Guy pays $10k to post on billboard complaining about cell phone laws

[jtvang125]

A San Francisco bay area resident isn't happy being forced to use a hands-free unit, and he's here to tell you about it The state of California has laws in place which forces drivers to use hands-free technology to talk on the phone and are no longer allowed to read or write text messages while driving. Although state officials say it's for the safety of the public, there have been quite a few people who are angry with the laws, saying they don't help reduce accidents, and are just another reason for police to pull drivers over. A San Francisco bay area resident took it a step further, paying $10,000 to show his disdain with the driving laws on a billboard in East Palo Alto. "Senator Joe Simitian: Your cell phone law sucks," the billboard on Highway 101 in East Palo Alto boldly states. "I want is to have a choice," said Grant Paulson, the president of GP Fire Protection. "When I get a call from someone on Bluetooth, it's comical. I'll say, 'I can barely hear what the hell you are saying. Are you on Bluetooth or a speaker phone?' They say yes, and that's why I hate this law so much. The clarity is awful." Despite his public outcry about the hands-free law, Sen. Simitian said the billboard was a "hoot" that "put a smile on my face." "I'm just tired of having my personal freedoms taken away," Paulson wrote on a local news channel's web site. "Used to (be) able to ride a motorcycle without a helmet, ride in the back of a pickup, not wear a seat belt, ride a bike when a kid without a helmet, etc. Where does it stop and what's next? Helmet laws to ride in a convertible because that would be safer?" Some drivers are not happy with the sign, saying it's rather distracting. Most billboards obviously don't have a lot of text, but Paulson's billboard has 75 words and of course includes a picture. Even though the hands-free went into effect on July 1, 2008, a drive down the street will show numerous people who simply ignore the law. Furthermore, the no texting law went into effect on January 1, 2009, and it's still possible to see drivers reading and writing text messages while driving, several news outlets report. Since going into effect, the California Highway Patrol (CHP) has reportedly issued more than 60,000 tickets to drivers caught using handheld phones or texting while driving.

Some people just have too much money. Oh and I fully support the hands free requirement and no texting laws cause I could have been seriously injured or killed a couple of years back cause some stupid lady ran a red cause she was on her cell phone. A second later and she would have t-boned me but luckily I clipped her instead and no one was injured.

 

[James Bond]

What a moran.

 

[Imported]

I agree with him on hands-free and driving while on the phone. It's no different than the millions of others who eat, put on makeup, read the newspaper, etc. while driving. Texting while driving is effing dangerous though.

I've also driven by that billboard a number of times this week alone.

 

[effowe]

The laws concerning the BT headsets are stupid, people are distracted because of the conversation, not because they are holding something to their ear. I fully support the no-text laws, though, because you have to take your eyes off the road to read / type.

 

[sdifox]

I think people are taking this the wrong way, frisco residents should be thanking him for helping the economy. The billboard might have gone un-rented if it weren't for his contribution.

 

[halik]

Originally posted by: Imported
I agree with him on hands-free and driving while on the phone. It's no different than the millions of others who eat, put on makeup, read the newspaper, etc. while driving. Texting while driving is effing dangerous though.

I've also driven by that billboard a number of times this week alone.

This,
texting while driving is bad, I try very hard to not do it. That being said, I am perfectly capable of carrying on a conversation on the phone while driving.

What they should do is add a $5000 fine if you cause an accident because you were on your phone. That way the people that cannot handle the task of driving and talking (read:women) would have an incentive not to do it. The only time I've got into a car accident in my life was being a rear ended by a bimbo on a phone... she missed the 15 cars stopped at a 3 lane red light during 5pm traffic.

Incidentally this is reason #1653493 to not live in people's republic of kalifornia.

 

[qaa541]

I see that sign going home from work everyday. Ironically that sign is extremely distracting because it has a lot of words for a billboard and some of it is in a small font. The first time I wanted to read it, I realized how distracted I was getting from the road so I stopped.

I think this guy is an idiot. The cell phone law seems like a common sense idea that was finally passed into law because people just didn't get it. I spend extra time on the freeway everyday because a bunch of people are still yakking on their cell phones and heaven forbid, texting and going slower than the rest of traffic. If you get one of those in every lane of the freeway, you get into a wall of cars that are slowing down the entire freeway in that direction.

FYI - There is also another identical billboard on El Camino Real.

 

[PingSpike]

Man pays $10K for billboard due to large quantities of sand in his vagina.

 

[KeithTalent]

I fully support a ban on texting/messaging and instituting some sort of hands-free law. For the small number of you that can talk on your phone with one hand and drive with the other, with no loss of concentration or increased danger to pedestrians or other motorists, well that's great. Seems to me, however, about 90% (pulled that out of my ass) of the people out there cannot do this, which is why it's a problem.

KT

 

[Viper GTS]

Somebody needs to send this guy a good quality BT headset.

I talked to my g/f for the first time via my Jawbone II & she was amazed. Her BT headset (which was a good headset 2 years ago) is terrible in comparison.

Viper GTS

 

[Imported]

Originally posted by: Viper GTS
Somebody needs to send this guy a good quality BT headset.

I talked to my g/f for the first time via my Jawbone II & she was amazed. Her BT headset (which was a good headset 2 years ago) is terrible in comparison.

Viper GTS

I think he's complaining that the majority of people who call him using a BT headset have suckass ones. I love my BlueAnt Z9i and would recommend that one as well.

 

[Viper GTS]

Originally posted by: Imported

Originally posted by: Viper GTS
Somebody needs to send this guy a good quality BT headset.

I talked to my g/f for the first time via my Jawbone II & she was amazed. Her BT headset (which was a good headset 2 years ago) is terrible in comparison.

Viper GTS

I think he's complaining that the majority of people who call him using a BT headset have suckass ones. I love my BlueAnt Z9i and would recommend that one as well.

Obviously, but if he is educated on the subject his billboard might read "if you're going to call me go buy a decent headset" instead of the misplaced hatred it currently carries.

Viper GTS

 

[Imported]

Originally posted by: Viper GTS

Originally posted by: Imported

Originally posted by: Viper GTS
Somebody needs to send this guy a good quality BT headset.

I talked to my g/f for the first time via my Jawbone II & she was amazed. Her BT headset (which was a good headset 2 years ago) is terrible in comparison.

Viper GTS

I think he's complaining that the majority of people who call him using a BT headset have suckass ones. I love my BlueAnt Z9i and would recommend that one as well.

Obviously, but if he is educated on the subject his billboard might read "if you're going to call me go buy a decent headset" instead of the misplaced hatred it currently carries.

Viper GTS

I think I'd love to see a billboard saying just that.

 

[Homerboy]

Originally posted by: James Bond
What a moran.

Now that is ironic.

 

[hanoverphist]

Originally posted by: effowe
The laws concerning the BT headsets are stupid, people are distracted because of the conversation, not because they are holding something to their ear. I fully support the no-text laws, though, because you have to take your eyes off the road to read / type.

i agree.


i was almost rear ended by a cop a few months ago. he was using my truck to shield his presence to a car he was tracking. he was typing on his laptop and trying to drive at the same time, wasnt watching traffic. kind of wish he had hit me tho, would have been a mini payday i bet.

 

[Fingolfin269]

Originally posted by: Imported
I agree with him on hands-free and driving while on the phone. It's no different than the millions of others who eat, put on makeup, read the newspaper, etc. while driving. Texting while driving is effing dangerous though.

I've also driven by that billboard a number of times this week alone.

Texting while driving is worse than reading the newspaper while driving? :\

 

[mb]

Originally posted by: Homerboy

Originally posted by: James Bond
What a moran.

Now that is ironic.

You've been here for almost 9 years?

 

[MrDudeMan]

Originally posted by: mb

Originally posted by: Homerboy

Originally posted by: James Bond
What a moran.

Now that is ironic.

You've been here for almost 9 years?

you stole my post

 

[Dr. Detroit]

Stupid fvckin law!

Anyone want to explain why applying makeup, having a lap dog, eating a big-mac, or any other distracting behavaior like oh having a conversation with a live person in your car is anymore distracting thn talking on the phone!

Oh noes!

Stupid nanny state!

 

[hanoverphist]

Originally posted by: MrDudeMan

Originally posted by: mb

Originally posted by: Homerboy

Originally posted by: James Bond
What a moran.

Now that is ironic.

You've been here for almost 9 years?

you stole my post

he stole mine too