California Governor Jerry Brown this week signed new legislation that expands the restrictions placed on mobile phone use in cars.
Specifically, drivers are now forbidden from “holding and operating” mobile devices for any reason. The lone exception allows drivers to perform functions that require only “the motion of a single swipe or tap of the driver’s finger.” Even then, however, the device has to be in car- or hands-free mode and mounted to the windshield or dashboard of the car.
Assembly Bill 1785 was introduced by Rep. Bill Quirk with the aim of reducing distracted driving. Quirk cited statistics showing an increase in crashes related to in-car phone use as the impetus for the law. The new law takes effect on Jan. 1, 2017.
