Cellport Systems, a provider of automotive wireless communications technologies and products, applauded a bill signed into law this week by New York Governor George E. Pataki making New York the first state to ban hand-held cell phone use while driving on any public highway. The law, designed to reduce driver distractions and make driving safer, also specifically permits drivers to use hands-free, voice-activated systems. Crashes involving drivers using hand-held cell phones have raised concerns about driver distractions, and some states haved called for restrictions on their use and for more research aimed at ways to minimize this disruption. Forty states have proposed laws to limit cell phone use while driving, and 300 local jurisdictions, including Chicago, New York City, San Francisco and Philadelphia are considering laws to limit usage. Eighteen countries have passed laws allowing in-vehicle cell phone use only with a hands-free device. "New York's pioneering legislation is a good first step in addressing the concerns many people have over the safety of cell phone use while driving, recognizing that the distractions caused by a hand-held phone can be dangerous and raising awareness of this safety issue," said Pat Kennedy, chairman and CEO of Cellport Systems. "We believe systems like the universal Cellport 3000 with Voice Command will join seatbelts, child restraints and airbags to become a standard automotive safety feature." The new law will take effect on Nov. 1, but violators will be given only warnings until Dec. 1. After that, a judge could levy fines of $25 to $100. Drivers are allowed to use hands-free systems, but would not be allowed to raise a telephone handset to the ear. The law also provides for state traffic officials to conduct a four-year study of accidents to determine if the measure is having the intended effect. According to Cellport, the Cellport 3000 with Voice Command is the first universal, voice-activated, hands-free system. The voice-activated feature lets drivers make and receive calls using simple spoken commands, allowing them to focus their attention on the road and not the phone. Unlike other hands-free systems, the Cellport 3000 with Voice Command lets users plug several different cell phone models into their vehicle's system and take advantage of voice-activated, hands-free operation, Cellport says. About Cellport Systems Cellport Systems provides in-vehicle wireless communications and telematics systems. The company's products include the Cellport 3000, billed as the industry's first universal hands-free platform and the Cellport 3000 with Voice Command. Investors in Cellport Systems include AT&T Wireless, Cisco Systems and Omron Corporation. The company is privately held, with corporate headquarters in Boulder, Colo., and regional offices in Detroit, Mich., and Tokyo, Japan. For more information, visit www.cellport.com.