blugrn23 - I agree with you about too many laws. Those of us who have brains and common sense(and use them) are at the mercy of those who don't. I have vehicle insurance because it's the right thing to do, not because the state says to, and I also do not talk on my phone when driving, because it's not a smart thing to do. Daily I see people that are putting me at risk. That's not right either. Just saying. . .

thekid3477 -

Don't you know that Janesville is full of hypocrites? They want it both ways and when they can't get it they whine like little babies.

...meanwhile eating, putting on makeup, reading books, etc. are still "legal". While you could get a ticket for distracted driving, phones should be in the same category.

i love how some people continually scream LESS GOVERNMENT and then support more laws. google 'hypocrite'.

I watched a police officer jump the curb while turning and typing on his squad car computer. And they should ticket us for unsafe vehicle operation?

I agree w/being safe and not using cell while driving, but what happen to a FREE COUNRTY ..
This is not much of a free country nemore if you ask me...do this dont do that...permit for this and that...cmon!

"and members of the military driving military vehicles while conducting official business"

Per regulation Army Soldiers can not talk on the phone in a military vehicle.

You are really complaining about being able to buy beer at a gas station? Really? I mean, REALLY?????

Okay, let me get this straight. In Wisconsin, I'll be able to talk to my loaded gun while I'm driving - but not my cell phone?

I wonder what Wisconsin Rapids' view on CB radios is like? Especially in huge heavy dangerous trucks.

and your hand on your beer

Always keep your eyes on the road

phatfly - agree 100%.

Let's face it. Bad driving habits go well beyond talking on the phone. It includes anything that distracts a driver from the primary task of driving. Just creating laws to stop this will lead to laws that force anyone with children in the vehicle to have at least one other person capable to supervise those children...so the driver won't have to (and lawfully can't). Or maybe they should outlaw radios in the vehicle because you have to take your eyes off the road to use it. We should start fining people that have food in the vehicle, because eating is a distraction. Where does it end? On top of all that, look how many people run stop signs and speed. That's already against the law and most of us do it ALL the time. I am all for making things safer, but the solution has to make sense and have a considerably realistic overall impact to actually improve the situation. If x, y and z are problems that lead to accidents that cause injury and/or death ... then only focusing on x, while doing nothing about y and z ... is not a real solution.

There already is a law, its called inattentive driving. Whether you're on the phone, putting on make-up, changing the radio, or what not... if you dont have the ability to turn your neck to look, or are just a dumb driver that cant pay attention... you get a ticket for "inattentive driving". Why havnt we banned drive-thru's yet? I dont know how many people at lunch I see trying to sift through their bag and eat while driving. If you dont have the ability to talk and drive at the same time... you should never be on the road in the first place... You are an accident waiting to happen. Because at any given time you could be distracted and kill someone.

I personally think that if there are that many bad drivers on the road...then the answer isn't going to be creating laws for everything we deem inappropriate behavior. The answer is driver training. The last time most of us did any driving training or testing was when we got our license. I haven't. The last time I did was when I got the license over 20 years ago. The answers aren't about creating laws like this one. The answer is going to be about better training and maybe that means that every other year or every five years you need to be retested at the DMV. That will make better drivers. Also, maybe their should be medical certification requirements for drivers like there are for pilots and commercial drivers. If you don't have a current medical and the proper re currency training your license is automatically suspended. That would force EVERYONE to lern how to drive better.

SURE WISH JANESVILLE HAD THAT LAW...AS SO MANY IDIOTS (YOUNG & OLD) DRIVE & TALK.....NO EXCUSES FOR STUPIDITY.

SPINMASTER- YOU HIT IT RIGHT ON THE HEAD!!! IF YOU HAVE TO TALK & DRIVE PULL OVER IF ITS THAT DAMN IMPORTANT.

This is a ridiculous thing for a city to enact. Visitors to your city are going to be oblivious to this law if there are no visible signs posted as they enter your town. To be one or two cities not to allow this in an entire state that does ... it's silly and targeting visitors should be considered criminal. Also, why not include those on "official business?" I am an instrument pilot and think that my training in cockpit management skills probably far exceeds some part-time fireman, police officer or city clerk's ability to manage themselves in a vehicle. Soon all vehicles will have the same sterile environment rules that the FAA imposes. What's going to be even more disappointing: soon we'll have laws that push for a completely childproofed environment in the name of improving safety and saving lives. There will be laws like: you must wear a life jacket when within 100 feet of any body of water. People are going to stop bathing in their own homes without a life jacket, or if your neighbor has a pool...you'll have to wear a life jacket while sitting in your living room. It sounds absurd! But that's the path we are taking when we allow our governments (city, state and federal) to keep intruding in our daily lives like this. I would be all for stoping new drivers from doing this, but MOST of us have been driving for decades and most of that time while talking on the phone. Just as a reminder: Accidents happen and all the laws in the world won't stop them happening.

Ha, ha, what is a phone booth?
I think that I just saw Clark Kent duck into one.

....and Exempt from the law is Police. Firemen, ambulance drivers, and military??? if for one make it for all... They all have radios ( that are truncated so they have their own frequency to talk free and open...) they do not need to use them to let their familys' know that they are running late or what they need to pick up for dinner...
never liked the idea of public official not having to abide by this law.. ALL OR NONE... that simple...

I wonder if they are going to post it every where? So out of towners know. Kind of stupid I think. I can walk and chew gum at the same time....I can also driver and talk at the same time too. What next? Encapsulated cockpits to isolate drivers from anyone else that might be in the car for fear of them talking to them? Im sure this law will soon be thrown out.
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I guess if they ever pass a law like that around here and I get a call... im locking up the brakes and pulling over. Even if I cause an accident doing so I guess that is safer than talking while driving....lol. These laws are becoming so stupid. Pretty soon cars wont be allowed to have reverse because some people cant back up safely.

Doesn't this infringe upon the right to free speech? ;-)

spinmaster, well put.

spinmaster - So very well said!!! I don't see what's so danged important that it can't wait until people pull over or wait until they get where they're going.

Here's a brilliant idea: Don't talk on your cellphone when you're driving!!! Oh, lemme guess, you're so important that you just MUST talk on your phone while you're driving. People doing so deserve to be ticketed for being so stupid.

Worse than a speed trap! How does one traveling THROUGH this WI town know there is a law prohibiting cell phones? If laws are to be made regarding cells, it should be a statewide or even federal law. I was driving through Illinois, talking on my cell, not knowing it was illegal. Luckily, a guy in a truck next to me so advised me.