If you're going to San Francisco, don't wear a cell phone in your ear

California has a number of laws governing how people drive on highways that I wish Texas had the guts to incorporate and enforce. One of my favorites is the no-driving-in-the-left-hand-lane law. This means when you're out on those rural four-lane interstate highways (two lanes in each direction), the left hand lane is for passing another car only. Cruising in that lane is prohibited and the California Highway Patrol vigorously enforces the law.

Beginning July 1, California will be enforcing a law that prohibits a driver from holding a cellphone to his or her ear and talking, unless it's an emergency situation. First offense is a $20 ticket, subsequent offenses are $50. However, with court costs and penalties added, those tickets will actually cost $76 and $190.

California becomes the fourth state with such a law. New York, New Jersey and Connecticut are the others.