Sunday, July 27, 2008
New State Laws for Cell Phone Usage while Driving
SDSU updated its cell phone policies to comply with the new laws.
Effective July 1, California's implemented new laws regarding cell phone usage while driving a vehicle.
With this new law in place, all faculty and staff of SDSU are directed to the following policies:
- Do not place or answer phone calls while driving any university vehicle at any time. This prohibition applies to all gas and electric vehicles and carts, and extends to all campus grounds such as university roads, pathways, grass, etc.
- If you must answer the phone such as in case of an emergency, pull over to the side of the road or pathway only if it is safe to do so.
- Hands fee devices can be used.
- Do not use your push-to-talk feature on your Nextel phone while driving any university vehicle or any two-way radio. The law applies to those features as well.
- The only exception to this new law is in the case of emergency and a call is being placed to 911.
On a final note, if you receive a citation for using a Nextel, two-way radio or your personal or company cell phone while driving a university vehicle or while driving on university business, you will be solely responsible for any subsequent fine.
If you have any questions regarding this new law, please feel free to contact Employee Relations and Compliance at (619) 594-6464.