Now I can't speak for the other 49 states, but us Californians are about to become subject to a new law that prohibits driving while using of a cell phone that is not hands free. As of July 1^st, the violation of this law will result in a $20 fine and then a $50 fine for each violation thereafter. So, instead of paying these fines, why not put your money to use and get yourself a Bluetooth wireless headset? This hub is not devoted to product reviews of your various options. For that, you can either click on the accompanying ads or just a do a google search. No, this hub is instead going to give you practical reasons for why you should get a wireless headset. The getting of it is up to you.

The benefits of having a wireless headset:

Reason 1: Multi-tasking

I don't now about the rest of you, but I am a multi-tasker. Even as I write this, I am listening to music, watching TV, eating... and occasionally checking my hub ratings (oh come on, you know you do it too. Admit it!). My roommate once confessed that he talks on the phone and eats his lunch while driving... and he drives a stick shift! With a wireless headset, you can comfortably multi-task and make your already efficient life even more efficient. Start using your turn signal again, have a sandwich, do your taxes. Oh yeah, and keep your eyes on the road, of course. Another benefit is that you can now easily write down phone numbers or program them into your phone while you're driving, since you have more hands available.

Reason 2: Your Health

And no, I am not talking about all that brain cancer and cell phone apocalyptic global warming crap. I'm talking about your weekly chiropractic bill. Driving while talking on a cell phone is very hard on your back, neck, and shoulders. For me personally, my shoulders get cramped up while I'm on the phone in the car, and I work out regularly and consider myself to be in pretty good shape. I can only imagine what it's like for others.

Also, for those of you who choose to wedge your cell phone between your ear and shoulder, this is very bad on your neck. So, with either option, you're doing a number on either your shoulder or your neck. As a personal trainer, I have rehabbed a lot of people, and often times their back problems are actually caused by neck or shoulder problems. It is possible that the knot in your back could've been resolved with a wireless headset. Get rid of that chiropractor, and you've already bought that headset with enough left over to fund research that proves cell phones don't cause cancer.

Reason 3: A New Way to Get Off The Phone When You Don't Want To Talk To Someone

Technically, you could pull this off without a wireless headset, but it sure is a lot easier if you have one. So here's what you do: find a radio channel in your area that is nothing but static, preferably one that is pure static no matter where you go. Next, program it into your settings. Now, the next time someone is talking to you, and you want to get off the phone, but just don't know how, turn on the radio (quietly at first), put it on the static station, and turn the volume up loud enough that the person on the other end can hear it. Then just start throwing out phrases like "I can't understand you" or "I'm getting some static" or something like that. I think you get the point. The rest pretty much takes care of itself. Yes, I did come up with this idea on my own, and no, I'm not really that proud of it.

Reason 4: At-Home Benefits

Believe it or not, there are some practical uses for a wireless headset outside the car as well (I know, I was shocked to hear this as well). Although the law only requires the use of a hands-free headset in the car, I thought I'd mention some benefits you can use at home too.

For example, people seem to have a knack for calling me right as I'm starting to cook a meal. What do I do now? Stop the meal, ignore the call, try to talk and cook at the same time? A difficult dilemma I'm sure many of you have faced. Now I can't say I've done this, but I do know of a friend who once dropped their cell phone in a pot of boiling water. You still want to wedge that thing between your shoulder and head? Didn't think so. I think there's a commercial where that happens too, and commercials don't lie. In addition to cooking, you're free to multi-task in many other ways. You can mess around on your guitar, play a video game (although I would never do that), update your blog, build a cake, I don't know.

Although I'm sure there are more than 4 reasons to get a Bluetooth wireless headset, these are just the ones that I see as the most important. And I don't think I mentioned this, but another reason you should get one is because you should follow the law, as I'm sure you all do. Plus, if you're doing something else illegal or have something illegal in your car, wouldn't you hate to be pulled over for talking on a cell phone, only to get thrown in the slammer for that other thing? That's like getting pulled over for a missing taillight and the officer finding 100 kilos in your trunk. Just get a headset. Do it. Thank you.