Driving on Fort? Put away the phone (MPs to crack down on use of devices)

FORT HUACHUCA — Starting Monday, people using a cell phone without a hands-free device while driving a motor vehicle on Fort Huachuca will receive a fine.

The fine for this violation is $50 plus court administrative fees, which are currently $25, according to the Fort Huachuca Public Affairs Office.

The use of a non-hands-free cell phone or Blackberry device while operating a motor vehicle on Fort Huachuca is prohibited for military personnel and civilians. This prohibition is extended to all soldiers operating any motor vehicle, whether on post or off post. Personnel not affiliated with the fort, including visitors, must adhere to this policy and can be fined for violations, the Public Affairs Office said.

Motor vehicle operators who hold a telephone in the immediate proximity of their ear while the vehicle is in motion is presumed to be engaged in a call.

Fort Huachuca’s property begins right after crossing Buffalo Soldier Trail at the Main Gate, at the old gates by the East Gate and includes the road leading to the Mountain View Golf Course.

amd as reported by the Arizona Daily Star
http://www.azstarnet.com/metro/283085.php

Fort gets tough on use of car phones

By Carol Ann Alaimo

Arizona Daily Star

Tucson, Arizona | Published: 03.06.2009

advertisementAfter years of warnings, Fort Huachuca is getting tougher on drivers who chat on hand-held cell phones on Army property.

Starting Monday, motorists on the military installation will face penalties of $75 per violation — a $50 fine plus a $25 court administrative fee.

The fine also applies to drivers who use BlackBerry devices behind the wheel. It does not apply to hands-free phone use.

Local Army leaders “believe using the cell phone is a distraction, and we feel we will get people’s attention a little bit more with the fine,” said Tanja Linton, a spokeswoman for the Army post, about 75 miles southeast of Tucson.

The use of hand-held cell phones while driving has been banned at Fort Huachuca since 2005. The following year, the Defense Department instituted a ban at all military bases but left punishments up to the discretion of local commanders.

Until now, Fort Huachuca has been letting motorists go with warnings, Linton said.

But fort safety officials recently noticed that “some of the biggest abusers” involved motorists chatting on cell phones while driving through school zones on post, Linton said.

When a safety official announced the new fines at a recent parents meeting, “People actually stood up and applauded,” she said.

The ban applies to all motorists on the installation, not just military personnel.

In the civilian world, only a handful of states ban the use of hand-held cell phones while driving. Arizona isn’t among them.

Tucson’s Davis-Monthan Air Force Base also took steps recently to increase the penalty for talking and driving. As of Jan. 1, those caught in the act at D-M are banned from driving on base for one week.

Contact reporter Carol Ann Alaimo at 573-4138 or at calaimo@azstarnet.com.

I can't understand why people invest in cell phones but not a wireless ear piece. I live in a rural area and do two things. I use the Bluetooth always when driving. I also have a cell phone mount on my dash so the phone is located just to the right of the steering wheel and sticks out just above the dash. It cuts down on dropped calls to almost being nil even where I live. Placing the phone there also allows me to see the phone keyboard without taking my eyes off the road. With Bluetooth and voice command I don't even touch the phone. Completely safe way to drive and talk on a cell phone.

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