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SALINAS, Calif.- We all know using a cell phone or texting while driving is against the law. But how about eating or putting on makeup? We decided to took a look at the thin gray line that people too often cross.
"Anything that's a distraction such as eating, putting on makeup, if its causing you to drive unsafely, you can be stopped and you can be cited for that unsafe driving," said CHP Officer Robert Lehman.
Officers hope drivers are more aware of the dangers associated with texting and talking. But they said a lot of people forget that other distractions can get you into just as much trouble.
"Times have changed quite a bit out on the highway. There's a lot more vehicles out there now. Cars are more complicated. We've got more gadgets," Lehman said.
Officers said they can tell if you take a hand off the wheel to mess around with something or take your eyes off the road to grab your lunch.
"That takes your eyes off the road for even just a few seconds. But that few seconds at highway speed, you're traveling quite a distance. It's really dangerous," Lehman said.
A point can go on your record. Officer Lehman said eating or putting on make up behind the wheel isn't considered a distracted driving violation like using a cell phone. But essentially they're treated the same. If an officer sees you swerving, jerking or slowing down on the road, that's reason enough for them to pull you over.
