Cellphone law affects teens behind wheel
By Doug Ridley Special to the Acorn

New laws shouldn't be this confusing. After talking to dozens of clients and colleagues who were confused over the starting date of the new cellphone law, we finally had our clients informed on the state of the law. However, we now have a new wrinkle thrown in that makes things a little bit more complicated, but only if you are 16 or 17 years old when the law goes into effect next year in July.

The current law states that effective July 1, 2008, anyone who wants to use a cellphone while driving must use a handsfree device such as a speaker or an earpiece.

On Thurs., Sept. 13, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed California Senate Bill 33 which goes into effect July 1, 2008, along with the other cellphone law. This new law states that if a driver is 16 or 17 years old, the driver cannot use any electronic device while driving- this includes cellphones, Blackberry devices or laptop computers. This will apply even if the young driver has a hands-free device.

Drivers under 18 years of age will receive a fine of $20 to $50 for an offense. An officer cannot pull someone over for a violation of this law, but can stop a vehicle that is driving unsafely on the road, a condition common when a driver is using a cellphone.

To summarize the law: starting next July an adult driver can use a cellphone but only with a handsfree device. A driver under 18 cannot use a cellphone or any other electronic device while driving.

Douglas Ridley is a founding partner and the head of the criminal law division of Quisenberry, Ridley & Shiffman LLP, a full-service law firm with offices in Agoura Hills. For more information, call (805) 208-8437 or (818) 991-2919.