Well as part of the training process officers go through, they take specific driver training. It's largely focused on pursuits and high speed manoeuvres. Not really a section on "driving while using the computer - dos and do nots". I'm sure there's guidance, but not specific training.
The exception is focused on doing their jobs (along with EMS, Fire, etc). Like running red lights, exceeding the speed limit and illegal turns. It's part of the reality of certain professions. Is there a risk in using the computer while driving? Yes. If the officer is involved in a collision/accident and they were using their computer, they're going to have to show that using the computer was to perform functions of their job AND that the officer needed to use the computer at that moment.
I guess I'm having a hard time seeing why this would be different.
You're not having a hard time with anything, you're just being difficult. You know exactly what the rules are, and why they are there. Quit grinding the guys gears, he didn't make the exemption.
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Difference is when they are "running red lights, exceeding the speed limit and illegal turns" they have their lights/sirens on.
Well, not always, but that's beside the larger point I was trying to make.
The laws that are in place for joe-public are incompatible with the requirements of certain professions (police, EMS, fire, transit, etc). Therefore, the laws contemplate those professions and carve out exceptions. That does not allow for persons in those professions to ignore the general rules of the road completely and plead that their actions always fall under the exceptions. They have to show that they were performing their job at the time AND that the use of a computer, the running of the red light, the exceeding the speed limit, etc, was required at the time it was performed. Furthermore, their actions are reasonable.
An officer who gets into an accident while updating Facebook on his personal phone is not in any exception. An officer using his/her computer to run a license plate because the car is driving erratically or is otherwise suspicious and does so in a reasonable manner is.
Well, not always, but that's beside the larger point I was trying to make.
The laws that are in place for joe-public are incompatible with the requirements of certain professions (police, EMS, fire, transit, etc). Therefore, the laws contemplate those professions and carve out exceptions. That does not allow for persons in those professions to ignore the general rules of the road completely and plead that their actions always fall under the exceptions. They have to show that they were performing their job at the time AND that the use of a computer, the running of the red light, the exceeding the speed limit, etc, was required at the time it was performed. Furthermore, their actions are reasonable.
An officer who gets into an accident while updating Facebook on his personal phone is not in any exception. An officer using his/her computer to run a license plate because the car is driving erratically or is otherwise suspicious and does so in a reasonable manner is.
Honest question, When would Police/Fire/EMS do any of those things without lights/sirens?
Police officers have to take a training course on using Multinova radar guns. I guess I'm having a hard time seeing why this would be different.
Haha. Well I don't know for sure, but I don't think they have to negotiate a pylon-laden obstacle course while typing in a license plate on their dash-mounted computer.
Cars really are so much safer. I remember in the 70/80's as a kid being carted around in a big station wagon on brutal snow storms with only lap belts holding us in place and all-season tires that would be disallowed today.
I recall when I was really small, our "child seat" was the pull-down arm rest in the front seat and the seat belt was my dad's arm holding me there when he had to brake...
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Honest question, When would Police/Fire/EMS do any of those things without lights/sirens?
When approaching a suspects home so as to not raise suspicion. Some neighbourhoods have managed to get policies in place that prevent sirens from being used during certain hours (firefighters/EMS have to wait until they are X-blocks from the station for firing up the siren). I'm sure there are other examples.
I will admit to sometimes picking up my phone to check messages while I am at a light.
I totally see how driving while texting is extremely dangerous, but my brain just can't grasp how me reading a text message at a light is a problem, other than it might cause traffic flow issues if I get involved in something and miss a light changing.
I am entirely open to having someone change my mind on this, so feel free to educate me on what I am missing here.
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My car reads my texts to me, I can dictate my response and it's all done over Bluetooth. No need to touch anything. Isn't this becoming more the standard now?
^I think the answer is that you will not be aware of what's happening around you, so when the light suddenly changes you have to look up and go without any context and can miss something that causes a problem. If you're cautious, this can be managed.
Some will say if you just don't use your phone in the first place you don't have to manage that risk because it doesn't exist, which is true, but can just as easily be applied to create a "no conversations allowed with passengers while driving" standard. I don't see one as creating significantly more risk than the other.
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The thing I don't understand is what kind of a text is so important you need to respond to it while driving? I always tell my family/friends/colleagues if something is important call me. If you text me while driving, I'm not responding, no matter how many times you say "hello? hello? why aren't you answering? hello??"
Texts, to me, are a secondary form of communication and I give it lower priority. And with the amount people text these days, I know if someone takes the time to call rather than text, then it is likely important.
I thought it would be a good initiative to have the police seize the phone for a period of time.
Isn't the phone evidence of a crime? Seize it until the ticket is paid, or the person has had their day in court. A lot of people might think twice about texting and driving if it means they might be without their phone for a couple of days.
I will admit to sometimes picking up my phone to check messages while I am at a light.
I totally see how driving while texting is extremely dangerous, but my brain just can't grasp how me reading a text message at a light is a problem, other than it might cause traffic flow issues if I get involved in something and miss a light changing.
I am entirely open to having someone change my mind on this, so feel free to educate me on what I am missing here.
If you don't think it is distracting, the next time you are at a light and the guy beside you is looking down at his phone try moving forward. Almost guaranteed he will start to move forward before looking up.
On another note, don't do this as it could easily cause an accident. Especially don't do this if you are at the front of the intersection.
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I will admit to sometimes picking up my phone to check messages while I am at a light.
I totally see how driving while texting is extremely dangerous, but my brain just can't grasp how me reading a text message at a light is a problem, other than it might cause traffic flow issues if I get involved in something and miss a light changing.
I am entirely open to having someone change my mind on this, so feel free to educate me on what I am missing here.
I won't be the one to change your mind because I do the same thing. But as soon as that light goes green, my phone goes in the cupholder and stays there. I'm using Cortana to text for me more now, but I'm of the same opinion as you. I dislike the way we apply black and white solutions to problems that aren't.
