We asked for your views about the new law requiring hands-free devices.
The safety benefits are minimal or just don't exist - this is just another meaningless gesture that's supposed to convince us that our legislature is doing something useful. - Mark, El Cajon
I believe that if the law enforcement agencies in California really wanted to limit distractions on the road, they would ban cell phone usage period while driving! Using a bluetooth device is not less of a distraction while driving, it's just a different form of a distraction. - Alana, Mission Valley
The new hands free law is a smoke screen to give police another reason to pull people over without warrant. Also it's just added revenue. The real safety concern here is using the phone while dialing or texting, which is not illegal.. Making it illegal to hold the phone to your ear? What about people trying to connect the blue tooth or scrambling for the earpiece while they're driving and the phone is ringing.. One step forward, two steps back. Say goodbye to your freedom as more and more of these types of ridiculous laws punish the millions of innocent citizens because of a few bad apples. - Mike, Escondido
If your reporter in going to report on the fines, she should get it right. In San Diego County its $97 for the first offense and over $200 for the 2nd. I saw it eariler on another channel. - Tim, El Cajon
Thank God the kite surfers aren't yakking on their cellphones. What is this world coming too? - Richie, Coronado
Five simple words: Hangup the phone and drive! - Tony, La Jolla
I do not believe that the new hands free laws will prevent car accidents, mainly because drivers who drive while on the phone tend to get pulled into their conversation and away from drving. - Kooneyraza, Spring Valley
They should give out exemptions to people that actually know how to drive. - Barry, San Diego
The new "hands-free" rule will do NOTHING to make roads safer. The depth of the phone conversation is the problem. When a driver is trying to tell her daughter where to find the red bracelet, that driver does not "see" the road in front of her. She sees the layout of the bedroom and walks her daughter through the search. "No, not in that drawer ... do you see the small wooden box next to the hairbrush?" Two hands on the wheel; NO eyes on the road! - Joe, Vista
Bad drivers are bad drivers, whether or not they are on the phone. This is just another misguided law that will likely have either the wrong effect or no effect at all--other than taking away yet another of our individual freedoms. - Lawrence, San Marcos
