This is not one of the photos in question. This one is from 2007. TMZ has many more. Credit: Fame Pictures
The first lady of California needs to invest in a cell phone headset. Maria Shriver has been photographed multiple times talking on her phone while driving, which is absolutely illegal in her state thanks to laws signed by her husband, governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. TMZ has been posting photos of Maria chatting while driving, and the governor has noticed. He sent a tweet to TMZ head Harvey Levin that there will be “swift action” for Maria’s “violations.” Uhoh:
The celebrity Web site TMZ.com posted two photographs Tuesday showing Shriver holding a phone to her ear while she’s behind the wheel. It says one was snapped Sunday and the other in July.
The Web site later added a video it said was shot Tuesday in Brentwood, where the family lives. It shows Shriver holding a cell phone to her ear while driving a large SUV that appears to be a Cadillac Escalade. She then puts the phone down while the camera is rolling.
The first lady’s office said it would have no comment.
On his Twitter feed, Schwarzenegger wrote to TMZ.com founder Harvey Levin: “Thanks for bringing her violations to my attention. There’s going to be swift action.”
Schwarzenegger spokesman Aaron McLear says that by “swift action,” the governor means he’ll ask his wife not to hold the phone while driving.
In a note accompanying the video, TMZ responded to Schwarzenegger’s tweet by saying, “… your scofflaw wife was at it again.”
A law that took effect in July 2008 requires California drivers to use a handsfree device when talking on cell phones.
Since then, the California Highway Patrol has issued more than 150,000 citations. That figure does not include citations issued by local police.
Drivers who are spotted by law enforcement officers holding a cell phone to their ear are subject to fines of at least $20 for the first ticket and $50 for subsequent tickets, plus additional fees.
In Los Angeles County, where Brentwood is located, the Superior Court has set the cost at about $93 for the first ticket and $201 for the next one, meaning Shriver would owe at least $300 in fines and court fees had she been caught by police.
Schwarzenegger has previously praised the regulation and said he warned his then-16-year-old daughter that if she ever violated the law, “she’ll be taking the bus.”
[From AP via Yahoo! News]
If Ahnold vowed to take away his daughter’s car if she talked on the phone while driving, what kind of “swift action” is he going to take with his wife? I would imagine it would involve a lot of steely glares, but I think I’m confusing him with the characters he’s played. I often see people talking on the phone while driving – usually badly. A 2006 study showed that talking on a phone while driving, either handheld or with a headset, is just as dangerous as driving drunk at the blood alcohol limit.
In related news about the Governator, he recently signed a very tough anti-paparazzi amendment which goes into effect in January and “makes it a crime to take and sell unauthorized photos of celebrities in ‘personal or familial activity.'” That sounds pretty broad, and I guess it means that celebrities will have more protection against being photographed on private property or even when they’re not in the mood. Maybe celebrities like Jennifer Garner who are endlessly hounded while they’re dropping their kids off at school will get a break with this new law.
Just like anyone else with a name, Maria thinks she is above it all. Be nice if she were issued tickets for her infractions, but then again, I guess you only get those when you are actually pulled over for the infraction and not just photographed by the paps.
Still, she is an ass.
She should set the example. Shame.
“Thanks for bringing her violations to my attention. There’s going to be swift action”
Read this in an Ahnold voice, and tell me it’s not dirty code. I expect there will be spanking, frankly.
“Do you know who I am?” demands Maria Shriver, VIP, when asked why she doesn’t obey the law.
lol @princess pea!
LOL @ princess pea, I was thinking the same thing. 🙂
yeah because all kennedys are above the law they get away killing people too.. eh hem Ted
Oh nothing will happen to her. he may be the govanator but she rules the house.
I live in cali and I use blue tooth. They aren’t too expensive and the wired handsets are even less.
But Kudos to the “Ahnold” for the anti pap law. It’ll be a god send to those with small children
gives credence to the whole “some people are more equal than others” thing.
or, at least they like to THINK they are.
That is incredibly upsetting. Who does she think she is, so she’s a Kennedy and married to the governor, does that give her a right to endanger other people’s lives? People who drive with their cellphones are just being selfish.
Oh puh-leeze! I live in the O.C. and I see people driving on the freeway while holding the phone to their ear every single day. Even though the law was passed people still try to get away with it. I’m glad the law went into effect because it’s scary enough seeing a teenager driving on the road, let alone one that’s talking on a cell phone!
@ princesspea, so was I. 😉
I doubt many people have stopped using their cellphones in Cali – it has a higher population of people who do whatever they want, no matter what, than the rest of the US, I’m guessing.
Up here in Canada, a number of provinces have banned cellphone use while driving. A few years ago, the Premier (equivalent to Governor) of Newfoundland was stopped and ticketed for driving while on his phone (he passed the law, so to speak). He ‘fessed up and basically said, “my bad,” and paid his fine.
Granted though, he’s not a Kennedy.
My favorite-seeing the cops on the freeway on their phone. I have pictures of it so if i get pulled over for speeding or anything i can say why don’t you go after your own enforcers first. they’re supposed to set an example for me.
This doesn’t surprise me. She’s a phony with a capital F.
Everyone I know in California has stopped using their cell phones on the road. They are very brutal on that rule in Northern Cal.
I’m not stupid enough to think that just because the law was passed, everyone has stopped, but for pete’s sake, she the wife of the governor, if she isn’t going to do it who is? And frankly, those cops are totally idiots — if you flaunt that law, don’t be surprised when people flaunt other laws, perhaps putting your ass in danger. Grrr, people can be so damn annoying.