Cell Phone law...

[SeavilleFire]

Not trying to start a fight, i just would like an opinion on this, isn't it the same thing if the patrolman is using the radio calling in your offense? or is it looked at differently?

There are many things that can be considered similar to cell phone usage in a vehicle, and there are many things not covered by a specific law that are a lot more distracting than a cell phone...but we thankfully don't have a specific law for every specific detail and situation.

To answer your question, when it involves the enforcement of public safety or has to do with officer safety, the law does not apply. An example would be speeding to an emergeny scene. If we had to follow the same speeding and motor vehicle laws as everyone else on the road, we would never get to the scene in time. Radar units on the dash board are another example...it is an obstucted view, which there is a law against. However since it is for the enforcement of speeding laws to ensure the safety of all motorists on the road, it is not a violation of the law. Same goes for a patrolman grabbing the radio, it is for that officer's safety that he reports his motor vehicle stop, so it is not considered a violation.

[Murphy4329]

Seaville, dont forget them good old MDT's. Don't know if you have them, but they make a hell of a good table when eating dinner in the car.

[SeavilleFire]

Yup I have one Murph...and right now the keyboard is making a hell of a table for my portable DVD player as I am sitting here on my wireless internet connection. Tax dollars hard at work!

[Maverick9110E]

meh, either way im glad my new phone has bluetooth.