Honolulu mayor bans 'mobile electronic devices' while driving

by Alexander Sliwinski { May 6th 2009 at 2:15AM }

Honolulu (Hawaii, not Idaho) Mayor Mufi Hannemann will soon sign a bill making the use of mobile electronic devices illegal while driving. According to the Star Bulletin, Bill 4 is aimed at stopping "text messaging and video-game playing," but the blanket law for all devices had to be done to make the bill enforceable. Officers simply need to see a driver using a handheld device to issue a citation -- hands-free devices are kosher.

So, if you're looking to game and drive to the beach, head on over to Kailua. The beaches are better and there are far fewer tourists to inattentively run over.

[Via GamePolitics]

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Tags: driving, gaming, honolulu, mufi-hannemann, texting, waikiki

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Todd @ May 6th 2009 2:27AM

yess, finaly some news from Hawaii!!

BPMOmega [gamertag] @ May 6th 2009 2:29AM

Good. More states need to pass laws like this. Pisses me off when people are driving, and talking/texting on their phones at the same time. PAY ATTENTION TO THE DAMN ROAD.

uncle jesse @ May 6th 2009 10:02AM

I hope Canada starts banning this, too. When I see someone swerving on the road I used to think they might be drunk or something... nope, just texting.

Josh @ May 6th 2009 12:53PM

Thing is, the law doesn't change it. People still do it here in NJ.

We also have general cell phone usage banned while driving in NJ (unless we're using a hands free device), and everyone still uses their phones while driving. Unfortunately the law basically just makes talking while driving even more dangerous, because instead of just losing some control because you have a phone in your hand, you're also on the lookout for any police cars on the road.

But I agree, people really really really need to not text or fucking playing games while driving. It's incredibly unsafe.

Lekko @ May 6th 2009 2:33AM

...as opposed to using immobile electronics while driving.

So I guess desktops are still okay to use in your car.

Morisato @ May 6th 2009 2:38AM

Well it looks like I'm going to have to go back to using my car phone over my cell phone.

weirdestchild @ May 6th 2009 2:36AM

I honestly don't see how it's even possible to play a game or text when your life is in constant danger from operating a 2000lb+ vehicle.

d889 @ May 6th 2009 2:37AM

meh maybe they will enforce it better than california does, hell i drive past cops all the time talking on my phone, and they just cruise by talking on theirs

Einhanderkiller @ May 6th 2009 2:45AM

Oh, I forgot Hawaii was a state.

Rentaro @ May 6th 2009 2:54AM

Could say the same for Idaho

Petethatmeat @ May 6th 2009 3:21AM

I am not sure if this entails MP3 players.

WhatIsThatThing @ May 6th 2009 3:09PM

Unless it's a touch-required mp3 player, you're fine. I'm pretty sure they fall under hands-free devices.

Richard Walker @ May 6th 2009 3:34AM

Well having lived in Hawaii for the last 6 years (It is really good place to vacation, but living is another thing), this law was made because there was a bus driver that was playing his video games while driving the bus. (Not with one hand, but two hands). I guess does this mean the cops cannot use their laptop while driving now too right? I demand equal rights!!!

joeybeast @ May 6th 2009 9:58AM

the computer is a "stationary electronic device".

See the difference?

cloud858rk @ May 6th 2009 5:04PM

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3449/3373389371_2bf0246396.jpg

Morisato @ May 7th 2009 5:03AM

That just means there's a market for steering wheel mounts for gaming devices! PATENT PENDING! PATENT PENDING!

torch @ May 6th 2009 4:41AM

I beg to differ, Ko' olina beaches are much better than Kailua.

Punishment4Gluttons @ May 6th 2009 9:30AM

Whatever dude. Lanikai is better than any Ko'olina beach.

benjamines @ May 6th 2009 10:31AM

You're both wrong. Idaho Beach is like, the best one ever.

Snowblind @ May 6th 2009 5:47AM

That's crazy. I can understand some people talking on a phone while driving (although even that's very stupid) but actually playing videogames while driving? How is that even possible?

Massmass @ May 6th 2009 6:17AM

Driving cross country last year I saw one idiot play his PSP while driving. Apparently it's easy to do if you drive with your arms.

Neptune @ May 6th 2009 8:11AM

How is that even possible?

Duct tape

ScottG13 @ May 6th 2009 8:31AM

I'd say this is where most municipalities are going. Taking your eyes off the road for extended periods of time is really freaking dangerous.

Punishment4Gluttons @ May 6th 2009 9:29AM

No can haz eyePodz and dryve?

koehler83 @ May 6th 2009 10:11AM

The same law was just passed in Ontario. It is specifically handheld devices here, including video games. Headsets and hands-free are still permitted.

Seems like a no brainer to me. Keep your damn eyes and ears on the road and your hands on the wheel.

"But what's the difference between talking to people in your car and on a phone?" The ignorant by-stander demands.

3D sound.. duh! Sound waves being distributed from within your vehicle will enter both ears and not screw with your equilibrium. Talking to a phone causes your brain to tune out everything from the other ear.. this includes everything going on in the street. Listening out of a single ear essentially causes tunnel vision.

The real question is: What's the difference between a handset and a headset? Nothing. Headsets shouldn't be permitted either.

Slaziman @ May 6th 2009 4:50PM

that one requires a hand? wtflol

The Dark Wayne @ May 6th 2009 10:10AM

I got rear ended by some asshole watching a movie on his iphone. He wasnt even parking and just turning it on, we were just driving down the street and he was watching it

Vidikron @ May 6th 2009 10:22AM

Haha... iPhone users are completely screwed. People with phones that have actual buttons are still going to be able to text with the phone hidden below the dash level because most people addicted to texting can text without even looking at the phone. This is extremely difficult, if not impossible for most people, to do on a touch screen.