, I wouldn't be able to concentrate on both talking and driving if I had to do it through a hands-free set.

But texting while driving cannot be done.

[jojo7]

I am so happy to hear about the law. Every close call accident I had was with someone on a cell phone who was not paying attention. All states should have this law. I read an article that explained how cell phone drivers are at the same risk of causing an accident as a person who is over the legal drinking limit of .08.

[NCWmark]

I too am happy about this law, like everyone else I have numerous "near hits" by people who insist on talking on their phones while driving. It drives me crazy when you see people who don't turn their head to check if a lane is clear because they have a phone to their ear, or you see a vehicle up ahead wander into your lane and then go back to theres... you get closer and sure enough... cellphone.

Although it will be only a secondary offense (can't get pulled over for it), it will also be a contributing illegal action if there is a traffic accident. If two people collide and one was on a cellphone, under most circumstances that person will be found at fault as they were driving in an illegal manner at the time of the accident.

[nwraider]

According to this (scroll down towards the bottom), the no-texting rule takes place on Jan 1, and the hands-free requirement goes into effect July 1, 2008... I do prefer using the headset myself, so I don't have a problem with it, although I still use my phone without it on occasion. But I've seen complete morons not paying attention at all and get into some near misses while driving the roadways..

[augy2kmom]

I am so glad WA has passed this new law. I live in Oregon but visit family often in WA. I wish OR would also pass this law along with the no smoking laws WA has. After being in 8 accidents here in Oregon ( none my fault) it's long over due. At least I can feel a "little" better on the roads in WA soon. Maybe Oregon will follow? Prob not. If my DH could find a good paying IT job in WA, we would be moving just for some of the laws WA has over OR. I'm jealous of this new law you are getting. Enjoy it!