Posted On: June 24, 2009, 12:10 pm CDT

Posted By: Russ Vollmer

I agree with Dread and, for that matter, the other commentors. We've had a law here in NY banning used of hand-held cell phones while driving for several years, actually pioneered in my county prior to that. Theoretically, it's more of a "feel good" law than a practical one because it fails in the real world as people simply ignore it. I see more and more drivers talking on hand-held cell phones now than I ever did before the law was passed. What good is a law if not enforced? Oh, wait, it gives police officers another reason to ticket a driver if stopped for another offense. It also gives plaintiff attorneys another tool in an action against an at-fault driver to guarantee a settlement from the insurer. These laws work about the same as the multitude of stop signs we have here in residential areas that many drivers simply ignore. But, they also give plaintiff attorneys another tool to gain settlements.