This week, a bill was passed in the Louisiana House of Representatives that bans talking on handheld cellphones (and text messaging) when you’re driving.  This isn’t law yet — it still has to meet with Senate approval. 

Expert testimony from the Highway Safety Commission estimated that 2,282 car accidents with 10 fatalities were caused by wireless communications devices in 2006.  And, the proposed law’s author (Rep. Austin Badon from New Orleans) says it’s not that big a deal - for $9 you can get a gizmo that converts the handheld cellphone to hands-free in your car. 

The law is controversial - and advocates for and against are rallying their followers to contact their state senators and let their opinions be heard. 

What do the scientists report?  Well, studies have found drivers talking on cellphones up to 10 minutes before a car crash were 4 times more likely to be in an accident.  However, these numbers don’t change from using an handheld or a handsfree cellphone — according to the statistics, talking on the phone while driving ups the likelihood that you’ll be involved in a car accident fourfold — so does this proposal really solve the problem?  Shouldn’t the law ban talking on cellphones while driving, regardless of handheld or handsfree? 

And, what do all this statistics and legislative arguments mean to a car accident victim?  Well, if you’ve got an attorney doing his homework, he might subpoena the cellphone records of the drivers, check their chattime for the 10 minutes prior to the car crash, and argue that this impacts the proximate cause — i.e., who is legally responsible for the accident and its insuing damages.�

It was Nick Hogan’s yellow hatchback Toyota Supra against Daniel Jacob’s silver convertible Dodge Viper.  Speed racing was involved in the August pile-up that incapacitated John Graziano ….

As detailed in today’s News Release by the Clearwater Florida Police, Hulk Hogan’s son, Nick Hogan Bollea, turned himself in this morning and was booked on the both felony and misdemeanor charges resulting from the August 26th car crash that left his friend John Graziano seriously incapacitated.   Witnesses have confirmed that Nick Hogan was speed racing with Daniel Jacobs, who’s being charges with reckless driving.  

What’s the law here?  Well, both civil and criminal law come into play in serious car crashes like this one.   There’s jail time to consider, fines, and big civil damages. 

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Orlando Bloom is reportedly being investigated by Los Angeles authorities for a hit and run last Friday night. Driving a friend’s car, Orlando had a car crash that left his friend (riding in the front passenger seat) with a fractured neck. Paparazzi recorded Orlando walking away from the scene, and then walking back, and later asking someone to call 911.

Lindsay Lohan’s out of rehab, but she still has to face hit and run charges stemming from her collision with a tree last Memorial Day. Lindsay was also charged with DUI - and cocaine was allegedly discovered in the car, as well. Lindsay was filmed running from the scene by paparazzi ….

Britney Spears was charged with hit and run on Monday, after she bumped her convertible Mercedes into another vehicle while she was parking the car. Paparazzi caught the entire episode — including Britney checking her car for damage, but not the victim’s, before going on her merry way — on video.

Okay, what’s up with these hit and run charges - and who should be most worried?

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This afternoon, Kiefer Sutherland’s attorney announced that he pleads “no contest” to Driving Under the Influence (he was arrested on 9/25 for two misdemeanor counts of DUI)  — he pled the same thing to a prior DUI in 2004. 

Also this afternoon, Britney Spear’s attorney appeared in court on her behalf — and Britney has been ordered to come into LA County and be booked for hit and run before the big 10/26 hearing in her custody case. 

What’s the big deal about all this?

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First, the kids:  the next hearing in the Britney Spears - Kevin Federline custody fight is scheduled for 10/26/07 before Commissioner Gordon (am I the only one that thinks “Batman” every time this guy’s name pops up?) …. Here’s a round-up:

10.04.07 – Britney Misses First Court-Ordered Visitation With the 2 Boys

 Britney’s kids wait in the car, stuck at the security gate, for 45 minutes and then return to Kevin Federline.  Britney Spears’ alleged reasons for not seeing her kids:  she was asleep and didn’t hear the buzzer, the intercom was broken, and today, Britney didn’t want to have the parenting coach around so she just didn’t answer the door.  Britney also tried to have the first visit in an hotel room, but Kevin Federline’s attorney nixed that (assumedly he threatened a court hearing on the issue) and Britney checked out of the hotel and returned home for the visit. 

10.03.07  Visitation Order Requires Supervision Of Britney During Visits

Another hearing - another Order:  this one placing even more restrictions on Britney Spears, in part because the Judge noted she had not been in “substantial compliance” with his prior orders and also in response to Britney not showing up for drug testing.  Now, not showing up for a test will be  “deemed by the court as a failed test.” 

Together, Commissioner Gordon’s two orders require the following:

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