Driver wants his cell phone back, erects billboard in protest

Thu Feb 19, 2009 11:40AM EST

See Comments (41)

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.

Comments on Driver wants his cell phone back, erects billboard in protest

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  • 7 Posted by terry.cobb on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:01PM EDT Report Abuse

    coolkyle, I agree. Outlaw ALL cell phone use while driving. Josh, said people that are dumb enough to talk on the phone deserve to get in an accident. What about the person NOT talking that i----- ?

  • 8 Posted by dmb4school on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:45PM EDT Report Abuse

    joshm2k5 : Stupid hurts, a lesson I learned years ago. So, you must be in constant pain. NO ONE DESERVES TO BE IN AN ACCIDENT OR HIT BY A CAR, and what about the innocent parties in the accidents. "Stupid" may hurt but thinking your fellow man deserve pain and death for talking on the phone or letting theirselves be destracted is more than stupid, its idiotic, so tell us, how does that feel?

  • 9 Posted by grndlprm on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:13PM EDT Report Abuse

    Got to love how the inconvience of one person suddenly makes it OK for thousands of people to be put in harms way every day. Talk about self centered. Besides if Mr. Paulson knew how to manage his time properly he would not have to spend all his driving time also chatting on the phone.

  • 10 Posted by anson_lego on Thu Sep 3, 2009 2:56PM EDT Report Abuse

    The more laws there are, the more people will will break them. It shouldn't be a law, but as highly recommended in drivers ed "to not use a cell phone while driving".

  • 11 Posted by jkellynewyork on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:36PM EDT Report Abuse

    yeah until you or somone you care for is killed or injured by a driver because he/she was using a cell phone - leave the law and all states should have this law

  • 12 Posted by wyoming_antelope on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:51PM EDT Report Abuse

    I like the idea behind this billboard. It's true that cell phones are a distraction. But so are billboards, other people on the highway, people walking along the highway, ladies outfits, people adjusting the environment within the vehicle during warm or cold weather, etc. In short, using a cell phone while you are driving isn't the problem. The problem is the people who can't maintain their focus on what they are doing, show total disregard for other drivers, and become a hazard on the highway regardless of the excuse. And there just isn't any way to regulate that, unfortunately.

  • 13 Posted by aftrdk on Thu Sep 3, 2009 2:46PM EDT Report Abuse

    If Mr Paulson is that freaking important that he NEEDS to be availablee even in the normally minimal amount of time he spends in the car, he should have taken the $10,000 and hired a limo service to take him everywhere and he can sit in the back and make calls to his hearts content.......and NO TICKET!!......yeah!!

  • 14 Posted by phillipbuettnerjr on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:10PM EDT Report Abuse

    Mr. Paulson I Agree With janettwokay (One Of The Posters On This Blog) You Should Have Donated The Money To Charity It Would Have Served A Better Purpose..... We Need This Law In Arizona Badly Again Thank You janettwokay For Your Comments

  • 15 Posted by djchrysys on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:44PM EDT Report Abuse

    Really if you have that much money to waste I will glad take some 10 grand on a billboard is a waste how bout a few more cops to stop the idiots who still use the handset and CANT DRIVE I lost count how many idiots have nearly ran me off the road while they were on the phone or even worse texting.

  • 16 Posted by polish_ink on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:16PM EDT Report Abuse

    there is a simple solution. dont talk on your phone while driving, if its the law then abide by it. people are way to dependent on their cell phones nowadays, its like a pacifier for some people - take it away and they whine. besides, i have never had issues with my bluetooth headset connection. this guy is just a tool.

  • 17 Posted by jtfochtxp on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:43PM EDT Report Abuse

    When you really think about it, it is all a matter of safety for yourself and for others. When your having a conversation and driving down a freeway, you attention is mainly focused on that phone call. This is why we develop such technologies such as Bluetooth and Speakerphone. To make our lives, and all the lives around us much safer.

  • 18 Posted by the_man_they_call_pool on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:06PM EDT Report Abuse

    The law does suck. It should be a TOTAL ban on cell phone use while driving. It's just as dangerous as drunk driving, even "hands free." Does this idiot Grant Paulsen think we should be allowed to drink and drive? I hope this guy gets life in a wheelchair by being hit by a drunk driver who is yapping away on a cellphone. Then maybe he'll finally learn.

  • 19 Posted by bright002 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:13PM EDT Report Abuse

    watched a lady talking on the phone too distracted to realize there was a cop trying to puller over with all the blue/red lights flashing driving is a privilege not a right be safe put the phone down

  • 20 Posted by phrbp9@ymail.com on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:10PM EDT Report Abuse

    the man is right would you like to keep whqt rights you have feft i know we as american people have keep our eyes closed far to long yea it is a cellphone but whats next

  • 21 Posted by rayvr@att.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:31PM EDT Report Abuse

    Some people think they can do whatever they want, whether it endangers other peoples lives or not, they don't care. The cell phone law was needed and is solid. There have been a number of accidents caused by this distraction, and if you were injuerd in one of them, you would look at the matter a lot differently! The guy that put up the billboard is a cuckoo. He proves it by his irrational anger. He is undoubtedly a conservative of the Bush and Cheney branch.

  • 22 Posted by ronnie_given on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:50PM EDT Report Abuse

    Too many people with their hand glued to a cell phone,which is glued to their ear, to pay attention to little things, like turn signals,sirens and high beamed headlights. GET off the road to talk, get a hands free system or what ever . Just don't jeopardise my rights to a safe driving environment. One hand on the steering wheel,one on the cell phone,one for the turn signals,one to change the radio,one for the make upand lets not forget the one hand to show your anger at the idiot that just cut you off without a signal because he or she didn't have enough hands.........

  • 23 Posted by yeochief2002 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:56PM EDT Report Abuse

    Using the telephone while driving is dangerous, plain and simple. Hands free or not, the use of a telephone is distracting. I do not use a cell phone while driving, I'm too busy avoiding all those who feel they need to chat while misguiding 3,000 pounds metal at 45 to 65 mph. No one needs to be connected 24/7. Take a break and enjoy the ride, get there in one piece. Doing anything other than driving is dangerous and shouldn't be done. Common sense should dictate that driving is a full time job.

  • 24 Posted by philpdn on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:10PM EDT Report Abuse

    Hey rayvr! I bet they are talking about this all over AM radio. What you need is a way to shut them up, without actually saying that's what you are doing. Call it "fairness", everybody is for fairness. Once you have radio under control, you can make some headway on getting billboards you don't like taken down, so we can all enjoy freedom for more equal opinions, undistracted by the words of "cuckoo" conservatives of the Bush and Cheney branch.

  • 25 Posted by evonstat@sbcglobal.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:56PM EDT Report Abuse

    I agree with Yeochief2002 & kneelingcuriosity also why should I be hurt for the Stupid driver who goes to a business lunch-has a few drinks-then wants to drive & drink get a life people,your call is not that important!!!

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