By Town Crier Staff

A majority of Los Altos residents appear to support a proposed bill to ban motorists from using handheld cell phones in California, based on a Town Crier survey conducted last month.

Survey respondents supported Assemblyman Joe Simitian’s bill 3-to-4. If approved, Assembly Bill 45 would fine motorists $20 for using handheld cell phones while driving.

The bill is awaiting a hearing with the state appropriations committee. It cleared its first legal hurdle with the Assembly Transportation Committee March 3.

Of the 20 residents who responded to the call-in survey, 12 approved of the idea while eight were against it.

The 60 percent in favor of a cell phone ban cited close calls in traffic:

Those against the ban noted personal rights and driver responsibility:

• “I was rear-ended while waiting to merge east onto El Monte from the 280 South exit ramp. The driver was on her cell phone … She didn’t hang up until we pulled over and got out of our cars.”
• “Picking on the cell phone does not solve the problem - you have to work with the drivers…What’s next? Are they going to ban eating Twinkies?”
• “If people want to talk on the phone in the car that’s their right to do … just like drinking a cup of coffee.”
• “You’ve got to think about salesmen, general contractors who have to be able to use a cell phone while driving.”