Texting while driving a primary offense
March 3, 2010
The House just passed a bill to make it a primary offense for texting while driving, and to prohibit teenagers from using a cell phone (for calling or texting) when behind the wheel.
I’m disappointed we had to accept a Republican amendment to take out the provision making speaking without a headset a prmary offense. We just did not have the votes to push it through without any of their votes. Still, I’m pleased that we moved forward.
Your partner in service,
Reuven.
10 Comments
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Let’s focus on jobs, Reuven. Not playing nanny to your constituents.
I”m spending 90% of my time on economic growth issues and 10% on other issues. This is a small part of my work but something I feel strongly about.
Reuven.
Well, you have plenty of questions left unanswered regarding one of your “other issues”.
http://reuvencarlyle36.com/2010/01/16/texting-and-cell-phone-use-while-driving-time-to-take-the-next-step/#comments
Glad to see this huge issue being addressed. Every day I see countless business commuters texting while traveling SR520.
I say congrats to you. This needs to be done before more lives are lost or maimed. I, too, am disappointed that the Republicans failed to see the importance of your entire bill. Thank you!
@JD
Everyday I see people drinking hot coffee in their cars, putting on makeup and changing CDs and MP3 players. Whatta we gonna do about THOSE HUGE issues JD??? and where do we draw the line???
@JD and Ruth: reference http://reuvencarlyle36.com/2010/01/16/texting-and-cell-phone-use-while-driving-time-to-take-the-next-step/#comments
for some other ways to look at this.
How far are you going to let Legislators go to “protect” everyone from EVERYTHING??? Where do you draw the line? It’s the principle of the issue-allowing the State to be our NANNY and creating new taxes based on “morality” and “safety”. Get past the touchy-feely stuff and look at the reality.
i personally feel that anyone that has such a strong opinion about this to the point of talking down to someone are ones that are most likely offenders and have problems w/authority. i’m glad to see measures put into place for those that take no responsibility for their actions.
i agree w/don regarding coffee and makeup. let’s add food, kids and and smoking into the mix as well. i have no problem with that. *sarcasm*
@kim Gee, Kim. Do you think it’s POSSIBLE that someone with a strong opinion on the issue could just POSSIBLY be concerned with the nonstop eroding of our personal liberties by lawmakers? I could really care less about texting in my car. I’m a grown man that can wait until I get home if a text is that important.
And yes, I have a problem with authority when they are delegating the right to have our tax-funded police chase people down when they “think” they might be texting in their car (when they should be dealing with CRIME.)
No one has really mentioned how the police propose to enforce this. Please see the above link to many other thoughtful comments on this subject (how do police know whether you are changing a CD, using GPS, etc., etc.)
Your stab at sarcasm at the end is futile.
Under the LOGIC of you and the proponents of the texting Law, ALL of these scenarios create driving hazards, thus, should at some point be outlawed and fined (taxed.) The even scarier notion is, so many of you would easily cash in your civil liberties and personal accountability to let lawmakers make your decisions for you. This cycle never ends when you “green light” it. It may be ten years down the line, but if you “green light” texting, coffee, makeup, food, etc., etc. you’re essentially green-lighting more “safety taxes”.
Thank you very much for taking this first step. There are some distractions that are completely unnecessary when driving. I ride a motorcycle and regularly have to hit the horn or perform avoidance maneuvers to prevent getting squished by inattentive drivers. It’s hard to turn your head to properly check for traffic when you have the cell phone glued to your ear. I wear VERY brightly colored gear, have a large bike, and still have these self-absorbed people behind the wheel (I won’t call them ‘drivers’ – they’re really not paying any attention to their actual driving) regularly start to merge into the lane I’m already in or turn in front of me.
If a phone call or text message is important enough that it must be handled *right now*, it’s important enough for you to pull over so you can pay full attention to it. If it’s not that important, then give your full attention to your driving. No excuses for a lot of the inattentive driving that can be seen on a regular basis.
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