Law on mobile phones in a car?

Question

If you r in a car that is stationary but the engine is running can the police do u for being on ur mobile phone?
Also if the engine is turned off and u r on ur mobile can they do u for that 2?

Answer 1

the car has to be stationary and the engine off

Answer 2

The vehicle must be stationary, lawfully parked, engine off.
Stationary at traffic lights, road works etc is still an offence.
If you just pull over you may still be causing an obstruction or a danger to other road users, also an offence.
Not being in proper control of a vehicle and not being in a position to have a proper view are also endorsable offences. So reaching into the glove box for sweeties, reading maps, programming sat navs, brushing your hair, shaving, eating, drinking and a whole host of similar activities could get you £60 and 3 points.
Keep both hands on the wheel and pay attention.

Answer 3

If depends where you are. If you are stationary with the engine running, but in a 'safe' place (car park, lay-by, hard shoulder environs etc) then no, I would say you are safe. Other than that, if the engine is not running (a huge traffic queue etc), you SHOULD be OK and it would take a particularly zealous policeman to criticise you for that, but it's not worth the risk if you're in a situation that creates any doubt.

Funnily enough though, they don't criticise anyone having a ***, changing CDs, eating a sandwhich, or driving along with one arm on the window ledge.

Answer 4

Yorkshire is correct. You have to be parked with the engine off to make a call.
The law should have gone further as even using a bluetooth device will reduce your concentration on the road. This may well lead to an accident.
Companies should be aware that if they don't tell their employees that they shouldn't do this on company business, they may be guilty of corporate manslaughter.
I saw a woman doing her makeup at 50mph in a 40mph zone yesterday and its not uncommon to see people combing hair, talking with their heads turned to the side or behind and I have seen idiots reading newspapers and maps when driving so the police should be doing more to stops these people. Its not just phones, its anything that reduces concentration on the road.

Answer 5

People need to abide by the law because they feel it is right, then maybe the police would get on and do the jobs that really affect us all, like catching murderers, rapists and paedophiles. But a £60 fine is not enough, a lot of people spend that sort of money on a night out. Make the fine £1000 and you might get some sort of reaction. 3 points, well that's not going to worry most people either. The simple fact is that the police can't be everywhere, and if they were people would complain that we lived in a police state.

Answer 6

If you wish to use your,e Mobile whilst in the Driving seat of your car-- Pull Over , switch off the Engine then you can use your !Phone --- otherwise you are committing an Offence .....

Answer 7

I understood that you had to be parked with the keys out of the ignition. What really annoys me about this, is that you can still smoke while driving, and it is much more distracting to drop a lighted cigarette in your lap than mobile phoning. I also know of a local lad who was fined for eating a mars bar while driving. There was also a girl locally fined for drinking water from a bottle while at traffic light. Ban Smoking while driving!

Answer 8

This is an ill thought out law, because for an average of twelve hours a day, no one can see you because it's dark! I personally have never used my mobile while driving, that's because I find it hard to concentrate on the phone, but then, I'm only a man, women can multi task, it's OK for them.

Answer 9

Use of mobile phone even when the car is not running is still not allowed under the law because it is usage while driving in the strictest sense.

Answer 10

It largely depends on what state you are in. In California you must pull of the road to use your mobile phone but in other states the laws may differ.