a court found that holding a cell hone and looking at the mapping application on the phone without “active manipulation,” was not violating the hands free “operating” a cellphone as outlined by state law, but THEN some asshole govt lawyer appealed and the appeals court disagreed. It's now a court result that holding a phone, and looking at the map ap, is illegal. MFSOBGD BS!

The original court found 'there must be something equated to carrying out a function, actively using or manipulating the phone while holding and driving,” court documents read. “This may include talking, listening, emailing, browsing the internet, playing video games, or otherwise engaging with the smartphone. Merely observing GPS directions on the phone does not constitute the kind of active use or manipulation to trigger an infraction under the statute.”

I agree, it's not like looking at a Rand McNally while driving was illegal, or using the damn car radio, or changing a cassette or CD was illegal - though I won't argue that they take your eyes off the road. So does eating a burger, drinking, and reaching for those items from the cupholder or passenger seat, chatting with a passenger and occasionally looking at them... this isn't behavior that causes cars to collide, or leave the road. It's merely being relaxed at the wheel, and experienced at driving, and able to maintain your cars direction, lane use, and velocity, while doing other things. 

the California Court of Appeal for the sixth appellate district concluded that the term “operating” under the aforementioned law “prohibits all use of a handheld phone’s functions while driving, including looking at an application on the phone.”

 That the state law prohibits the handheld use of cellphones while driving applies to holding phones operating as navigation systems.

https://fox5sandiego.com/news/california-news/holding-a-cellphone-for-navigation-while-driving-is-illegal-california-court-rules

Damn! More govt bullshit in order to ticket tax vehicle operators with traffic cameras! Using a map is not TALKING on a phone, it's not as damn distracting!  

I just thought you oughta know about this. I doubt it's going to make mainline news