California Passes Law Allowing Hands-Free Texting
Posted on Jul 23rd 2012
California recently passed a bill that makes voice-activated texting while driving legal. The Freedom to Communicate bill, signed by Gov. Jerry Brown July 13, will be in effect Jan. 1, 2013. Until then, all texting while driving is illegal in the state of California, and has been for about three years.
There is some confusion about which services are acceptable under the “hands-free” designation. Touching your phone in any way – to wake it up, activate voice-to-text services, or open an application – is unacceptable. This means apps like Apple’s Siri, which require phone interaction to open, are not currently considered hands-free under the law.
It is okay to send or receive text messages through devices specifically made for hands-free text messaging like OnStar or a Bluetooth headset. This can be a bit confusing, but despite the gray areas, there are a few clear-cut answers for Californians and anyone who wants to be safer on the road.
Learn more about the hands-free texting solution that is right for you:
Cars with OnStar or integrated Bluetooth connections that will read a text message or send one when paired with a phone are in compliance with the law.
BlueAnt S4 Bluetooth Visor Speakerphone
When used in combination with the Vlingo app, this Bluetooth device is a great option. Hands-free texting is just one of the many great features of this device, which is our recommended visor speakerphone.
When used in combination with MotoSpeak (Motorola's voice-dication Android app), the Motorola Elite Sliver is a great option for hands-free texting. The Elite Sliver has a Smart Button feature that activates MotoSpeak without users having to touch their phones.
Select Plantronics headsets, including the Plantronics M155 Marque and Plantronics Voyager PRO HD, come with a 1-year subscription to the Vocalyst service, which allows users to send text messages and emails. With the service, Plantronics headsets will also read aloud text messages, emails, and social media updates. Plantronics headset users can subscribe to Vocalyst after the first year runs out or if the headset does not include a free 1-year subscription.
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Activating Siri with the iPhone’s Home button isn’t an option, but using Siri with a Bluetooth headset or corded headphones is. Any Bluetooth device or corded headphones with a microphone and call button is compatible with Siri. Like tapping the home button on their iPhones, users can tap the headset or headphones’ Call button to alert Siri. Apple Earbuds and Plantronics Voyager Pro HD in particular work well with Siri.
The Settings menu in the Speech application in Windows Phone 7 devices includes a selection called “Read aloud incoming text messages.” Windows Phone 7 users can set it to be used only when paired with a Bluetooth headset or just turn on the setting before getting in the car. After listening to a text, users can send a reply, entirely hands free. This includes devices like HTC Titan II, Nokia Lumia 900, Samsung Focus 2, HTC Arrive, and Samsung Focus Flash.
Vlingo’s “InCar” module allows users to activate voice control by greeting the app with “Hi, Vlingo!” The app is available for Android, BlackBerry, iOS, Nokia, Windows Mobile and select feature phones.
Sonalight Text By Voice
This voice-to-text application can be activated before leaving the driveway, so users are hands free while on the road. Sonalight Text By Voice is available for Android phones.
Those affected by the law can turn on any of these apps or devices before starting their cars and stay connected behind the wheel. These popular options will allow users to let someone know they’re running late, communicate ideas that strike during their daily commute, or satisfy the urge to check their phones the second they buzz.