Cellular phones the talk of the town

Deepa Bharath

NEWPORT-MESA -- A war is raging against those tiny devices we hold in

the palm of our hands.

Last month, New York’s state Assembly passed a bill banning the use of

hand-held cellular phones. On Tuesday, the city of Seal Beach became one

of the first in California to ban cell phones at its City Council

meetings.

Similar laws, especially legislation relating to the use of hand-held

phones while driving, could find their way into the local communities if

handed down by the state, local officials said.

If the state implements such a law, it will be enforced as any other

vehicle code violation, similar to the seat-belt law, said Newport Beach

Police Sgt. Steve Shulman.

“We don’t have a record of how many accidents in our city are actually

caused by hand-held cell phones,” he said. “But I do believe it would

reduce the number of traffic accidents.”

People with cell phones should use discretion when they attend City

Council meetings, or any meeting, said Costa Mesa Councilwoman Linda

Dixon.

“But most people who attend our council meetings are quite courteous,”

she said. “It’s common courtesy to turn off your phone when you’re in a

public meeting.”

Locals have differing opinions on the issue.

Amber Philhower of Costa Mesa said she would favor the hands-free

option while driving.

Hand-held phones “do interrupt and distract you when you drive,” she

said.

People should turn off their phones in public places where it might

disrupt peace and quiet, said Nicole McDermott of Newport Beach.

“I always turn mine off when I go to restaurants,” she said. “It’s

really rude. I hate it when somebody’s phone goes off at the movies. It

happened to me just the other day.”

But McDermott said cell phones should be allowed in cars.

“Because of emergencies,” she said. “That’s why people get cell phones

in the first place.”

Then there are the others who don’t own a cell phone and don’t see a

need for it.

“If I’m not near a phone, I don’t want to be bothered,” said James

Materese, who works in Costa Mesa. “I know people who have got into

accidents or almost got into accidents because they were talking and

driving.”

They are “too much of a distraction,” whether you are on the road or

taking a break, he said.

“Just think about it,” Materese said. “When you go sit on the beach

and watch the sun go down, do you want to hear your cell phone ring?”

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