$101 Fine for Cellphone Use While Driving

The streets may be safer in Seattle and the entire Washington State as the state House passed a new cellphone restriction. The bill has already been approved by the Senate and all the new law needs now is the Governor’s signature. No one expects Gov. Christine Gregoire to reject the law.

A similar bill regarding texting on a mobile device has also passed the House and is currently being read by the Senate.

The cellphone ban has finally reached the governor’s office after years of failed attempts. The new law was passed in a bi-partisan vote and would take effect January 1, 2008.

“It’s absolutely a safety issue,” Eide, D-Federal Way (author of the bill) said after the vote. She said talking on a cellphone while driving is “equivalent to driving while you’re intoxicated.” Opposition, coming from both parties, pointed out that using the cellphone while driving may be difficult to distinguish from other activities such as putting on make-up or eating a burger.

Via