dchuntnevada
Nevada
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Chuck
Who would pay for it and how easy would it be to cheat, IMHO that is way too much intrusion on a person’s privacy
If nobody is around to write a ticket for reckless driving how is someone going to write a ticket for cell phone use. Calling 911 for seeing someone on a cell phone takes time from dispatch and LEO’s, besides if they actually find the car still driving they might not be on the phone anymore, then they would need to find you to identify the criminal fill, out a report and show up to court. A lot of time and money…
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Leeblev
Pinole, CA
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Joined: 03/26/2004
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Any one want to bet about how long it will take before car mfgrs come out with an "ergomatic" keyboard on the steering wheel so texting can be done with both hands on the wheel and LE can't tell if they are texting or not because of the dark tint on the side/rear windows....how about the windshield projection so that they don't have to take their eyes off the road?
Anyone want to bet they don't try?
Lee
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HamRad
Bakersfield, CA, USA
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I am certainly in favor of the anti-texting laws. And for those who are concerned about making an emergency text or phone call.... that is still legal by whatever means necessary. You do not have to use a hands free device.
I also agree that it seems unnecessary to pass such laws. I would think that the driving while not paying attention laws would be enough.
Interestingly AAA did a survey/test of this issue and found that the "hands free" phone process did not reduce the accident rate. Anything that takes our attention away from driving is just as dangerous.
Still I'm glad to see the laws.
By the way Ham Radio operators can still use their radios. As can LEOs. LEOs can also use their cell phones however they want. They do not have to be hands free.
HamRad
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Abner055
Urbana, MD
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As an Astronaut, I'm used to performing very complex tasks, while in space at zero gravity. Driving while talking on the phone, chewing gum, shaving and a few other thing at the same time, is a piece of cake 
* This post was
edited 09/25/08 06:25pm by an administrator/moderator *
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PopBeavers
San Jose, CA
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There was a tentative plan to restrict text messaging in the next year or two.
Then about two weeks ago a train operator failed to see a red signal while he was texting.
He as one of the 30+ people killed in the train crash.
A side effect of this was that plans moved up. Killing people will get politicians to move a little faster.
He broke a rule. Had he survived he might have lost his job over the infraction.
Wayne in San Jose
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Patty98311
Arkansas
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PopBeavers wrote:There was a tentative plan to restrict text messaging in the next year or two.
Then about two weeks ago a train operator failed to see a red signal while he was texting.
He as one of the 30+ people killed in the train crash.
A side effect of this was that plans moved up. Killing people will get politicians to move a little faster.
He broke a rule. Had he survived he might have lost his job over the infraction.
Come now maybe we can back date the law so we can fine his estate!
Just another law that is in reality unenforceable and will be used in abuse to serve the purpose of who ever can twist the intent.
Driving and texting is incredibly stupid, but so is using a circular saw to cut items sitting in your lap(as far as I know there is no law against it). The stupid will be punished, try not to be around.
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fj12ryder
Platte City, MO
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Is there definite proof that the engineer was texting? Last I heard two teenagers said they received a text message from the engineer, but have not heard/read of a follow-up.
If not, this is how rumors start.
Howard and Peggy
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chuckster11
Idaho
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dchuntnevada wrote:Chuck
Who would pay for it and how easy would it be to cheat, IMHO that is way too much intrusion on a person’s privacy
If nobody is around to write a ticket for reckless driving how is someone going to write a ticket for cell phone use. Calling 911 for seeing someone on a cell phone takes time from dispatch and LEO’s, besides if they actually find the car still driving they might not be on the phone anymore, then they would need to find you to identify the criminal fill, out a report and show up to court. A lot of time and money…
Well, we would all eventually pay for the technology but I think the impact of a driver knowing that his/her actions prior to an accident were monitored by an indelible record would cause more attention to be paid to the act of driving.
We all see constant abuses daily on our roads, cell phone use is not going to decrease generally and thus, not decrease amongst drivers--unless we design restraints.
It would be much easier to write tickets for inattentive and reckless driving if we had a fool proof method of knowing what went on prior to an accident.
The device would be no more of an invasion of privacy than seat belt laws or DWI laws and based on the same legitimate arguments used to enforce seat belts and DWI laws, we can design devices to determine what caused accidents. Truckers already are monitored by their employers using GPS devices--and invasion of privacy? Your cell phone can be tracked by location--invasion of privacy?
Imagine the savings in insurance costs alone when and if both sides of an accident KNEW what the drivers of each vehicle were doing at the point of accident--how fast they were driving, under what conditions, radio on/off, changing a station, swerving, etc.
All of this could be designed into an automobile the same way they are designed into passenger airliners.
Comparative negligence would no longer be a game of estimates but could be determined in each accident.
Properly designed, parents could monitor exactly how their young drivers were operating a vehicle outside parental direct observation.
I see lots of advantages and few disadvantages to the motoring public.
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ernestfortier
Palmdale, Calif.
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Dick A wrote:Most states already had laws regarding "inattentive driving" that would cover both the use of cell phones and texting. Are the overpaid clowns so stupid as to not know about the law already on the books or are they just trying to impress us by doing something totally not needed? 
The problem here in California is the STUPID JUDGES. If you don't state what you want in a language that preschoolers can understand, they don't have a clue as to what a law really means. They change the laws all the time. "Duh, I think everyone is crazy and here is exactly what I am going to change it to because they don't know any better." If we could get some good judges then we wouldn't need to keep redifining laws.
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keith and sharon
Van Nuys, CA.
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fj12ryder wrote:Is there definite proof that the engineer was texting? Last I heard two teenagers said they received a text message from the engineer, but have not heard/read of a follow-up.
If not, this is how rumors start.
Yes he was texting, against metrolink and FRA rules, but they haven't said when he was texting it still could have been while he was sitting in the station the message he sent wouldn't take long to type.
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