Since July, Californians have been unable to hold their cell phones while driving the car. How, then, could it be necessary to enact a law prohibiting texting while driving? Apparently the Bluetooth-headset-boosting law of the summer left a giant loophole for the least intelligent, and most avid-text-messagers, to jump through. If you follow the letter of the law, you can still place your phone on the dash or console or passenger seat and text away.

Sounds pretty scary… but have no fear! The Terminator has come to save the day. As of this upcoming New Years Day (1.1.09) Californians will no longer be able to tap away at their teeny tiny letters and numbers while driving. I think it’s safe to say we’ll all be a little better off.

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.

Hands-free laws are coming soon to a state near you.  You’ve heard the statistics and you’ve read the reviews, which is why hands-free laws are popping up all over the country.  Effective tomorrow, California and Washington will be the two newest states to jump aboard the hands-free bandwagon.  But fear not, your state will most likely be next.

 Review of California’s Hands-free Law

For the states of California and Washington, the hands-free cell phone driving law is effective tomorrow, July 1.  Here is a quick review of what the California law entails:

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. 

The Law is Coming … What Bluetooth Headset Should I Use?

You’ve got it right.  The hands-free law will soon affect every person throughout the U.S.  So far, only positive results have been shown from the hands-free law, therefore, many states will join in on the madness.  In order to to steer clear of any fines or tickets, here are Gammoth’s recommendations for the best Bluetooth headsets available on the market today.

Jawbone 2 Bluetooth Headset   

The Jawbone 2 is the next step in the integration of best in class noise elimination technology with personal design that is both humanistic and minimal. The Jawbone 2 continues with its creative design that makes for a fun, yet professional look. In the tradition of bringing together beauty and science, the Jawbone 2 is a miracle of miniaturization and is 50 percent smaller than the original award-winning Jawbone. 

BlueAnt Z9i Bluetooth Headset    

The BlueAnt Z9i Dual Microphone Headset is the latest in Bluetooth devices, combining cutting-edge technology with stylish design. Incorporating BlueAnt\’s revolutionary world class Digital Signal Processing solution - Voice Isolation Technology, the BlueAnt Z9i provides outstanding noise suppression, wind noise reduction and echo cancellation in both noisy and windy environments.

Motorola MotoPURE H12    

The first headset to feature CrystalTalk, the new Motorola MOTOPURE H12 is the future of audio technology, delivering maximum audio performance in even the noisiest environments. The MotoPURE H12 CrystalTalk with dual microphones has been designed to cancel background and wind noise, enhance your voice and channel pure, clear audio directly into your ear and experience the difference. The Motorola MOTOPURE H12 is an auricular masterpiece designed to look as it feels. Minimalist design diamond-cut alloys integrate perfectly with TrueComfort engineering.