Cellphone Talkers

Cellphone Talkers

Having a cell phone is a  good idea...  Right?

While driving along I-5 (or major Freeway), you are guaranteed to count, at least 10 drivers talking on their cell phone.  If I were to get paid $0.25 for every driver I caught talking on their cell phone while driving their vehicle, I would become a rich man.  Most people whom talk on their cell phone while driving don't realize that they have the potential to kill someone!

On one weekday afternoon in February 2003, I decided to take pictures of every driver that was talking on their cell phone while driving.  The capacity of my digital camera was 96 pictures, and I had it mounted to take a picture of the driver through the front windshield (because many cars have tinted windows).  Out of a 10-mile stretch of I-5, my camera had taken 96 photos!  Of those 96 drivers, 43 were females and 53 were males!

My opinion is, less than 1% of the drivers using their cell phone while driving had a real emergency.

Do you want to know how to annoy users of a cell phone?  Here is how:

• Pretend to take notes of their conversation.

• Ask them questions about their phone call.  For instance, if they mentioned "Terry" in their call, ask them, "How is Terry doing?"

• Watch them talk on the phone and stare at them (Make Faces).

• Laugh with them when they laugh.

• Show them a sign that reads, "I can hear your phone call!"

• Display a bumper sticker that reads, "Encourage Eavesdropping, Talk On Your Cell Phone!"

• If nearby the talker, then make annoying sounds, like coughing or talk loudly to someone nearby.

• If the cell phone talking driver is behind your vehicle and you need a new bumper, slam on your brakes!  Their cell phone company will have recorded that they were using the phone before, during, and after the accident.  Sue the driver for inattentive driving!

Current FCC laws prohibit eavesdropping on telephone calls, but there is NO law that says you can not take notes what people talk about.  Also, there is NO law that says Lip-reading is Illegal.  Mimic their emotions...  If they laugh, then laugh, too.  If their face looks serious, then laugh while pretending to understand their conversation.  Also, if you have the money, go to Radio Shack and buy a Frequency Counter...  Why?  The Frequency Counter may be able to display the phone frequency of their unit.  You can't eavesdrop on a Frequency Counter, so you are not breaking any laws.

As for me, I have a cell phone.  If I am driving and it rings, I look at the caller ID to see if I should answer it.  If I answer the phone while driving, then, immediately, I will pull over to the shoulder and talk on the phone.  If I am in the library and my cell phone rings, I will answer it and quickly, end the call.  If it is important, then I quickly, go outside.  --  I certainly don't want to give anyone the opportunity to listen to my phone calls!

End of Official Report.

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This page was last update:  Friday, May 23, 2003