driving & using cell phone trap in Hilo

[davidr]

A word of warning to drivers that police in Hilo are pulling over drivers on their cell phones in Hilo using unmarked cars. Anyone know what mitigating circumstances they will consider when you get these tickets?

[csgray]

If you are a cop or emergency responder you can use your cell and drive. No one else gets to use a cell phone and drive. If you were calling the cops to report a dangerous driver or road hazard you might have a case.

Carol

[dmbwest]

Wait,, unmarked cars in Hilo, pulling over people for breaking the law is called a "trap" now ?

[PaulW]

If they enforced this law they would have enough money to double the police presence.

[dmbwest]

Hang onto your butts ... I always wonder how many the average smoker tosses per day.

http://www.ncsl.org/issues-research/env-...es.aspx#hi

[whalesong]

But,if you do answer your phone, pull over, and turn your engine off and turn your emergency lights on.
By doing this, your not operating a vehicle[8D] NO TICKET!

[8D]http://records.co.hawaii.hi.us/Weblink8/DocView.aspx?id=57357

[jrw]

As many people that drive around texting and talking on thier cell phones around the island you wouldnt knows it was breaking the law to do so.It seems like one of the laws that gets enforce when the cops need something to stop you for.

jrw

[riverwolf]

I was pulled over a few months ago on #130. Officer insisted I was on the phone. Would not let me show him my phone and call record.
Went to court and the judge would not look at my phone record that showed I had not made any calls for two hours before I was cited.
He fined me $97 and told me I could appeal if I wanted!
First ticket in over 25 years and for somethng I wasn't doing.
Ironically while I waited my turn to stand before the judge, over half a dozen younger local boys most of which had "attitudes" had "driving without a license and no proof of insurance" charges. Some were there for a second time and one was on his 5th violation.
All were charged $450 with $400 suspended ... so they only paid $50.
The judge told them "if they no can pay" they can do community work. Lesson learned: talk on cell ph.(or not) and be polite to the judge $100 fine. Drive with out a license and no insurance, over and over again, have a wannabe gansta attitude.. $50



riverwolf

[dayna]

Simple solution to this "trap".

Don't break the law and talk on your cell phone while driving. It's pretty easy. Before cell phones came along people somehow managed to drive without texting or talking on the cell phone 100% of the time.

Dayna

www.E-Z-Caps.com

[kalakoa]

Mitigating circumstances are easy: the rules don't apply to "job creators".