Illicit Connections

New York recently became the first state to ban hand-held cell phone yakking while behind the wheel. Communities are trendsetters in passing such laws, but the issue tends to get mostly lip service at the state and national levels. Matt Sundeen of the National Conference of State Legislatures said 43 states debated laws last year but only New York took action, and a bill before Congress last year gathered more dust than support. Reasons for the apathy on the issue vary, but here's a hunch on why all the bills die: What else would all the wonks do at the wheel if they weren't lobbying and schmoozing — drive?