Driver wants his cell phone back, erects billboard in protest

Most Californians appreciate the recently-enacted cell phone law that prohibits drivers from using a handset while they're behind the wheel (headsets and speakerphones are OK, however), but a vocal minority have a decidedly opposite opinion on the matter.

One Californian, Grant Paulson of Pleasanton, has taken his displeasure with the law to an unlikely venue: A billboard (costing $10,000) on Highway 101, the San Francisco Bay Area's main traffic corridor to Silicon Valley.

Paulson's anger takes the form of a 75-word message to the Senator who authored the law, reading: "Senator Joe Simitian: Your cell phone law sucks. Amazing how 1 man's bad idea can screw over & inconvenience millions of people in CA. Let's overturn this law in the next election & protect what rights we still have left."

In an interview, Paulson's major complaint seemed to be that the quality of connection over Bluetooth headsets or speakerphones is "comical," and he says he wants a ballot measure to repeal the law.

For his part, Senator Simitian said he loved the billboard, calling it a "hoot."

The billboard has divided drivers who frequently use 101, with some rallying behind Paulson's cry for drivers' personal liberties to be restored, but many others calling the billboard distracting (that's a lot of reading at 65 miles an hour) and its language offensive. The California Highway Patrol and Caltrans transportation agency have obviously fielded complaints, but both seem unable to legally do anything to remove the billboard, which is currently paid up through the end of the month.

Freedom of expression or dangerous distraction? You make the call... as long as it's hands-free, at least.