by Jeremy Hunt
Daily Lobo
Mayor Martin Chávez signed a bill Wednesday that bans cell phone use while driving a vehicle unless a hands-free device is used.
The Albuquerque Police Department will issue warnings for the first 60 days after the law takes effect Saturday. Starting April 18, it is $100 for the first citation and $200 for each citation after that.
Cell phone use is a contributing factor to traffic accidents, said Trish Hoffman, APD spokeswoman. People realize it's dangerous, but that doesn't always stop them from doing it, she said.
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"You're not 100 percent focused on your driving," she said. "The community realizes that it's probably not the safest thing."
APD does not have records on the number of accidents cell phones helped cause because officers couldn't issue a citation for using them in the past, Hoffman said.
Samuel Chavez, manager of the Sprint store across from UNM at 2720 Central Ave. S.E., said the store has been getting a lot of business since the bill passed.
Chavez said he doesn't know how much sales of hands-free kits have gone up, but his store has benefitted from the law already.
"We've seen a tremendous increase," he said.
From what he's heard in the store, Chavez said most people aren't worried about safety.
"They're more concerned with getting a ticket," he said.
Student Marco Mu§oz said he understands why cell phones are banned, but a lot of other things are more dangerous, such as eating and changing clothes.
"I've seen people do crazier things while they're driving," he said. "Cut out some of that crazy stuff and leave cell phones as a last resort."
Student Lisa Dudasik said she agrees with the ban, even though it will be inconvenient.
"I know I'm going to hate it," she said. "Why don't they make a law (saying) you can't eat or drink in your car?"
Student James Burkhard said hands-free kits won't make drivers safer.
"Quite honestly, it just gives them another hand to do their makeup with," he said.
It's not practical for police to try and stop people from
using their phones while driving, Burkhard said.
"Everyone's going to be talking on their cell phones," he said. "It's going to take the entire police force to catch them all."
Hoffman said the police will not have to try and catch everyone that illegally uses a cell phone while driving, because many people are going to follow the ban.
The high demand for hands-free kits could indicate a desire to comply with the law,
Hoffman said.
"They realize that it's going to be banned, and they could get a ticket," she said. "Why do that when you can buy a hands-free set?"
