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Members of Bikers of Lesser Tolerance, a Second Amendment advocacy group, warn motorists using their cellphones of Las Vegas Metro Police’s Traffic Bureau patrol near Flamingo Road and Maryland Parkway on Friday, Jan. 6, 2012.
Sunday, Jan. 8, 2012 | 2 a.m.
Sun archives
- Cellphone crackdown among new laws taking effect today (Jan. 01, 2012)
- State officials launch ban on cell phone use while driving (Sept. 29, 2011)
- Police remind drivers that cellphone ban is on the way (Sept. 23, 2011)
- Sandoval signs bill banning hand-held cell phones, texting while driving (June 17, 2011)
David Stilwell and a band of motorcyclists parked their bikes Friday afternoon close to the Long John Silver's on Flamingo Road and Maryland Parkway. Nearby, a group of Metro Police — also on motorcycles — waited.
Stilwell, joined by about 10 of his friends wearing black leather jackets, some with firearms resting in holsters on their hips, stood along the sidewalk waving signs that read "Police Checkpoint Ahead."
But up ahead wasn't a typical DUI checkpoint; the officers on Flamingo Road were pulling over drivers on cellphones.
"Police enforcement should be up front," said Stilwell, of Las Vegas.
Stilwell's beef was with police checkpoints in general, not the new law that prohibits motorists from texting or talking on cellphones while driving.
"I see people with a full bowl of cereal with milk in it on their way to work," said Stilwell, adding that there is no law that keeps drivers from eating on the run.
The signs served to warn drivers, Stilwell said. "We're not breaking the law."
Sgt. Peter Kisfalvi, with Metro's traffic section, agreed the group wasn't breaking the law.
Kisfalvi stood outside a nearby building watching the eastbound traffic cross the intersection while also keeping an eye on the Stilwell's group.
Maryland Parkway and Flamingo Road is on the department's top 10 list of collision-prone intersections and it's the fourth intersection Kisfalvi and his unit was patrolling this week to enforce the new law.
"Green Chevy Blazer. The phone is in her left hand," Kisfalvi said into a walkie-talkie. "White Toyota two-door. Her phone is in her right hand."
Since Oct. 1, officers had been told to give warnings to motorists caught on cellphones. Now since Jan. 1, anyone caught with a cellphone will be fined, he said.
Fines start at $50 and increase to $250, depending on the number of violations.
Humberto Hernandez of Las Vegas seemed calm and understanding when he was pulled over Friday and given a citation.
"I was calling," he said. "Next time, no more."
Other drivers, like DJ Spears, weren't so relaxed.
"I've just had a (bad) week," said Spears, who started to tear up as she explained that Monday her dog died and she was on her phone getting directions to pick up health insurance.
"I was being as careful as I could be, but it does take attention away from driving," she said.
Spears resolved to buy a Bluetooth, which is allowed under the new law.
The law exempts firefighters, medical personnel and police officers who are responding to an emergency, and people using their phones to call 911, Kisfalvi said.
Officers issuing citations that day were sure to explain the new law to the drivers.
The extra patrol was to promote safety and increase awareness, said Kisfalvi.
During the week, officers made around 260 stops and wrote more than 230 citations, said Kisfalvi, adding that his unit arrested a person with a felony warrant, another for misdemeanor offenses and another for DUI.
"The message of 'hang up and drive' is much more important then writing a citation," he said. "I'd rather not write the citation."
Why didn't they do these checkpoints during the *warning* period if they wanted to get the safety message out?
This smells like nothing more than a new tax, no matter what others might think.
haha, i laugh at people who drive carz
Finally something being done with these people on their phones while driving i just had a woman cut out in front me on a side street with her phone to her ear just chatting away like she was the only one on the road. You go metro but it won't stop them some people have no brains .
Having had a cellphone since they first came out several decades ago in briefcase form, I am somewhat relieved that commonsense has been legislated because of the widespread abuse of these devices. If you have such a phone, odds are, you also have VOICEMAIL AND TEXT MESSAGING.
While driving, please let those calls go to your voicemail or text message and wait until you can safely attend them when you are safely and securely parked somewhere!!!
And if you are addicted to answering every communication, then please invest in a Bluetooth hands-free device to comply with the law, at the very least. Either these devices serve us or WE end up serving them. They were intended to be a convenience, not a compulsion. Sorry.
So many tragedies and lives could have been saved if people used commonsense.
Thank you.
Blessings and Peace,
Star
Flamingo and Maryland Parkway were lit up like Christmas Trees Friday evening. I thought that it might have been a gang fight, but only cell phone use.
Don't call home ET, just get home and keep ya mouth shut.
It's not frightening that police are finally ticketing idiots on cell phones. It's frightening that a bunch of hoodlum bikers are out there wearing guns. THAT needs to be addressed.
I, for one, am darn tired of people weaving all over the road while texting or talking on their phone. As I commented for another article however, you really can't teach stupid people anything.
"I was so distracted, talking away on my cell phone, that I rolled right up to the checkpoint with that phone stuck to my ear, rolled down the window with my 'free hand', and asked the officer what the heck was going on here"...
I'm not sure what's worse; that so many people seem so genuinely clueless in this town, or that in the first week of 2012, Las Vegas has taken on the look of a city with a ton of extra police activity...
I'm an advocate of the new law.
The 'cell phone while driving' thing is beyond out of hand...
I'm just wondering if there is a line between 'ramping up enforcement for this new law' and 'let's see just how much money we can generate here!'
I wondered what all the police were doing that day.
Now I know. I have been yelling for years to hang up and drive.
It is about time to get these stupid drivers to pay attention to what they are doing.
Nutters please note: This ban is NOT a complete ban of something (like alcohol prohibition decades ago). You can still use your phone just about anywhere BUT JUST NOT WHILE DRIVING. Please get cell-phone-drunks off of our streets and into our courts where they belong!
It's all about the money, honey! You take 230 times $50 and tell me what Metro's "take" is. Enough said - it's all about the money, always has been! NHP is using binoculars on 95 to catch drivers using cellphones - so what's next, a law stating your hands must be at the 10 and 2 position on the wheel or you'll be ticketed?
Vegas has the worst drivers! I hope the cops really crack down. All I know is if someone gets into a accident with me because they're talkin' on they're cellphone, I'm gonna go after them for serious $$$!
Keep up the ticketing enforcement. Do these bikers not understand that this law will help them stay safer on the road?
@ dipstick: if you need to talk to your bookie,stock broker, parole officer, lawyer, drug dealer or pimp, please pull over and turn off your ignition. Come on Dip with the list you supply. Are you just always sarcastic or do you just assume people that use cell phones are criminals.
lvelegante: Metro doesn't get the money from the tickets they write.
One my freinds just paid $475.00 for use of a cell phone while driving thru Palm Springs Ca.
Comment removed by moderator. Name Calling
Cellphone users are endangering us all and these biker as**oles try to compromise Metro's efforts to enforce this necessary law. Unbelievable! I can't count the times I have seen dangerous driving by a cellphone user in the past few years! I hope it becomes a national law soon. What will these bikers do then? Guys, go find something constructive to do with your time - like hang out in a sleezy bar and get drunk.
Bikers, who are probably most at risk to these inattentive cell phone talkers and texters are out there warning motorists of a checkpoint? I've seen dumb...this one is near the top of the list.
@ TomD
The article said they weren't protesting the new law, they were protesting police state check points, for that I thank them.
I support the new law too, just hate all this unnecessary big brother stuff. If anything, since 9/11, we've given up far too much of our right to privacy for a little more safety. They'll use "safety" to strip away all of our rights, if we let them.
IMO, I wonder how many of these LOSER protesters have thought about using their time to volunteer at a hospital, school, or cause that actually helps people.
Good law, but free America should not get used to police stopping all and sundry just because they can.
On the other hand if the motorcycle cops are only chasing down and targeting people their look out has identified as scofflaws then that is NOT a checkpoint.
"Bikers, who are probably most at risk to these inattentive cell phone talkers and texters are out there warning motorists of a checkpoint?"
---------------------
There it is.. :-)
Glad they are finally enforcing the ban....make the fines more expensive than phone sex.
I use my cell all the time while driving, but not texting...which I generally avoid. I find texting is impersonal, and a conversation is much better. However, before the law was passed and is forcing us to be compliant, I bought a hands free cable which plugs into my ear (ear bud) and I really enjoy using it even while not in the car. Try to talk on a cell and use both hands - it crimps your neck ! Unfortunately, when receiving a call and having to find the cable, plug it into the phone & my ear, it really distracts my driving much more than simply picking up the phone & putting it on speaker or just putting it up to my ear & driving with one hand instead of two. All I can say is that I'm proud to have been accident-free for 25 years. Not everyone is talented in multitasking, paying attention to what they're doing while doing other things. I understand the law and why it was passed, but we already had a distracted driving law on the books....so this really is just another way for the law to get into your life and try to control you. Sad to say, but we are losing our freedoms in this "free" country.
"Waaaaaaaa people are using their cellular telephones and not paying attention to me waaaaaaaaa".
Ah SHUDDAP. You need to stop crying about ALMOST being killed and listen to how pathetic and infantile you all sound.
This is all going to blow over soon, as soon as everyone cycles through the cars without built in bluetooth. Back in the 70 there were lunatics looking to FORCE people to have seatbelts installed. Sit back and relax. Until you are ACTUALLY killed by someone using a cellphone you sound like an unreasonable freak of an alarmist. You stand a better chance of winning the lottery than being KILLED by someone on a cellphone. Idiots.
BTW, on a sidenote, I ALMOST won the Super Lotto for $300 million, i just need 4 more correct numbers....
You can have sex while driving but not on the phone?
Hey Biker Boy! Hang up and drive!
"am somewhat relieved that commonsense has been legislated"
Wow. Has anyone been paying attention to anything, ever? Common sense cannot be legislated, morality cannot be legislated, lifespans cannot be legislated.
When will we grow up as a nation and get over our fantasy that government can save us from ourselves?
There are two pieces of beautiful irony in this story.
1.A person drives past a person OPENLY carrying a WEAPON and a SIGN warning about cops and is oblivious.(Darwin)Survival instincts?
2.Bikers, who are more likely (based on statistics)than car drivers, to be killed by these same people are helping them? Really?
Viva Las Vegas! FML.
I was pulled over this week at one of those checkpoints and I didn't even have a phone on me. I was resting my chin on my left hand, which was propped on the arm wrest, while stopped at a light. I saw the undercover cop, he looked right at me and barked something into his radio. When the light turned green, both hands back on the wheel and away I went. 15 seconds later, a motorcycle cop pulls me over for talking on my cell phone.
Even after I explained I don't have a phone on me, he was insistent on writing me a ticket! Once I asked for him to call the undercover guy, who is the boss, I was given my information back with no ticket. No ticket, but still interrupted for about 10 minutes on the side of the road.
Moral of the story, just deny it, they can't prove it. Then what's next? They confiscate and search your phone downloading all your contacts, call history, text messages, emails, bank account access and web history? Would all you pro-law people be OK with that? If the cop mistakes you for being on the phone, and you honestly deny it, what happens when he orders you to hand your phone over so he can investigate?
"It's all about the money, honey! You take 230 times $50 and tell me what Metro's "take" is."
lvelegante -- you almost got the tally right. Add on the fact local judges got together recently and upped the bail on misdemeanors like this to $1,000. So "take 230 times" that and Metro's "take" is closer to a quarter million for their week's work on just one intersection. Throw into the mix it also creates a criminal record and you'll start to grasp what a can of worms this law created.
"Makes you feel ashamed to live in a land where justice is a game." -- Bob Dylan "Hurricane"
Tim wrote: 'If the cop mistakes you for being on the phone, and you honestly deny it, what happens when he orders you to hand your phone over so he can investigate?"
You tell him to get a warrant.
@ TomD
The article said they weren't protesting the new law, they were protesting police state check points, for that I thank them.
Gimme a break. The result is they are only hurting themselves from a safety standpoint. I'll guarantee you when that same biker is lying in a box 6 feet under because of an inattentive cell phones driver...if he could do it over he would toss his sign in the garbage. If memory serves, these checkpoints are advertised in advance by the police. If you're that needful to avoid these checkpoints because you're doing something against the law..go find the checkpoint schedule. Otherwise get off the damn phone. Aunt Mildred's apple pie recipe can wait.
It does not make a difference what Metro's take is. If you are driving put the damn cell phone down, regardless of how superior a driver you think you are. If you drive distracted, it will catch up with you in the end, probably resulting in injury to another innocent party. Your time is no more valuable than mine, and your inability to comply with the law is an indicator of your arrogance and elevated level of self importance.
If you do need to make, or take a call and do not have hands free equipment, pull over into a parking lot and take the call or text.
And if you do not own some type of hands free device by now, and drive the roads here in the state, you really have no intent of complying with the law until caught.
There is already a distracted driving law and studies show that hands free or bluetooth is just a distracting as headset to head talking.
Good public service by these patriots.
By mred
Jan. 8, 2012
11:46 a.m.
Flag
<<<There is already a distracted driving law and studies show that hands free or bluetooth is just a distracting as headset to head talking.>>>
That's a subjective law that most lawyers will have a field day with in court. "I wasn't distracted".."you were distracted"
This law is cut and dry. No interpretation. No maybe. No gray area. You are on phone, you get a ticket. Stop this nonsense of "law already on the books".
I can understand the law and that people should obey it, but setting up check points seems to be just a money making deal for metro. If they were so concerned about people using their cell phones, why didn't they set up check points before when there was no fines? It is all about the money, nothing more, nothing less.
Oh jeez, you had several months of prior knowledge of the law. You had police issuing warnings. After all the media coverage...if you're on the phone or texting while driving at this point, you're either an idiot or simply don't care about the law or the consequences. Checkpoint or no checkpoint, get off the phone. You know the law.
pension police! They are now the collection agency for Pers!
While I agree wholeheartedly with the "hang up and drive" theory. It's government getting into my life even further that I don't like.
So, most mature and intelligent adults go pop for a Bluetooth and be done with it. Then there are the defiant few who insist on talking and texting and the hell with the law! Nothing is that important that you must immediately start dialing the second you leave the house. Stay home and make your call. Our lives were far less complicated BEFORE the cellphone. I know mine was and never once did I have an immediate, urgent reason to make a phone call while driving! It's all just mindless chit chat. BUT...I'm getting a little tired of the government making a law for this, and a law for that, and another law for whatever.
I want LESS GOVERNMENT in my life, NOT MORE! As for Metro's 'take', I'm sure it'll go into the wrongful death coffers for the next person unlucky enough to get "center massed" by Metro on a whim!
I'm so happy to be getting out of Las Vegas, can't wait to get away from the ever increasing number of whackjobs in this city!
How many of you sheep who are clamoring for these expanded police powers are also the first ones to support abortion rights, because the government has "no right" to tell you what to do with a woman's body? Wish Metro would run saturation patrols in my neighborhood to prevent burglaries. Whoops, no money in that. "To protect and serve..."
who needs to see warnings and what for ?
We cant wait either, Mindy.
@thinkdifferent
It's a cell phone law on driving...the storm troopers are not visiting your home. Expanded police powers?...LOL.
KillerB states:
"Throw into the mix it also creates a criminal record and you'll start to grasp what a can of worms this law created."
Actually, a minor traffic violation is an infraction, not a "criminal" offense. (I learned that in traffic court a few years back). While it will be on your DMV printout, it is not going to create a criminal record.
Since all hands on phone users (while driving) are knowingly breaking the law, I consider this sort of police action perfectly o.k.
I do have a problem with the crosswalk stings where an undercover officer steps out in front of you for the sole reason of creating a "violation" the driver otherwise wouldn't have made. Since that officer was only stepping out to create violators, not to actually cross the road on the way to somewhere.
I am 100% in favor of DUI and license checkpoints, as well as the phone violation sweeps.
Here in California every other female (20-50 age) in a Lexus seems to think the phone law does not apply to them.
That $475 Palm springs ticket mentioned above was obviously for a multi time repeat offender.
If you don't want a ticket, stay off of the phone.
Lots of whining about this law, mostly by those who break it.
Don't yak on the phone while driving and you won't get a ticket.
If your phone is your life, you don't have one.
The part of the law that I do NOT agree with is the exemption: The law exempts firefighters, medical personnel and police officers who are responding to an emergency. Cops and firefighters HAVE special training to operate phones and computers while driving? I think not! Inattention is inattention.
Stilwell is nothing more than a non-conformance. Its makes no difference whether its a bowl of cereal, the law is clear, no hand device will be in used when driving. If everyone would obey the law, there would be no need for check points, but since many in society feel they are above the law, then check points service a purpose.
"Actually, a minor traffic violation is an infraction, not a "criminal" offense. (I learned that in traffic court a few years back). While it will be on your DMV printout, it is not going to create a criminal record."
Bakersfield -- your ignorance is showing. Read the actual law, SB 140 (Enrolled) -- "A person who violates any provision of subsection 1 is guilty of a misdemeanor..."
"The legitimate powers of government extend to such acts only as are injurious to others." -- Thomas Jefferson, Notes on the State of Virginia, 1781-82
"The part of the law that I do NOT agree with is the exemption: The law exempts firefighters, medical personnel and police officers who are responding to an emergency."
Harley521 -- almost didn't see you there in the "untrusted" section. Actually there's 3 more classes exempted. Look under subsection 4 @ http://www.leg.state.nv.us/Session/76th2...
"Its makes no difference whether its a bowl of cereal, the law is clear, no hand device will be in used when driving."
express445 -- and I thought Bakersfield was ignorant! Go to the above link and read under (1). No bowls of cereal there. So the "non-conformance" is right and you're wrong.
"Indifference to personal liberty is but the precursor of the State's hostility to it." -- United States v. Penn, 647 F.2d 876 (9th Circuit, 1980), Judge Kennedy dissenting
In California, the CHP will cite you for eating while driving. Any activity that distracts a driver is a citation.
Rights are the way a person looks at them, but there is no right to eating while driving. Putting mustard and mayo on a Turkey San, and a taking a bite is not a Constitutional Guarantee. Put down the Mayo and drive, or:
If you are hungry, pull over, stop and finish the Turkey San. Learn to relax and to Bell with multi-tasking. Relax. Do one thing at a time and enjoy it. Life is too short to do anything otherwise.
It's still legal to cross the street while jabbering away on a cell phone.
Let's not go after the gangs and big problems in the valley---that doesn't raise any revenue--let's go after the regular folks who can pay the tickets--- mean while the cops come flying by me every day driving 100mph talking on phone with no seatbelt on---a true fascist state.
By mrlucky
<<Let's not go after the gangs and big problems in the valley---that doesn't raise any revenue--let's go after the regular folks who can pay the tickets--- mean while the cops come flying by me every day driving 100mph talking on phone with no seatbelt on---a true fascist state.>>
A total insult and ignorant statement to those who lived thru the holocaust and nazi Germany. Learn some history about fascism before writing.
I'm in law enforcement and I think this new law is a complete waste of time. Bad drivers are bad drivers. It doesn't matter if its their phone, the stereo, the a/c, if they can't multitask then they are going to cause accidents.
KillerB,
My comment was based on what a judge told me, as well as the 100+ others in the courtroom that day (in 2009). He stated "none of you are criminals". Making the comment that an "imfraction" (traffic violation) is not a "criminal" offense, but merely an "infraction" (one that can of course be corrected with a few hundred dollars). He did reduce my $270 fine to $100! Maybe Nevada sees it differently than here in California. I was merely stating what a California Judge said.
Any speed of more than 25 over the limit is considered more than an infraction, and can lead to arrest.
Metro should also be taking digital photos of the violators in these phone stings, would weed out a large number of the "I didn't do it" crowd when the evidence is shown to them.
They do have the cell phone sweeps here too. I think they also look for seat belt / child seat violators.
Note to drivers, Stay off of the phone while in traffic and you will not be cited! Any cop will tell you the best way to avoid a ticket is not to give them any reason to stop you.
The real question we should all be asking is whether or not this the best use of Metro officers and the extra funds needed to pay for these checkpoints?
The only conclusion I can come to is that Metro is overstaffed. I suggest an immediate hiring freeze and some pink slips if Metro has these kinds of extra resources.
Isn't it interesting that the focus is ALWAYS on the east side of town?? Why the He@@ are these cops not in Summerlin??? Oh yeah, I forgot,Summerlin doesn't have any people on cell phones, just killer cops shooting innocent people at a Walmart. Why don't you killers step up to the plate and cover ALL areas????? To those of you that said you would be afraid of someone in a leather vest or coat that had a gun...get a life! Don't judge a book by it's cover.