Well it's been a long time coming, and gets here none too soon, so all of us who use our cellphones while driving need to be aware of the legislation that is coming into effect as of Friday Jan 1, 2010, there will be a one month education period, then the Shizz hits the fan!! So Ladies and Gents be forwarned!!!!
My only bone of contention to the new legislation is as follows....
Police, fire and ambulance personnel who may need to make calls in the performance of their duties, and motorists who need to call 9-1-1 are exempt from the legislation. The use of two-way radios for commercial or industrial vehicles will be permitted.

I am pretty sure that emergency personel who NEED to make phone calls in the performance of their duties while driving, will either, have another person in the vehicle who should be able to make the calls for them, or they will have a two way radio by which they can contact the personel they require contact with.


FINAL COUNTDOWN TO CELLPHONE BAN WHILE DRIVING

VANCOUVER – B.C. drivers have just 11 days to change their driving behaviours and comply with new cellphone rules to enhance road safety in the province, Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General Kash Heed said today

“Making B.C. roads safer was an easy call,” said Heed. “Now, we're asking the public to get on board and abide by the new rules. To help raise awareness for drivers, we are rolling out a public education campaign in conjunction with police enforcement of this law to reduce distracted driving across the province.” Heed also noted that in the new year, highway signs warning motorists not to drive using hand-held devices will also begin to appear along B.C. roads at major international border crossings and airports.

http://www2.news.gov.bc.ca/news_release ... 000783.htm


Further information on banned and permitted devices can be found at the following link also

http://www.pssg.gov.bc.ca/osmv/publicat ... g-info.pdf

Didn't know that 2 ways would be exempt for commercial useage, as my 2 way is my umbilical cord each and every day needed for the job. Thanks for that info.

Not much was mentioned regarding GPS useage. I occassionally use mine, but do punch in the coordinates while stopped prior to heading out. Not sure if everyone does it this way though, so hopefully with this new legislation most folks will learn to do so.

I honestly don't think some folks will pay heed to this ban though, as how are the police going to catch offenders?
Sure the odd person will be caught, but with the thousands upon thousands using cells in their cars throughout the day, with only the odd person paying the penalties, it's definitely going to take some education!

Dan: My wife is a paramedic and oftentimes she needs to call ahead to the hospital to let them know what they have coming in. The other medic is usually in the back working on the patient. They have two way radios that they use for calling dispatch as well. Most times the other medic is busy working on a patient and one is behind the wheel driving.

Sorry Merc, not buying it, how did they notify the hospital prior to cell-phones?? My guess is dispatch did this, so, dispatch can once again do what is in fact thier job?? I mean really folks, it's only been maybe ten years max. that 'everyone' has had the option and ability to have a cell phone, what did we all do in our vehicles prior to that?? Hmmm........ paid a little more attention to the road??
I really don't have a issue with folks using thier cell-phones in their vehicles, unfortunatley there are many who are unable to do so and efficiently and effectively operate thier vehicles while on the phone. I am more concerned with these jackasses who have a dog on thier lap, and are severly hampered trying to operate their vehicles, whilst said critter is blocking thier mirror and they are trying to merge onto a highway or some crap like that.

Ham radio is exempt as well.

Now, who knows if I'm on my ham radio or my cell phone?

Or on my Mike clam-shell phone in Talk-Around mode, which is 2-way only and does NOT use the Mike towers? (I don't even have a Mike account; just use it as a radio)

Dale, GPS is not exempt, nor are video games, etc.

I can't see why they aren't banning the adjusting of stereos.

Greg