Jun 29, 2008 2:11 pm US/Pacific
Cell Phone Use While Driving Illegal For Teens
SACRAMENTO (AP) ―
A state law that takes effect Tuesday prohibits 16- and 17-year-olds from using any device to talk or text while driving, except in an emergency.
A companion law allows adults to continue chatting away, but says they must use a hands-free device while driving.
And teens say that's just not fair.
Many teenagers rarely talk on their cell phones, preferring text
and instant messaging instead.
Texting is not specifically prohibited in the law for those 18 and older, but law enforcement officials say it's generally covered under statutes aimed at distracted drivers.
California's crackdown is part of a nationwide movement to get drivers' attention focused on the road rather than their conversations and their gadgets.
(© 2008 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
