The hands-free driving law has been in effect for almost a month in the states of California and Washington and so far, it seems to be working.  And it seems to be working even better for Bluetooth headset manufacturers.  Bluetooth headset sales have skyrocketed in California to four times the national average, according to a report done by The NPD.  The law has only been in effect for 24 days and already, people are becoming more conscience of driving with a hands-free device to become safer citizens.

Review of California Hands-free Law

18 and older:  If you must talk on a cell phone while driving, you absolutely have to use a hands-free device beginning July 1, 2008.  If you break the law, your first offense will cost you $20 and it will be $50 for each subsequent conviction.  Additional fees may also be applied.

Younger than 18:  It is pretty simple for you … cell phones are completely banned.  You may not use a cell phone while driving and you may not text or use laptops.  This is a strict law and if you are under 18 and using a cell phone while driving, you will be fined.

Other Notes Regarding Hands-Free Cell Phone Law

Emergencies:  If you are in an emergency, it is ok to make emergency calls to police, healthcare providers, fire departments or other emergency agencies.  By all means, do this!

Points:  No points against driver’s licenses will be assessed.

Passengers:  Are allowed to use any type of cell phone while in the car.

PUSH-TO-TALK Device:  These devices are ok for those people who are licensed to operate a truck tractor or motor truck.

Bluetooth Headset Sales Soar

NPD said that California’s four largest markets — San Francisco, Sacramento, Los Angeles, and San Diego — saw a major boom in Bluetooth sales months before the July 1 deadline.

Statistics show that in March, San Francisco sold two times more Bluetooth headsets than the national average.  The truly outstanding thing is that in May, that number had risen to four times the national average in all four major cities.  This means that people are actually following the law, and trying to become safer drivers.

In comparison, other U.S. cities that have not implemented any hands-free laws saw Bluetooth headset sales fall below the national average.

     

Get a Bluetooth Headset Today!

I’ve been an avid Bluetooth user for the past year and I can’t think of a better way to be able to multi-task the safest way possible.  With technologies emerging and new devices coming out weekly, there is no better time to jump on the bandwagon and become a Bluetooth fanatic.

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Tags: Bluetooth Headset Sales, Bluetooth Headsets, California Hands-free Law, Cell Phone Laws, Hands-free Driving Ban, Jawbone 2

This entry was posted on Thursday, July 24th, 2008 at 10:07 am and is filed under News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.