In another attempt to make California roads safer, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed a bill Wednesday which makes text messaging while driving illegal.
The bill, SB 28, would take effect Jan. 1, 2009 and would impose a fee of $20 for any initial violation of the law and a fee of $50 for any subsequent violation. That would include any form of text messaging while driving.
The legislation comes on the heels of another bill, which bans Californians from using their cell phones while driving. Exceptions are made for any hands-free devices, such as Bluetooth headsets.
That bill, SB 1613, which took into effect on July 1, was supported by Sen. Joe Simitian, D-Palo Alto, who also led the legislation against text messaging.
“Building on legislation already helping save lives in California, I am happy to sign this bill because it further encourages safe and responsible driving,” Gov. Schwarzenegger said in a statement. “Banning electronic text messaging while driving will keep drivers’ hands on the wheel and their eyes on the road, making our roadways a safer place for all Californians.”
In a statement on his Web site, Sen. Simitian said that common sense should prevail over legislation, though it usually doesn’t.
“You’d think common sense would prevail without legislation,” Simitian said in a statement. “Unfortunately, common sense isn’t always that common.”
Still, some students find the bill to be simply another law that could easily be bypassed.
“I think it’s really difficult to put a control on it. I think people will just start texting more discreetly,” said Teo Soleymani, a third-year microbiology, immunology and molecular genetics student.
Though for some, the law is only reasonable.
“You shouldn’t be doing it at all,” said Darlena Tran, a fifth-year art history and history student.
“I see people doing (their) makeup while driving. … Text messaging, it’s distracting.”