And my cellphone IS a speakerphone. It says so right in the
instructions. And to use the speakerphone, you use it just like a
microphone except there's no external radio.

So since you have to hold it to use the speakerphone, how does a cop
know if I'm talking on it not using the speakerphone or if I'm talking
on it using the speakerphone???

Talking on a cell phone while driving is distracting. Hands-free
is not an excuse - and it's not safer. There have been studies to
demonstrate this. If hands-free operation of a cellphone is legal
and handsful operation is not, it's because lawmakers are either
idiots or they want to continue talking on their cell phones while
driving. Try brain-free cellphone operation (it's called putting
the cell phone on "silent ringing" (*NOT* vibrate) and letting voice
mail take messages which you can handle when you reach your destination
or stop for gas or a restroom break).

I'm very sure the New York cops would still give me a ticket for using
a speakerphone since it's not hands free.

And why is a speakerphone considered safer when you still have to hold
it???

Hold it or not hold it, it's still not safe if it's a cellphone.

I'll tell you why. It's safer because it's just like a microphone. The
same thing on ham radios and cb radios.

I suspect the nature of the conversation has a lot more to do with
why ham radios and cb radios are safer, if, in fact, that's true.
I don't think there have been any studies investigating this for
ham radios and cb radios.

I don't use my cellphone either way while driving, yet. I did buy a
hands-free device for mt cellphone, but you have to use your hands way
more often for those than you do for either of the previous two ways.
So why are those considered more safer when you have to reach over and
push a LOT more buttons than you would just calling normally on your
cellphone or using the speakerphone, and then after pushing a LOT
moree buttons whilw using the "handsfree cellphone device" , you also
have to use your hands to press the syop button on your cellphone to
hang up your cellphone to avoid being charged for minutes you're nor
using after the call is over.

How is that any more safer???

Handsfree on cell phones is not safer and it should be illegal to
use it while driving.

Some cell phones with bluetooth allow you to originate a phone call
with your cell phone in your hip pocket (so you can't press *ANY*
buttons on the phone, or get it out of your pocket without removing
your seat belt) by pushing a button on your earpiece, speak the
name of who you want to call (this required voice training ahead
of time), talk, then push a button on your earpiece to hang up.
This is not safer, but it's a much better approximation to real
hands-free.