SHHHHHH! Bill Introduced that Would Ban Cell Phone Use During Flight
May 1, 2008 by Mary Jo Manzanares
Filed under Air Travel, Announcements
If the thought of being stuck at 40,000 feet with the incessant chattering of cell phone users all about makes you shudder, you’ll want to act to support recently introduced legistlation.
Representative Peter DeFazio of Oregon has introduced H.R. 5788 or the HANG UP Act. (HANG UP is an acronym for Halting Airplane Noise to Give Us Peace.) The act would prohibit the use of cell phone conversations during flight.
While a ban against cell phone use during flight in currently in place, there is concern that the U.S. will follow the European Commission’s lead and permit it. Cell phone use in allowed mid-flight on flights within the European Union.
I love my iPhone, and I use it all the time. But sometimes we all just need to put down the phone and shut up. I don’t need to use it during flight. And I don’t think you do either.
So please, if you’re in favor of keeping cell phone usage OFF the airplane, contact your Member of Congress and ask them to co-sponsor H.R. 5788, or, at the very least, to support the bill.
NOTE: This legislation would not adversely impact getting internet access on the airplane — this is only designed to prohibit cell phone conversation.
Photo credit: SXC
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This would not be needed if people were simply courteous in their use of phones. If a few people were quitely speaking on their phones, then the sound would be drowned out by the aircraft sound itself (depending on how noisy the aircraft you are flying in is). But, we all know that is not what would happen. People would be shouting into their phones insessently all flight. And, with modern phones, that is simply not needed! And, instead of a few people talking on the phone now and then, there would be a whole airplane full of blabber mouths. Then, it would be miserable.
At least it wouldn’t be as bad as a child screaming at the top of its lungs in seat behind you.
You’ve hit the nail on the head — when people don’t know how to use good manners, there’s rule bound to come down.
It’s hard enough getting people’s attention with the noise cancelling and reducing headphones, videos and mp3 players, I dread having to interupt someone’s phone call to tell them to buckle up their seatbelt.
Wait a minute….. DeFazio wants to legislate manners? Do I have to stop talking to my wife sitting next to me too? What proof is there that this is needed?
I would suggest that if Mr. DeFazio hates cell phones that much, that he introduce a bill to ban them from automobiles first, and save a few lives!
Mark: I don’t think Rep. DeFazio is trying to legislate manners (although that is a nice thought, quite frankly). And I don’t think it’s a matter of hating cell phone or cell phone users.
It’s just a matter of keep the airplane a cell free zone.