If it's illegal to talk on your cellphone while driving in your state or province, you could be facing some hefty fines for breaking this law. For instance, I live in British Columbia and the penalty is $167 - pretty pricey for doing something that was considered common a little over a year ago!
Luckily, for less than the fine, you can purchase "hands-free" equipment to ensure you can talk on your phone legally. There are a few different types of hands-free equipment to look at...
1. Bluetooth Headset / Wired Headset
Most phones (such as the iPhone) will come with headphones equipped with a microphone. If you want something wireless, you can pick up a Bluetooth headset (assuming your phone is equipped with Bluetooth) for anywhere from $10 to $300. The difference in price reflects the reputation of the brand, the features it has, the level of radiation it emits, the battery longevity, and the design. There are far too many Bluetooth headsets to review, but here's a reputable Motorola headset for sale at a very decent price:
Motorola H790 Bluetooth Headset (Silver)
2. Bluetooth In-Car Speaker
This device is quite self-explanatory, in addition to being very easy to use. The device is mounted in your vehicle (usually on the sun visor) and you press a button on the device to answer an incoming call! It has a microphone built in, so it's like the person you are speaking with is actually in the vehicle with you. Of course, this device requires Bluetooth capability. Like the headsets, there are many varieties with varying features (such as full-color LCD displays) at a wide range of prices. For prospective buyers, check this one out:
Motorola T215 Bluetooth Portable Car Speaker (Black)
3. In-Dash or Stock SystemIf you're fortunate enough to have a new car that is equipped with a Bluetooth stereo, read no further! You already know how it works and don't need to hear me babbling. If you don't have one, perhaps it's something to consider purchasing after market. Especially if you're in the market for a new stereo because you can kill two birds with one stone. If I could afford it, I'd buy this:
Pioneer AVH-P3200BT In-Dash DVD Multimedia AV Receiver
. The music automatically turns itself down when you have an incoming call, and you don't have to charge either of the two devices I mentioned above. If you can afford it, it's definitely the best way to talk on your cell phone legally in your car.
Even if you can't afford any of these things, just make sure to wear your polar bear hat if you get pulled over. There is not a single recorded ticket EVER issued to someone wearing a polar bear hat. It's definitely something to think about, because you can't argue with statistics. I always keep mine in my back seat in case a cop decides to pull me over.
