Senator says regulation needs publicity

By Mark Langlois

When state legislators approved a ban 10 months ago on driving while holding a cell phone, they
expected to see fewer people steering with one hand while talking on a cell phone in the other.

The law appears to be both ignored and followed.

"I still see it all the time," said state Sen. Judith Freedman, R-Westport, of the violation.

Baker said the Danbury police take part in the "Click it or Ticket" campaign because the state and federal government give grant money to local departments to enforce that law. He said if a similar program were started to enforce cell phone prohibitions, the department would actively participate."If it becomes a statewide or a national campaign, there will be money available," Baker said.

A local cell phone salesman said customers are constantly buying headsets.

"They know the law. I'm from New York, where it's been the law longer, but people know about it," said Patrick Teehan, manager of the I Mobile shop at Danbury Fair mall.

Studies have shown up to 1,000 fatal accidents a year nationwide may be caused by distracted drivers using cell phones in cars.

A number of states investigated whether cell phones play a role in crashes, and in 2005 California ruled 611 of its nearly half-million crashes involved cell phone use.

Texas said 1,032 of its 336,665 crashes in 2005 were related to cell phone use, and Michigan reported 879 of its half-million plus accidents were related to cell phone use.

That data is disputed, however, by other research that says blaming the accident on cell phone use is simplistic.

The fear, however, that people are having more accidents while driving with one hand and talking on the phone has led many states, including New York, New Jersey and Connecticut, to ban the use of hand-held cell phones in cars.

Freedman said the state police are doing what they can to enforce the law.

"Obviously, they catch people when it's right in front of them," she said.

Officer William Tate, a spokesman with the Connecticut State Police, agreed with Freedman.

"For our cruisers on the highway, we pretty much have to get up on them or pass them to see the phone," Tate said. "We have enforcement, but the law is only 10 months old. At the beginning, we were giving people the benefit of the doubt."

Tate said a trooper who saw someone talking on a phone while driving when the law first went into effect last year would ask the person if he knew about the law.

"It starts out with information and a warning. Then it moves to enforcement," Tate said.

Tate said informing the public is critical for enforcing the law, and that information process continues all the time. In late May or early June, Tate said drivers entering Connecticut on the highways started to see signs that warned them that holding a phone in their hand while driving is a crime. The fine is $100.

Tate said one thing that helps drivers today to go hands-free is the technology of wireless communication. Some cars come with Bluetooth technology, which is wireless. Drivers can turn on their phone, leave it on the seat next to them or on their belt, and answer and hear the call through an ear piece.

They can say a person's name into the phone and the phone will automatically dial that person once they've programmed the phone. They don't have to touch the phone."Most phones come with a speaker phone, so they're hands-free," said Teehan said. "They buy the headset. They realize it's safer."