California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger went into 'Terminator' mode on Tuesday after his wife Maria Shriver was caught breaking the state's car cell phone laws.

California's First Lady was twice snapped by entertainment website TMZ with a cell phone held up to her ear, in clear breach of a 2008 law which requires drivers in the state to use hands-free devices.

The photos drew a stern response from former Hollywood action hero Schwarzenegger on Tuesday.

"Thanks for bringing her violations to my attention," Schwarzenegger wrote on micro-blogging site Twitter. "There's going to be swift action."

California's ban on handheld cell phone use in cars carries a $20 fine for the first offense and a $50 fine for the second.

AFP