US Senators target driving-while-texting

[Azure]

Originally Posted by Flames Draft Watcher

I think there's way crazier privacy of information issues with stuff like facebook. Cops are reading that stuff. Saw a rave get broken up near Chilliwack because the directions were posted on facebook.

Why worry about some extremely unlikely situation that you'd probably never be in if you don't txt and drive?

Like I said, sounds pretty paranoid Azure.

Thanks, but I have control over whether or not any of my personal info gets posted on Facebook.

I have no control over a judge that wants my records brought before court to prove that I should get a $200 ticket.

Again, my problem is that I could likely be involved in something like this. If I answer a call, and a cops sees that, how does he know I'm actually answering a call and not texting? Especially if he's driving behind me, and not beside?

[Joborule]

Seriously though, I'm all for this becoming a law. Seriously. If you text and drive, you are an idiot.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by Azure

Is it?

I have used my cell phone a lot while driving, and I always have to close the phone, or open it. And I usually don't do it down in my lap either.

Then you're probably a dangerous driver. Using your cell phone while driving is what they are trying to stop. Maybe you aren't so paranoid if you're actually a dangerous driver who should be pulled over for using his/her phone while driving.

I take back the paranoid comment. Didn't realize you were a self-admitted driver and cell phone user.

[Dion]

Originally Posted by Azure

Seriously, these strawman arguments have got to go.

Tell me how you'd get the govt to change?

Oh, so now you're going to develop a criteria for the cops to follow.

You don't think cops have criteria to follow or would set up criteria in this case?

Can't see how THAT will go wrong.

Not every cop is out to get you.

Yeah, that is what the government always says.

Its for your security that we need to develop a surveillance system that can log every phone call you make, just in CASE you mention the word terrorist.

Thanks, but the government can go screw itself.

Guess i don't share the same fears as you.

[Azure]

Originally Posted by Joborule

Seriously though, I'm all for this becoming a law. Seriously. If you text and drive, you are an idiot.

Hey buddy, check the first page, or the second page.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by Azure

If I answer a call, and a cops sees that, how does he know I'm actually answering a call and not texting? Especially if he's driving behind me, and not beside?

LOL. Talking on a cell phone and driving is also dangerous. Unless you're using a hands free headset perhaps but you haven't specified that.

Pretty sure cops cracked down on talking on cell phones before this whole txting issue came up.

[Azure]

Originally Posted by Flames Draft Watcher

Then you're probably a dangerous driver. Using your cell phone while driving is what they are trying to stop. Maybe you aren't so paranoid if you're actually a dangerous driver who should be pulled over for using his/her phone while driving.

I take back the paranoid comment. Didn't realize you were a self-admitted driver and cell phone user.

Usually I don't like to use my cell phone when I drive, but when I get a call, I have no choice but to answer it.

Yeah, yeah, I should get a headset.

[Azure]

Originally Posted by Flames Draft Watcher

LOL. Talking on a cell phone and driving is also dangerous. Unless you're using a hands free headset perhaps but you haven't specified that.

Finding a radio station on the satellite radio, or a song on your Mp3 player is also dangerous.

Should be ban those too?

[Dion]

Originally Posted by Azure

Usually I don't like to use my cell phone when I drive, but when I get a call, I have no choice but to answer it.

Yeah, yeah, I should get a headset.

Or a blue tooth

[flip]

Originally Posted by Dion

Move to another country if you're so worried about the police and your personal records.

This is the wrong place to argue the merits of your statement but nevertheless that seems like an extremely scary and naive thing to say.

Considering we elected the government, who make the laws that the police then enforce you'd think our feelings on how and why those laws are enforced might be up for debate. If the government makes laws a citizen doesn't like the last thing they should do is move to another country, not the first. the first thing they should do is exercise all legal and democratic means to fight the law.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by Azure

Finding a radio station on the satellite radio, or a song on your Mp3 player is also dangerous.

Should be ban those too?

I'd say both talking on the phone (because it involves one hand being off the wheel the whole conversation) and especially texting (because it involves not looking at the road for an extended period of time AND one hand) are both far more dangerous. I know I can operate my stereo by feel without having to look away from the road and my hand need not be far from the wheel for any extended period of time.

Maybe thats just me.

Heck I think txting and walking around university can be dangerous Good way to run into someone.

[fatso]

Originally Posted by Azure

Yay.

More government involvement in your personal lives.

if you make this your sig, I bet you could cut your posts in half.

[flip]

nm

[StealthOiler]

I support it. I try not to ride as a passenger with my buddy nowadays. He's ALWAYS on the phone texting to someone, and nearly rear-ending someone at each red light. It pisses me off, and I feel sorry for the person whose car he eventually destroys.

[4X4]

Originally Posted by Azure

Yay.

More government involvement in your personal lives.

Stupidest thing I've read all day.

Originally Posted by Dion

If it prevents more deaths and accidents, i'm all for it.

In a perfect world it'd be the texter that dies. In the real world, Murphy's Law usually applies.

Originally Posted by Azure

How do they enforce it?

I mean, you can force someone to take a breathalyzer test when he is swerving back and forth on the highway, but how do you enforce this?

Give the police a computer program that shows all activity on your phone the past 10 min?

The only way to enforce something like this would be to get really involved in people's personal lives. Which is why I don't like it.

Sure, its stupid, and sure I want to run over the stupid bitch in the white car that almost blindsided me the other week in Lethbridge because she was texting, but I really don't know how you can enforce this without really keying in on what people are doing.

Cop pulls you over, all you need to do is close your phone. How is he going to prove that you were texting?

Knowing that, how many mistakes would be made by cops saying someone was texting, and the guy saying he wasn't?

Court cases galore.

I think the idea is that if you're in an accident, they can check your phone records and see if you were texting at the time of the accident.

Originally Posted by Azure

Your problem is you want to blindly support everything the government comes up with.

I'm telling you right now, enforcing something like this would be next to impossible, without going back through even more PERSONAL records.

The cop can see whether you're wearing a seatbelt or not without being in your car. How can he see if you're texting? Assuming he's not driving right beside you?

Just stop. You know as well as everyone else that looking at your goddamn phone while driving is friggin dangerous. Not only to you but to everyone else. It's not nearly the same as seatbelts. I haven't read the rest of the thread beyond this because your posts are pissing me off (so I'm not sure if the following argument has been made), but a seatbelt is something that saves YOU. It doesn't stop you from hitting someone else. Therefore: wearing it or not wearing it makes no difference to MY safety. But outlawing YOU diddling with your phone while heading toward ME at whatever speed does.

[Tower]

Great Thread!

Don't consent Azure!

[4X4]

Haha! Azure just got the Crazy Endorsement.

[Zevo]

Originally Posted by Azure

I realize that. But what if you're just checking your phone, or clicking 'end' to hang up a phone call, and the cop interprets that as texting. Then you'd have to go to court and get your cell phone records brought in by your provider can prove that you weren't actually texting at 4:17 PM on Oct 5, 2009.

Assuming your provider can even do any of that. And assuming they can accurately pinpoint exactly when you were texting. What if you never sent a text message, and just received one? Or what if you just saved a draft? Is there a way to log, with time, all the activity on your phone?

How soon until the government has real-time updates coming from your cell phone telling the police which phones are active, and which phones are doing what?



Thanks, but I'd rather not go to court.

Any cellphone use will driving should be a fineable offence so it shouldn't matter.

[Azure]

Originally Posted by Flames Draft Watcher

I'd say both talking on the phone (because it involves one hand being off the wheel the whole conversation) and especially texting (because it involves not looking at the road for an extended period of time AND one hand) are both far more dangerous. I know I can operate my stereo by feel without having to look away from the road and my hand need not be far from the wheel for any extended period of time.

Maybe thats just me.

Heck I think txting and walking around university can be dangerous Good way to run into someone.

Fooling around with your mp3 player or your radio can be dangerous as well. Especially if the docking station is in the middle between the seats.

Either way, I'm not trying to say its NOT.....my problem is in how this law would be enforced.

I see a lot of problems with it, and quite frankly being told to move to another country because I'm exercising my right as a freely born human being to DISAGREE with the policies of a government I helped elect(assuming this law is brought into effect here)....is a bit, lets say...stupid.

I have a concern with how this LAW would be enforced. Thats all.

[Azure]

Originally Posted by 4X4

I think the idea is that if you're in an accident, they can check your phone records and see if you were texting at the time of the accident.

And if you're not in an accident?

Either way, we're both making the assumption that one can actually PROVE that you're texting when you're driving 140km/h down the left lane on Deerfoot.

So who is the crazy driver now? Huh??!!?!?

Just stop. You know as well as everyone else that looking at your goddamn phone while driving is friggin dangerous. Not only to you but to everyone else. It's not nearly the same as seatbelts. I haven't read the rest of the thread beyond this because your posts are pissing me off (so I'm not sure if the following argument has been made), but a seatbelt is something that saves YOU. It doesn't stop you from hitting someone else. Therefore: wearing it or not wearing it makes no difference to MY safety. But outlawing YOU diddling with your phone while heading toward ME at whatever speed does.

Wait, what did I say about seatbelts?

Of course, I could make the argument that the government has no right to force you to wear a seatbelt because its like forcing you to quit eating fast food, or to quit smoking, even though both can kill you.

But that would require a whole new thread, because I can only piss you off once per thread.

Once in a while I like saying over the top things to get a reaction.