Take note California SUV-drivers with cell phone-clad cheeks: Hands-free kits as mandatory for all but commercial drivers may soon become law, with a bill expected to be signed by the Governator on Friday.

Never mind that the fine, $20, is a the cost of driving a few extra miles in a Hummer or Escalade -- it's the law starting in 2008.

Imagine it: city pedestrians crossing safely and suburban drivers dreaming of a day when a wave-in for lane change beats the old speed-up. But the editors of the San Francisco Chronicle, known for their wisdom, say it is a highlight of the legal hooey coming out of Sacramento -- no research to support it, they say.

Really? Tell that to someone who has not been cut-off on the road or nearly run over as a pedestrian by the cell phone-driver set, or to those who have talked back to us on The Ten Commandments of cell phone etiquette.

Oh, and the authors of this study: Cell Phone-Induced Failures of Visual Attention During Simulated Driving (a PDF file).

Reports say Sprint-Nextel was the only carrier to not support the bill. Hello? Hands-free market anyone? PalmOne PR wrote InfoWorld today to say how enthusiastic the company was of the bill:

California's largest producer of cell phones, Palm is the first and only cell-phone manufacturer to publicly support the bill. The company believes that SB-1613 responsibly addresses evidence that handheld cell-phone use increases the risk of accidents. Palm also believes that while this bill is not the first in the United States, its passage in California could be instrumental in leading other states to follow suit and improve driving safety.

"With the technology available today, there is no reason for a driver to be holding a cell phone while behind the wheel," said Mary Doyle, senior vice president and general counsel at Palm. "Headset technology, both wired and wireless, is readily available, and call quality using a hands-free headset is generally excellent. With our Treo smartphones, Palm gives drivers numerous options for helping keep their eyes on the road and two hands on the wheel, focusing first and foremost on driving."