We have driving while Mexican. That's when the cop can tell from 400 yards away at night that the license in your wallet is expired. $110 court costs + $150 fine. This law will be driving while Mexican II. Everyone under the age of 23 will get pulled over and written up for whatever stupid thing officer dipshit call pull out his ass.

Though in my household, we already have no cell phone while driving for teens. Actually, we have no cell phone for teens period, which is an amazing policy that costs zero dollars to implement. Occasionally there is whining and pouting to deal with, but that's inevitable from all teens and will happen no matter what.

of the fact that if you are under 18 in this country, you are not a citizen; you have no rights. If it were just this one example, it wouldn't be that big of a deal, but politicians are forever heaping restrictions on minors in the name of "protecting the children". How are we ever supposed to learn to be responsible if we're constantly "protected" from responsibility?

The geriatric set are at least as bad at driving as teens, but if anyone tried to pull this on them, the AARP would probably burn Washington to the ground. Nevermind the fact that gramps probably can't work his cell phone anyway.

The problem is that under-18s can't vote, and recent adults don't care enough about politics to make a difference. I don't see this situation changing any time soon.

I think that this has already been the case in Virginia for at least the last year, to good effect.

How does the cop react when he pulls you over, and finds out that your license is in fact entirely up to date, as is your registration, and your car is in legal functioning order? Please share.

If the news report on KQED this morning was correct, it's not quite true that nothing will change for adult drivers - a separate bill that goes into effect at the same time will require drivers over 18 to use only hands-free devices.

"The law -- which goes into effect in July -- won't let cops stop drivers simply for violating the mobile ban, but if an officer pulls over a 16- or 17-year-old for something else, the driver would face a fine for using a cell ($20 for the first offense, $50 for each additional)."

Don't think that'll stop cops from pulling you over if the only infraction they see--so far--is the cell phone violation.

I've gone on plenty of ride alongs and talked to many cops who have no problems finding loopholes that would easily allow them to subvert one law in order to find another being averted.

What I like to call the Meth Van Law takes effect:

You've seen that car. The 1978 El Camino with broken windows, pot leaf stickers, wornout tires, smoke flowing out of the cabin like the van in "Fast Times At Ridgemont High.

When a cop sees that same car, he KNOWS the driver has a warrant. But he can't just pull over the car due to his hunch. Yet, he easily can.

"Oh, what do we have here, a broken license plate light."

And the rest is history.

So, impervious teens, if you think the only you're breaking is the cell phone law and due to that think that you can't be pulled over just for that, better think twice and read up on the section regarding that 0.5-inch square Roxy bumper sticker you illegally placed in the lower right-hand corner of your windshield.

The law to keep adults from talking on hand held cell phones was passed/signed in California last year. See e.g. http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2006/09/15/BAG75L6BJC1.DTL&type=politics It doesn't take effect until 2008.

I'm not Mexican so when I get pulled over it's for a moving violation whether one occurred or not. In my fair city of 350,000 the PD writes approximately 2000 motor vehicle tickets per day.

Which incidentally is about the same number that Houston, a city of 1.3 million writes. It's the #1 source of revenue for the city where the revenue actually goes to the city and not the schools.

A teen (fill in the blank) ban is merely another tax on the middle class because they know someone will pay it.

But at least I'm not black and poor because my fair city is also seriously considering doing away with the constitutional right of free assembly by outlawing more than 3 people from congregating if they 'look' gang related.

Welcome to Raleigh, NC.

stop your whining. statistically, teenagers ARE involved in more accidents than non-teenagers so one less distraction when you drive is A-OK with me. and it's not just done to "protect the children", but also to protect every adult on the road. and get off my fucking lawn while you're at it.

So what would you propose we restrict them from? Remember THEY vote....

But that will never pass muster with the lazy ass drugged up too busy soccermoms who are only too happy to hand the keys to their brood.

Here's an idea - if you ever have >50% liability in an accident with an injury or more than $1000 in damage (since technically that's a felony) you should lose your license for LIFE. And subsequent to that if you are ever convicted of driving after that, 5 years in prison.

.....For the Children. I am 100% ok with the the statistical significance of that.