This Independence Day should be interesting in California this year as a new law takes effect just days before the state celebrates with the rest of the Union it’s birthday. Police officers will be pulling people over for more than just possible DUI’s on this day as anyone caught talking on a phone while driving will give California’s and its various law enforcement departments reason to pull over and cite. While the fine is only $20 for being busted by the Badge, the real worry lies in that the Badge will now be able to pull you over and have reason to “check things out” because you’re talking on the phone without a headset. Yikes!

If that’s not nuts enough for you, then check this out. While California legislators agreed with a Harvard study (full report in PDF) that claimed 2,600 people are killed each year from talking on a cell phone while driving, those same legislators felt it was fine to allow drivers to do a little text messaging while navigating fossil fuel burners! In addition to that, you can take pictures with your phone, download games, surf the Internet, and be a good citizen and report accidents on Twitter. All without any fear of being pulled over and cited. Phew! I don’t know what I would have done if I couldn’t tweet while driving!

California is getting the word out and displaying warnings on its electronic signs through out the scene, as seen here on Interstate 80 Business in states capitol, Sacramento. (Note the reddish haze in the picture from the smoke coming from the nearly 900 fires currently a blaze in Northern California.) Surely many will ignore this sign because they are too busy talking on their phone but come July 1st, they’ll fine out quick enough.

Now, I wonder if all the cops I see talking on their cell phones while driving will go hands-free as well. Wonder if I can slap ‘em with a $20 fine if they don’t.