The highway traffic act in Ontario. states you can use your cell phone if….

“14.  (1)  A person may drive a motor vehicle on a highway while pressing a button on a hand-held wireless communication device to make, answer or end a cell phone call or to transmit or receive voice communication on a two-way radio if the device is placed securely in or mounted to the motor vehicle so that it does not move while the vehicle is in motion and the driver can see it at a quick glance and easily reach it without adjusting his or her driving position. O. Reg. 366/09, s. 14 (1).

(2)  A person may drive a motor vehicle on a highway while pressing a button on a device that is worn on his or her head or hung over or placed inside his or her ear or is attached to his or her clothing and is linked to a hand-held wireless communication device to make, answer or end a cell phone call or to transmit or receive voice communication on a two-way radio or a hand microphone or portable radio. O. Reg. 366/09, s. 14 (2).”

Otherwise nope.

I am a long distance commuter. In an odd way, the new law gives me back 90 minutes to 2 hours a day , that would have been spent talking or at least glancing at in-bound emails.  Now, I have a respite. It has been years since I pushed the  seek  button on the radio to see what is on. Even longer since I had listened to CBC Radio. It is absolutely astounding what they will put on the air. Today an un-notable author who felt “hyper-responsible” for dairy cattle. Truly a uniquely CBC quest for the atypical. Thanks to the new law, I am now wiser with respect to the trials and tribulations of dairy cattle and perhaps has moved me from my auto-renewal of my membership in PETA (People Eating Tasty Animals).

In addition to arcane minutes with the CBC, I have also found enjoyment in revisiting classical music stations, some long forgotten rock and have recently downloaded a number of albums to my Zune (no, it’s not an iPod) for my leisurely listening. I expect I am not alone and that sales of music in Ontario have likely jumped as the commuters now spend time listening to both new and old music and are renewing a love affair long submerged under the 3G network waves.

So since the ban, I have purchased an amazing album by Claude Bolling (Jazz/Classical) and purchased an album by Alias with songs that I had never heard before, despite in being a Platinum selling album in Canada. What was I doing?

So thank you, Solicitor General. You have given me back about 2 hours each day that I can spend on things I actually enjoy. You can call me during my commute, but I’ve now got a real good reason not to answer.