Dear Just Be: I have been hearing about House Bill 1094- what does it mean?

Many of us spend hours every week sitting behind the steering wheel of our cars. And during those hours many of us are multi-tasking; catching up on work, communicating with friends, etc. via our cellphones. But how and when you use or cellphone in a motor vehicle is about to change. On Tuesday, December 1, 2009 House Bill 1094 goes into effect in Colorado.

The bill prohibits:
1. Operators of a motor vehicle who are under 18 years of age from using a wireless telephone while a motor vehicle they are operating is in motion.
2. Persons who are 18 years of age and older from using a wireless telephone to send text messages while operating a motor vehicle.

According to the bill, the fines will be as follows:
$ 50.00 Fine Plus a $6.00 Surcharge for a First Offense
$100.00 Fine Plus a $6.00 Surcharge for a Second Offense

The new driving law is in response to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reporting that nearly 80 percent of vehicle crashes and 65 percent of near-crashes involve some form of driver inattention.

So next week, as we all return from the long Thanksgiving holiday weekend, remember the new Colorado state law.