Proposed handheld cell phone ban & driving

[psprowler]

I'm from Indiana and no I don't leave the state often. I don't need to. Go ahead and pass the law.

Smoking and irresponsible eating kills too. Let's look into legislation there after the cell phone laws go on the books........

[Tim_T]

I'm from Indiana and no I don't leave the state often. I don't need to. Go ahead and pass the law.

Smoking and irresponsible eating kills too. Let's look into legislation there after the cell phone laws go on the books........

Well, first off there are laws in most places banning smoking due to second hand smoke. People can smoke at home or in their vehicles etc. and not be charged. Therefore, smoking only causes damage to the individual, just as overeating does. People talking on cell phones cause accidents that put everybody at risk, not just the driver yapping away on the phone. It really isn't that hard to understand.

[psprowler]

I'm talking about lives in general - we're trying to save lives right? And yeah the two examples I mentioned do put others at risk when they tax the healthcare system by taking potential money away from others who might need it and led a healthy lifestyle. An indirect relationship and far fetched I know. I'm just trying to make the point of where do you draw the line? What about changing the channel on the radio or putting a new CD in the changer? There are literally thousands of things besides cell phones that can distract a driver and cause an accident. And you can spend the time and money to come up with statistics to back that. It starts with laws against cell phone use and morphs into (fill in the blank). Who would have thought 30 years ago somebody could sue McDonald's for multimillions because the coffee was too hot and win?

Just sayin.

Go ahead and pass the law - I'll pull over to talk if I feel the need to talk on the phone while driving - the law in itself is not that big a deal.

[psprowler]

Couple of quick notes about this study. First, the sample size was a mere 40 people, and I saw no mention of p values to determine statistical significance. So it was a very small study compared to the millions on the roadway at any given time. If you are going to take away the fact that cell phones are a great distraction from this study alone, then you also have to take away the fact that talking while driving is far more dangerous that driving while impaired. It was right there in the stats - 0 "drunk" drivers rear ended the car in front of them. Now, who wants to raise the legal limit from 0.08 to 0.10 or beyond? I don't, but based on the study we are vastly overestimating the dangers of drinking and driving. So since talking while driving is more dangerous than a 0.08 level based on this study, then the penalty for talking while driving should be greater than the penalty for a DWI. Who thinks you should serve a jail sentence for a "talking while driving" citation?

[Devils Horse]

I disagree with more laws. We have enough laws already. Just treat any cell phone related accident like a DUI, then people would get it.

There's mention of the DC area, a place where I spent the better part of a year, and wouldn't live again unless some very serious money was involved. One the most over taxed and over regulated places I've ever been. The whole car inspection system was a money extortion racket. Inspection stations (typically service stations) had the right to hold your car for minor safety issues unless you had it towed somewhere else. BTW, my personal property tax on my 2 year old pickup was over $600 a year. You also can't legally have a radar detector in your car there. I could go on for hours about the stupid nonsensical rules those folks have to live by.

Residents' response when I told them they were sheep? "Well it's for our own good" or "We all want to save lives don't we?"

Bottom line is IMO if you want DC, by all means move there, and I mean no harm by that. For heaven's sake don't model Kentucky after the DC area, or we'll be very very sorry we did.

[GeoFisher]

I disagree with more laws. We have enough laws already. Just treat any cell phone related accident like a DUI, then people would get it.

There's mention of the DC area, a place where I spent the better part of a year, and wouldn't live again unless some very serious money was involved. One the most over taxed and over regulated places I've ever been. The whole car inspection system was a money extortion racket. Inspection stations (typically service stations) had the right to hold your car for minor safety issues unless you had it towed somewhere else. BTW, my personal property tax on my 2 year old pickup was over $600 a year. You also can't legally have a radar detector in your car there. I could go on for hours about the stupid nonsensical rules those folks have to live by.

Residents' response when I told them they were sheep? "Well it's for our own good" or "We all want to save lives don't we?"

Bottom line is IMO if you want DC, by all means move there, and I mean no harm by that. For heaven's sake don't model Kentucky after the DC area, or we'll be very very sorry we did.

I agree with you in almost all cases here, but one I disagree with......

The issue with a RADAR detector..........dude, you purchase something specifically designed to BREAK the LAW......

My feeling on this......if you're caught with one.....you should GIVE up the RIGHT to DRIVE.........PERIOD........Laws are not written to be broken......

Hell......Impound your car, and revoke your priviledges for oh say 5 years.......that would be my answer. Same thing with DUI.......you do it......throw them in JAIL..........for a LONG **** TIME.

I've never owned, one, and NEVER WILL. If I'm caught speeding, **** I broke the law........and DESERVE it.........

And with regards to the DUI statement above....I drink..........but I have NEVER gotten behind the wheel impaired........NEVER.....not as a kid, not as an adult.........NEVER.

I was clocked just last night doing 65 on the second street bridge. I pleaded for forgiveness, and was GRANTED it.......good thing......65 in a 35 is BAD MOJO.......

Later,

Geo

[psprowler]

I agree with you in almost all cases here, but one I disagree with......

The issue with a RADAR detector..........dude, you purchase something specifically designed to BREAK the LAW......

My feeling on this......if you're caught with one.....you should GIVE up the RIGHT to DRIVE.........PERIOD........Laws are not written to be broken......

Hell......Impound your car, and revoke your priviledges for oh say 5 years.......that would be my answer. Same thing with DUI.......you do it......throw them in JAIL..........for a LONG **** TIME.

I've never owned, one, and NEVER WILL. If I'm caught speeding, **** I broke the law........and DESERVE it.........

And with regards to the DUI statement above....I drink..........but I have NEVER gotten behind the wheel impaired........NEVER.....not as a kid, not as an adult.........NEVER.

I was clocked just last night doing 65 on the second street bridge. I pleaded for forgiveness, and was GRANTED it.......good thing......65 in a 35 is BAD MOJO.......

Later,

Geo

So you're saying you weren't knowingly going 30 mph over the speed limit?
If you're speeding intentionally it doesn't matter whether you have a radar detector or not you still knowingly violated the law. And laws were not written to be broken.
So by your theory you too should have received 5 years with loss of driving priviledges and an impounded car instead of a mere warning.

[mhall]

Dang George slow down a fuzz brother, shoooo.

[zx150]

If you were going that fast you could have gone to jail for that GEO, good thing it was not a traffic guy in a Camero you would have gotten the hook.

With regards to cell phone use while driving. I have never taken a report where the cell phone is the cause of the accident. You could make the same case for changing the CD or the radio channel. Putting info into your GPS, yelling at your kids or handing them a toy. The list could never end.

I have given ladies tickets who are using the mirror to put on eye make-up men that are shaving or people who read a book or the news paper while driving down the road.


I almost never give a ticket for speeding.

[Devils Horse]

I agree with you in almost all cases here, but one I disagree with......

The issue with a RADAR detector..........dude, you purchase something specifically designed to BREAK the LAW......

My feeling on this......if you're caught with one.....you should GIVE up the RIGHT to DRIVE.........PERIOD........Laws are not written to be broken......

Hell......Impound your car, and revoke your priviledges for oh say 5 years.......that would be my answer. Same thing with DUI.......you do it......throw them in JAIL..........for a LONG **** TIME.

I've never owned, one, and NEVER WILL. If I'm caught speeding, **** I broke the law........and DESERVE it.........

And with regards to the DUI statement above....I drink..........but I have NEVER gotten behind the wheel impaired........NEVER.....not as a kid, not as an adult.........NEVER.

I was clocked just last night doing 65 on the second street bridge. I pleaded for forgiveness, and was GRANTED it.......good thing......65 in a 35 is BAD MOJO.......

Later,

Geo

We can agree to disagree, no problem with that. You can purchase lots of things that are illegal when used wrong . It all comes down to freedom and personal responsibility. I don't own a radar detector, but if I wanted one it shouldn't be up to the government to decide whether I can have it or not. You're gonna shoot radar waves at me I should have the right to know about it.

Good thing the cop didn't take as hard a line on the law as you do, or you'd have a reckless driving ticket right now. From a common sense perspective as opposed to a strictly legal one, which should get your driving license suspended faster, 30 mph over the speed limit, or a passive electronic gadget in the car with you?

Laws may not be written to be broken, but they don't always make sense either. Fastest way to nonsensical laws is throwing too many of them on the books.

[DJD]

If you were going that fast you could have gone to jail for that GEO, good thing it was not a traffic guy in a Camero you would have gotten the hook.

With regards to cell phone use while driving. I have never taken a report where the cell phone is the cause of the accident. You could make the same case for changing the CD or the radio channel. Putting info into your GPS, yelling at your kids or handing them a toy. The list could never end.

I have given ladies tickets who are using the mirror to put on eye make-up men that are shaving or people who read a book or the news paper while driving down the road.


I almost never give a ticket for speeding.

Wow I didn't know shaving while driving was an offense. I better be careful.

[GeoFisher]

We can agree to disagree, no problem with that. You can purchase lots of things that are illegal when used wrong . It all comes down to freedom and personal responsibility. I don't own a radar detector, but if I wanted one it shouldn't be up to the government to decide whether I can have it or not. You're gonna shoot radar waves at me I should have the right to know about it.

Good thing the cop didn't take as hard a line on the law as you do, or you'd have a reckless driving ticket right now. From a common sense perspective as opposed to a strictly legal one, which should get your driving license suspended faster, 30 mph over the speed limit, or a passive electronic gadget in the car with you?

Laws may not be written to be broken, but they don't always make sense either. Fastest way to nonsensical laws is throwing too many of them on the books.

You're right......and had I Lost my license for FOOLISHLY driving that fast, so be it.......I did BREAK the LAW.

I told the officer I was on my way home from WORK, where I had spent 18 hours, and had to be back at the office in 6 hours and just wasn't THINKING.

He appreciated the situation......I think..........TOLD me to slow down,and let me go.....

On a different note..........I was speeding at the END of second street bridge, going down hill......not another person on the road......

GUILTY as charged..........

Later,

Geo