California drivers must go hands-free on cells in July

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Claudiu Stoenescu, a database manager from San Ramon, Calif., never thought of himself as a wireless headset kind of guy. But his wife insisted he buy the wireless earpiece for his cell phone last month.She wants him on the right side of the law when he makes future calls in the car.Come July 1, drivers in California who make or receive phone calls other than emergencies will be required to have a hands-free way of talking. Motorists who don't can be pulled over and cited, $20 for the first offense and $50 for subsequent violations.At the same time, a companion law will go into effect that prohibits drivers younger than 18 from using any type of electronic communication device to text or talk -- even hands-free ones. However, it's a secondary infraction, which means it can't be the main reason a driver is pulled over. For Stoenescu, 52, who drives to his job in San Francisco, the move to comply comes with some adjustment. He's not in love with the fit of his headset or the idea of driving around with it. But he sees the need every day on the road."I see people reading newspapers and other things," Stoenescu said. "People have bad reflexes to begin with. So to have one hand busy with a phone is even worse."Headsets like Stoenescu's, which use the Bluetooth short-range wireless connectivity standard to connect to a cell phone, aren't the only hands-free options. There are simpler approaches, like using a phone's speakerphone feature or buying a $10 corded headset. Drivers also can also buy small Bluetooth speakerphone devices that slide into the sun visor. And then there are larger car kits that can be installed for hundreds of dollars. The law change is likely to provide the biggest boost to makers of Bluetooth headsets, which have become the most popular hands-free option in recent years. Many Bluetooth headset manufacturers view the legislation as a way to educate consumers about their options and are ramping up their marketing and education efforts to take advantage of the new law.Not long after Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed the bill in autumn 2006, Plantronics partnered with the California State Automobile Association to offer California AAA members discounted headsets, both corded and wireless. The Santa Cruz company will add a new section to its Web site in May to educate drivers preparing for the hands-free law. "It's about generating awareness about using headsets and being safe while driving," said Ron Vitale, category director for mobile at Plantronics. "We find people who adopt headsets are lifelong customers and are advocates for the product."Hosain Rahman, CEO of San Francisco's Aliph, maker of the Jawbone Bluetooth headset, said only about 10 to 20 percent of consumers use a Bluetooth headset. He said the Jawbone was designed with not only high-end noise-canceling technology, but also medical-grade plastic and bold styling to appeal to mainstream users. "People used to hold those big Motorola bricks to their ear and that was awful, but now you're hard-pressed to find someone that doesn't use a cell phone," Rahman said. "Once you start using these headsets, it's very hard to go back." Wireless headsets still have a way to go to gain wide acceptance. Some cell phone users are reluctant to go the Star Trek route, walking around with a sometimes uncomfortable earpiece attached to their head. Others, like Matt Tierney, 36, of Oakland said he's been slow to use his Bluetooth headset because he forgets to charge it up. But he said he'll give it another try with the new law looming."A lot of people have them but don't use them," Tierney said. "I think now that the law is there, it'll make people use them. A lot of people didn't start wearing a seat belt until it became the law."Other Bluetooth manufacturers like BlueAnt are touting alternative options beyond headsets. For users who just want to comply in the car, BlueAnt sells simple speakerphone devices like their SuperTooth products that operate like headsets but rest in a sun visor. Drivers can carry on conversations through the microphone and speaker in the device, which is linked to a cell phone. State Sen. Joe Simitian, D-Palo Alto, the author of the law, said he's not concerned about how drivers comply, just as long as they do. He said he still favors a corded headset for conversations that can't wait until he pulls over.While going hands-free won't eliminate all cell-phone-related accidents or in-car distractions, he said, it can greatly reduce the number of accidents attributed to cell phone use. According to the California Highway Patrol, there were 1,232 collisions in 2006 that were attributed to handheld cell phone use, compared with 71 collisions that involved hands-free use.(E-mail Ryan Kim at rkim(at)sfchronicle.com)(Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service, www.scrippsnews.com.)