BASE TARGETING CELL PHONES EDWARDS TO CITE DRIVERS TALKING ON DEVICES.Byline: Jim Skeen Staff Writer EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE Edwards Air Force Base, U.S. military installation, 301,000 acres (121,805 hectares), S Calif., NE of Lancaster; est. 1933. It is one of the largest air force bases in the United States and has the world's longest runway. - Beginning next week, Edwards Air Force Base will begin cracking down on motorists who talk on their cell phones while driving on base. Under a new Defense Department policy, driving while talking on a cell phone is considered a moving violation A moving violation is any violation of the law, committed by the driver of a vehicle, while it is in motion. The term "motion" distinguishes it from parking violations. While parking violations are charged against a vehicle (which will be towed if violations go unpaid or are . Edwards officials said they will begin enforcement April 4. Drivers also are prohibited pro·hib·it tr.v. pro·hib·it·ed, pro·hib·it·ing, pro·hib·its 1. To forbid by authority: Smoking is prohibited in most theaters. See Synonyms at forbid. 2. from wearing any portable headphones Head-mounted speakers. Headphones have a strap that rests on top of the head, positioning a pair of speakers over both ears. For listening to music or monitoring live performances and audio tracks, both left and right channels are required. , earphones or other listening devices except for hands-free devices for cellular phones, the Air Force said. ``It's a privilege to drive on base,'' said base spokesman Chris Ball. ``If our employees are stopped for talking on the phone, they can be deducted de·duct v. de·duct·ed, de·duct·ing, de·ducts v.tr. 1. To take away (a quantity) from another; subtract. 2. To derive by deduction; deduce. v.intr. points off their license.'' Drivers can be pulled over solely for that violation, Edwards officials said. A motorist could lose up to three points for such a violation. If motorists lose 12 points in a year, they can lose their base-driving privileges for up to a year. ``Hopefully our civilians and contractors will respect the regulation,'' Ball said. Drivers can use their cell phones while in their cars provided that the vehicle is parked or they are using hands-free devices. Under the Defense Department policy, each installation is responsible for determining the punishment of the violation. In recent weeks, a number of military installations have just started implementing the policy. A number of states and organizations are coming out against cell-phone use while driving. California is among several states that bans the use of cell phones by transit- or school-bus drivers and Colorado enacted a law to prohibit anyone with a learner's permit Noun 1. learner's permit - a document authorizing the bearer to learn to drive an automobile license, permit, licence - a legal document giving official permission to do something , regardless of age, from using a cell phone while driving. The National Transportation Safety Board is recommending that states adopt laws banning the use of cell phones by novice drivers. Among the crashes the NTSB NTSB abbr. National Transportation Safety Board cites is a February 2002 crash in Maryland in which a driver using a cell phone lost control of a sport utility vehicle that then flipped and landed on top of a minivan, killing all five people in the two vehicles. Jim Skeen, (661) 267-5743 james.skeen(at)dailynews.com |
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