Starting in December of 2010 it will be illegal to text, tweet, status update or any other means of text-based mobile communication while driving a motor vehicle. The violation can carry up to a $400 fine if you are caught. This is the same fine as inattentive driving and the enforcement will follow the same protocol. Although I agree with the spirit of the law, if the fine is the same and the enforcement is the same why did we need a new law? The police may ask to see your phone if you are pulled over but you are not obligated to show it to them without a subpoena. The law does not make it illegal to make a voice call, so when you dial a number isn’t that the same as texting? It seems like this was a great “PR law” that calls attention to a bad habit, but with no way to really enforce it. I doubt it will do much good.
Now if the government really wanted to do some good they would make it illegal to use a cell phone on a golf cart!!