Few Hawaii drivers get tickets after first day of cell phone ban
By Suzanne Roig
Advertiser Staff Writer
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Honolulu police issued only 50 citations in the first four days of a new law banning hand-held cell phones and other electronic devices in vehicles.
Kailua and Hawai'i Kai motorists were ticketed the most with 10 citations each from July 1 to 4, said HPD Maj. Clayton Kau. On the first day of the law, 38 citations were issued island-wide, and police yesterday released numbers for the following three days, which totaled only 12.
Some drivers still can be seen using cell phones while operating their vehicles, but it is illegal. The city law took effect July 1 and bans drivers from holding portable electronic devices such as cell phones, video games and music players while their engines are running.
Hawai'i is one of six states — California, Connecticut, New Jersey, New York and Washington — that ban hand-held cell phones, according to the American Automobile Association. Twenty-two states ban teens from using cell phones and 17 states have laws prohibiting school bus drivers from talking on a cell phone, except in emergency situations, according to AAA.
In the days leading up to the ban, stores reported a bump up in sales of Bluetooth devices.
McCully resident Kiko Kitahara went to several stores before she settled on a $19.95 version of a hands-free device for her boyfriend.
"I looked at other places and they were $60 to $80," Kitahara said. "I am worried. If it's cheap, I don't know if it will last long."
Kau said the low number of citations means that motorists are complying with the law. The breakdown of the 50 tickets issued:
The law was highly researched and was created to remove distractions for drivers, Kau said. Police can cite drivers they see holding any electronic device, including video games, PDAs and cell phones. There are exceptions for drivers who pull over to the side of the road to make or receive a call, but their engines must be off, and to make emergency 911 calls.
"Our hope is that the number of accidents we see will go down because drivers are not using their electronic devices," he said. "I've seen drivers applying makeup, drinking hot coffee and reading newspapers while driving.
"We're thankful that the public is taking steps to obey the law."
