Hey, you with the phone in your ear

If Washington lawmakers were serious about improving public safety, they would have made it possible for officers to stop a driver yammering on a handheld cellphone for that reason only.

But a new state law taking effect July 1 is only a starter law, a watered-down version of a rule that should be toughened over time.

Under the new law, you — yes, you, the distracted driver — have to weave, speed or cross the center line and be talking on your handheld cell to have a meet-and-greet with an officer.

A few other jurisdictions have passed get-tough laws that get much tougher. Talking on a handheld device should be a primary offense. That way an officer can write a ticket whenever and wherever he or she witnesses distracted driving.

Consider New Jersey. That state's original 2003 cellphone law was similar to Washington's law. During its first five years on the books, few tickets were written. Then, a few months ago, the law was changed to make such talk a primary offense. Big difference — and a dramatic increase in the number of tickets written.

Sponsors of Washington's law wanted driving while holding a phone to be a primary offense; the change to a secondary offense was a compromise.

Talking and driving are not compatible activities. The driver talking on the phone is more distracted and less able to navigate than a driver not talking on the phone — handheld or otherwise.

Our lawmakers should observe our experience the next few months and be ready to tighten the rule in January.

At this point, careful motorists ought to purchase and try hands-free equipment. Let's start being more rational about the danger of driving and talking when the new law takes effect next month.