DRAFT DOCUMENT OF NEW City of Madera Sign Ordinance

CURRENT EXISTING City of Madera Sign Ordinance

KEEPING BOTH HANDS ON THE WHEEL
Chairman's Message, April 2008
By Kirk Atamian
2007-08 Chairman of the Board of Directors

Staring July 1, 2008 the new laws prohibiting you from using your handheld wireless telephones while driving will become effective. There is no grace period and you can be pulled over by law enforcement for this infraction alone.

There are two laws that were passed by the State Legislator. The first (Vehicle Code 23123) prohibits all drivers from using a handheld wireless phone, but if you are 18 or older you can use a hands-free telephone device while driving. The second law, (Vehicle Code 23124) states drivers under the age of 18 may NOT use a handheld wireless phone or a hands-free device while driving.

Most people will probably use wireless headsets; the good news for headsets is that now there are units that allow you to charge them in your car through your cigarette lighter outlet. There are other options that you can have installed in your car that basically converts the car’s audio setup into a built-in speakerphone system which adds a microphone and

uses your car speakers for the sound. Most cars can be retrofitted. In fact, if you wanted to upgrade you car’s sound system many of the new ones have this type of feature already included as a part of the audio system. Another solution is that some of the latest portable navigation systems comes with a hands-free system that way you can follow the law and get directions to know where you are going at all times!

Many of these devices are available here in Madera. I am not providing you this information to be self-serving but to encourage you to shop here in Madera; we have a number of local businesses that can serve your needs to become compliant with the new law. I encourage you to call the Chamber for a list of our members that offer these hands-free wireless products and services. In addition, now is the time to start making a decision about what best works for you that will allow you to be hands-free. These items that you, and many others, will be looking for will be in great demand in the last few days before the law takes effect on July 1.

The California Department of Motor Vehicles website www.dmv.ca.gov has a great summary with questions and answers on these new laws explaining them from dialing from your phone while driving to using the speaker phone feature of a handheld wireless, if you can use push to talk phones and more, including; who’s exempt, emergency use of a handheld phone, citations, out-of-state drivers, and more. Make sure if you have drivers under the age of 18 that you review that law as well, it also includes the non-use of other electronic communication and mobile devices to speak or text while they are driving. Learn the new law and keep both hands on the wheel.