PSA: Traveling through CT anytime soon? (new driving legislature)

[Jessica Boucher]

Planning on making a visit to Bash at the Beach, stopping by the newly-venued UTC Regional, or just traveling through? Make sure that you are using a hands-free device on your cell phone while traveling through CT.

Starting tomorrow, new CT laws go into effect that restrict cell phone use in a vehicle without the use of a hands-free device. The main points can be found in this article:

CONNECTICUT -- Today is the last day you can talk on a hand held cell phone in our state while driving.

Starting tomorrow, you have to use a hands-free device. If you're caught not using one and talking on the phone, you will receive a written warning.

If caught again, you will receive a $100 fine. The new law also prohibits school bus drivers and people under 18 years of age from using cell phones while driving altogether.

The full version of the law can be found here. I know there's other states that have had the same regulations for a while, but since it's new, I thought I'd give a heads up. Happy traveling!

[Jeff Rodriguez]

If cell phone jammers weren't so expensive and so illegal, I'd have one in my car.
I don't think making it hands free is going to help much.

[Erin Rapacki]

Thanks for the warning. I'm glad this law is going into effect. I was driving along Rt. 5 North out of East Hartford last spring when a 16 year old female driver in her Dad's overly-lavish SUV tapped my rear end while she was talking on her cell phone. There was no damage to either car, but I pulled her over, told her about my past (how light rear-enders eventually degrade into totalling your dad's car ) and I hope I sent her a realistic message about the importance of driving carefully: "if you think THIS sucks, wait until you have to involve police, parents, and insurance. Trust me, not fun!" It was a "sisterly" thing to do. I just wish my advice wasn't from actual experience.

By the way, my auto insurance bill is coming soon. *sigh*