Cell Phones

In a nutshell:

You can't drive and use a hand-held cell phone at the same time.  You also cannot text while driving.  Doing either violates both NASA regulations and California state law.

ARC Regulations

The use of cell phones while driving on NASA Ames Research Center is strictly prohibited.  You can pull over to the side of the road and talk while you're in the driver's seat, but if you talk while you're driving you will be stopped and ticketed. (They really will stop you.  There's not a lot of crime at NASA, so the police can get pretty bored.)

The applicable NASA regulation is here, in section 3.2.2.1(c).  The relevant text is:  "Operators of motor vehicles on NASA property or operating a NASA vehicle both on and off NASA property shall . . . [n]ot use hand-held communication devices while the vehicle is motion except for emergency, security, and fire vehicles during official operations (Requirement).  Note: This includes cell phones, UHF radios, or other hand-held wireless communication devices. When there are two individuals traveling in an emergency, security, or fire vehicle during official operations, the passenger should be the person to use the hand-held communication device."

Sending or reading text messages while driving would seem to fall under the "other handheld wireless communication devices" clause.  However, while the NASA regulation may not be completely clear on that, California law prohibits texting while driving, too.

California Law

As of July 1, 2008, California law likewise prohibits the use of hand held cell phones while driving everywhere in the state.  As of January 1, 2009, California law also prohibits text messaging while driving.

Additional Comments

Drivers may use "hands-free" cell phones under both the ARC rules and the new California law.  Passengers are not affected by either the ARC rule or the California law.

Be aware that there areas both on ARC and in the surrounding towns where the use of cell phones and similar electronic devices may be prohibited, and/or where cell phones must be silenced.  (For example, many libraries, government buildings, some restaurants and theaters, etc.)  Such prohibitions may have the force of law in some areas.  Even when they don't, ignoring them is bound to annoy everyone around you, and may get you booted out.

There are also times and places at ARC where you will be required to turn off your cell phone completely, or even leave it behind.  There are two reasons for this.

One, security regulations may require it.  You may think it's silly, and you might even be right, but trust me, you don't want to get busted on an ITAR violation.

Two, cell phones can interfere with many sensitive electronic devices.  Given the sort of work that goes on at NASA, that could be bad.  If you're standing three feet away from a prototype lunar lander, you really do NOT want the EM waves from a text you got asking about your lunch plans to make the computer think someone said "fire".  Watch for signs, and if in doubt ask someone who works there.