Maria Shriver's cellphone trouble
If California's first lady breaks her husband's law against driving while chatting, will anyone obey it?
Maria Shriver
(Corbis/Krista Kennell)
As Kennedy scandals go, said Meghan Daum in the Los Angeles Times, "Maria Shriver's failure to use a hands-free cell phone device while driving is a bit, well, anticlimactic." Sure, it's embarrassing that gossip website TMZ caught her in the act, especially since it was her husband, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who made what she did illegal. But chatting while driving is not as "socially taboo as not wearing a seat belt," and until it is, "gloating over tabloid photos won't make the roads any safer."
Obviously, said Michelle Quinn in The New York Times. After TMZ published the first photo, Schwarzenegger responded by Twitter, promising "swift action," and TMZ promptly caught Shriver in the act again. "Californians may have rushed to invest in hands-free technology when the law went into effect in July 2008, but many are back to their old habits," despite penalties of $20 for a first offense and $50 for subsequent ones. "If the risk of fines and accidents is not enough to change behavior, what will it take?"
Maria Shriver's apology might be a good start, said Jim Boren in the Fresno Bee. The California first lady released a statement saying she was sorry, and would donate her favorite old cell phone to Verizon's HopeLine program, which helps domestic violence shelters. "I think the first lady recovered nicely. I'd also like to see her do public service announcements on the dangers of talking on the cell phone while driving."
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10 Comments
Posted by ted kennedy, Thursday, October 15, 2009, 12:26 pm we kennedys can do whatever we want....only the little people bother with rules.
Posted by Donald, Thursday, October 15, 2009, 1:28 pm This is a result of incomplete technology. Incorporate cell phones into automobiles, with voice response to dialing, and alllow it. No worse than the driver talking to passengers.
Posted by Tom, Thursday, October 15, 2009, 2:11 pm Who cares? Politicians and their families can get away with murder. Oh, yeah, a Kennedy did that. Makes driving while chatting on a cell look like nothing. Cell phones are VERY distracting to the driver.
Posted by Johnny Reb, Thursday, October 15, 2009, 4:08 pm I live in L.A. and let me tell you for fact: Ain't nobody here obeys that law anyway. This doesn't make a damn bit of difference.
Posted by Bob, Thursday, October 15, 2009, 4:31 pm Hey, don't you know she is a Kennedy????? Laws aren't meant to apply to her. And hey, she said she was sorry. Uncle Teddy didn't do that until after he knew he was dying. And a donation to a domestic violence shelter. Does the woman know the meaning of irony? The real surprise is that the media reported it at all given the woman's special status in society. Guess the blogs do serve some purpose after all.
Posted by Lois F, Thursday, October 15, 2009, 5:44 pm Is she getting a fine? She should be made an example of since she is the Governors wife! If she had consequences, it would frighten others to STOP talking driving. I have Onstar and ONLY use it a minute or two at most if it is an emergency to call. I can tell you that you do loose your focus on driving even with hands free calling. Cell phones and handless should ONLY be allowed for emergency situations to 911. I can't tell you how many close calls I've had by others talking away and NOT paying attention. What's worse? TEXTING
Posted by justiceforall, Thursday, October 15, 2009, 10:28 pm If she gets caught again with that phone in her ear behind the wheel, the cop should stick it right up her butt. Really. I hate people who risk lives by talking on cell phones in the car.
Posted by ES, Saturday, October 17, 2009, 9:41 am Get over yourselves! Talking on a cell phone is no more distracting than when Lois F. rubbernecks to see if she knows who got in the accident on the freeway or when justiceforall is extracting its head from its butt to tell us who it hates. If banning cell phone conversations in cars is a good idea, then removing radios is better. Making all cars Conversation Free Zones is better too. The police did NOT ticket Mrs. Governator, and she did not use her position to get away with a crime. The phone did not fit, you must acquit.
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