Alberta passes distracted driving law

[jar_e]

Originally Posted by Stranger

It's probably mentioned earlier, but what about people with pets on their lap while they drive? To me thats as much of a distraction as holding a cell phone and talking.

That was already illegal as there's a section under the TSA for allowing an animal to interfere with the operation of a motor vehicle or something like that.

[To Be Quite Honest]

Originally Posted by 4X4

But why are some of you people so damned stupid? Whining that this is just a cash cow or tripping out about coffee? How can you not see how awesome it will be when the dipsh*t in front of you who is swerving side to side with his head bobbing up and down gets pulled over and fined for texting and driving?
Yeah, yeah... It's just another way to make a quota. Damn whiners. Next thing you know they'll outlaw drunk driving or something. That'll be a huge cash cow. Forget about road safety, I'm pissed off that I'm no longer allowed to stare at the floor instead of the road!!

I don't appreciate being called stupid. In fact your point loses any attempt at being reasonable once you apply these rude and unnecessary statements.

Believe what you want. I believe these "rules" are a drain on the people. They are FAR to restrictive (heck even in your post you talk about breaking the law already). But that's just the way it goes.

You and Resolute are being, in all honesty, jerks to anyone who has a different opinion than you. Bullies, I believe it is called and this has been a common occurrence ever since you joined CP.

There is NOTHING wrong with my opinion.

[Super-Rye]

Originally Posted by To Be Quite Honest

I don't appreciate being called stupid. In fact your point loses any attempt at being reasonable once you apply these rude and unnecessary statements.

Believe what you want. I believe these "rules" are a drain on the people. They are FAR to restrictive (heck even in your post you talk about breaking the law already). But that's just the way it goes.

You and Resolute are being, in all honesty, jerks to anyone who has a different opinion than you. Bullies, I believe it is called and this has been a common occurrence ever since you joined CP.

There is NOTHING wrong with my opinion.

I fail to see how any of these rules are being restrictive. They were talking to one of the officers on the news about this law the other day and he said they were informed to pull over anyone who looked distracted. They're not interested in people drinking a cup of coffee while driving unless that person is swerving all over the place. They are interested in people who are texting/talking on a cell phone while driving, and people who are putting on makeup/shaving/combing while driving. (And apparently other weird things that people do while driving like reading...seriously people?) Pretty much they are going after people who are doing things they shouldn't be doing while driving.

Anyone who doesn't like this law has their priorities completely out of whack.

[Regulator75]

Originally Posted by Stranger

It's probably mentioned earlier, but what about people with pets on their lap while they drive? To me thats as much of a distraction as holding a cell phone and talking.

I couldn't agree more.

Originally Posted by Regulator75

The people who endanger themselves, others and their pets by allowing them to sit on their lap while driving.
Or even having the animal loose in the car.

Animals should be secured while traveling inside a vehicle.

In fact a new law was passed in BC that your dog MUST be secured to a seat belt. So road travelers, be advised.

Originally Posted by 3 Justin 3

Totally disagree about dogs being secured. I don't think they should be on the lap, but my dog was fine to sit on the passengers lap or in the backseat without causing harm.

Originally Posted by Regulator75

You slam on the brakes and your 120 lb Husky is going through the windshield.
Just last Summer when I was walking Morley, a yellow lab jumped out of a moving SUV from the front seat, the car was going about 50 Km/h.

It's just not safe.

Your dog can just as easily sit up front as long as it's attached to the seatbelt.

[Jimmy Stang]

Semi-related question: To what extent do Calgary police (and RCMP) use dashboard cameras? In Europe and the US they seem to be quite common (the TV show "Police, Camera, Action" was nearly entirely footage from in-car cameras from police. And it was awesome.), but you don't often see footage from Canada.

I don't know whether or not it would be efficient or practical to retain footage for what is ultimately a small financial penalty and no demerits, but it sure would silence any appeal from those who felt that they were driving just fine, that it is nothing more than a cash cow, etc.

[To Be Quite Honest]

Originally Posted by Super-Rye

I fail to see how any of these rules are being restrictive. They were talking to one of the officers on the news about this law the other day and he said they were informed to pull over anyone who looked distracted. They're not interested in people drinking a cup of coffee while driving unless that person is swerving all over the place. They are interested in people who are texting/talking on a cell phone while driving, and people who are putting on makeup/shaving/combing while driving. (And apparently other weird things that people do while driving like reading...seriously people?) Pretty much they are going after people who are doing things they shouldn't be doing while driving.

Anyone who doesn't like this law has their priorities completely out of whack.

This post is all assumption.

Too much "AUTHORITY" has been given to Police and yet agian, too much "AUTHORITY" is being given again.

Priorities? What priorities are you assuming I have?

[ken0042]

Originally Posted by To Be Quite Honest

I don't appreciate being called stupid. In fact your point loses any attempt at being reasonable once you apply these rude and unnecessary statements.

Just because I felt like giving 4x4 an infraction; I followed the trail back. Sadly, I was unable to issue an infraction because he did not actually call you stupid.

I understand that you may not like the authority of the police; however they are the people we appoint to help keep us safe. Yes, some of us may break traffic laws- 4x4 and I both speed for example. However in the past year the number of times I have been involved in a near miss with a cell phone using driver has got to be 8-10. The number of times I have had a near miss with a speeder; maybe once in the last 5 years.

Is this a new way for police to make money? Sure. Does it also increase the safety of our roads? I think so. Right now we have a group of 16-25 year old drivers who do not remember not having a phone in the car; and have grown up cell phones around them all the time. Sadly, they need to be told it is not allowed.

The seatbelt law has been brought up- it came into law for me a couple of years before I started driving. People hated it, but as a new driver I always put on my seatbelt. Now I even put on my seatbelt to juggle the cars around the driveway- simply out of habbit. Hopefully this new law is equally as habit forming.

[To Be Quite Honest]

Originally Posted by ken0042

Just because I felt like giving 4x4 an infraction; I followed the trail back. Sadly, I was unable to issue an infraction because he did not actually call you stupid.

I understand that you may not like the authority of the police; however they are the people we appoint to help keep us safe. Yes, some of us may break traffic laws- 4x4 and I both speed for example. However in the past year the number of times I have been involved in a near miss with a cell phone using driver has got to be 8-10. The number of times I have had a near miss with a speeder; maybe once in the last 5 years.

Is this a new way for police to make money? Sure. Does it also increase the safety of our roads? I think so. Right now we have a group of 16-25 year old drivers who do not remember not having a phone in the car; and have grown up cell phones around them all the time. Sadly, they need to be told it is not allowed.

The seatbelt law has been brought up- it came into law for me a couple of years before I started driving. People hated it, but as a new driver I always put on my seatbelt. Now I even put on my seatbelt to juggle the cars around the driveway- simply out of habbit. Hopefully this new law is equally as habit forming.

"But why are some of you people so damned stupid? Whining that this is just a cash cow or tripping out about coffee? How can you not see how awesome it will be when the dipsh*t in front of you who is swerving side to side with his head bobbing up and down gets pulled over and fined for texting and driving?"

Nope he didn't out right call me "Stupid" but he used "you people" (That's Racist!), and some of my thoughts on this topic in the same paragraph. I wasn't looking for an infraction, but thank you for not ignoring. That's pretty decent of you.

When I was a young adult I was very good friends with an RCMP officer for about 4 years until he moved away. He assisted me with tickets (advice only lol) we would have beers at the local Legion. He'd still pull me over when I was with my buddies and sniff my pop for alcohol! And we'd talk about policing because I was interested in being one.

If you talk to cops in there 50's and 60's they most likely will tell you they don't like the "Police Science" of today. The application of safety has been turned around. They don't focus on people, they focus on the rules because that is what they are taught.

I don't have issues with all Police Officers. I have stated before, there are some real good guys and gals out there, but there are some miserable A-holes and that group is growing. Policing used to be about Public Relations, but now it's about bullying and intimidation and profit. It is these guy's where the system fails. It's these "laws" that give these A-holes the excuse needed to make others miserable. Someone in this thread questioned weather quotas happen? They do.

I would rather all the money spent on making these acts and enforcing them get spent on education. I'd rather see educational PSA's on proper merging in busy streets or the dangers of distracted driving shoved down our esophagus than a scare tactic and cash grab that only helps the police or city. It's a direct conflict of interest! I'd rather a probationary license restriction on distracted driving issues. Or parents check a box on a form, when kids get there license, agreeing to more discipline for distracted driving.

The way I see it happening now is one of those a-hole types will see me switch a CD or my coffee does spill and hit my leg or something happens that distracts me temporarily and I get pulled over because of a no tolerance a-hole bully cop wants to make my life miserable too...


/rant

[GreenTeaFrapp]

Originally Posted by To Be Quite Honest

You and Resolute are being, in all honesty, jerks to anyone who has a different opinion than you. Bullies, I believe it is called and this has been a common occurrence ever since you joined CP.

4X4
One of the Nine

Join Date: Dec 2004

To Be Quite Honest
Powerplay Quarterback



Join Date: Jan 2010

Since HE joined CP? What was your previous username on here? Or do you really expect anyone to be so stupid to believe that you browsed this place as a guest for over 5 years before signing up?

[Ducay]

I'm with To Be Quite Honest; its all just a cash grab by silly hall to pay for their dual $25 million dollar euro-trash bridges so all the yuppies in Sunnyside can get their eggs in the morning to go with their lattes.

Oh darn, there was supposed to be an airport tunnel reference in there too....well everyone can just add their favorite.

[jar_e]

Originally Posted by To Be Quite Honest

If you talk to cops in there 50's and 60's they most likely will tell you they don't like the "Police Science" of today. The application of safety has been turned around. They don't focus on people, they focus on the rules because that is what they are taught.

I don't have issues with all Police Officers. I have stated before, there are some real good guys and gals out there, but there are some miserable A-holes and that group is growing. Policing used to be about Public Relations, but now it's about bullying and intimidation and profit. It is these guy's where the system fails. It's these "laws" that give these A-holes the excuse needed to make others miserable. Someone in this thread questioned weather quotas happen? They do.

I would rather all the money spent on making these acts and enforcing them get spent on education. I'd rather see educational PSA's on proper merging in busy streets or the dangers of distracted driving shoved down our esophagus than a scare tactic and cash grab that only helps the police or city. It's a direct conflict of interest! I'd rather a probationary license restriction on distracted driving issues. Or parents check a box on a form, when kids get there license, agreeing to more discipline for distracted driving.

The way I see it happening now is one of those a-hole types will see me switch a CD or my coffee does spill and hit my leg or something happens that distracts me temporarily and I get pulled over because of a no tolerance a-hole bully cop wants to make my life miserable too...


/rant

PSA's don't work cause they don't scare people. Believe it or not, some people are still scared ####less of being pulled over by a cop and learn from that experience whether they get a ticket or not. Financially, some people know that they can't risk the $172 fine and won't break the law to prevent that. Knowing that risk of getting caught is a deterrent to people. Not all people, but some. That alone covers a chunk now who will drive more safely cause they aren't distracted. Majority of people won't do it simply because now its "the law".

Its not a conflict of interest, as all the money goes to the province. So its not a complete circle that if CPS writes a ticket, CPS gets the money. I guess CPS is funded by the province to an extent, but unfortunately that's the way the system works and you're not going to get around that.

Furthermore, cops in their 50's and 60's policed in a EXTREMELY different time than now. The liability, the risk, the public perception, has all changed and none of it really favours the police. I'm baffled you think the "application of safety" has been turned around, especially considering Calgary is one of the safest cities in the nation to live in. CPS is consistently ranked high in satisfaction from public surveys and in public acceptance. I don't know where you live but if you live in Calgary, you're very ill-informed.

Furthermore, CPS is cutting somewhere in the tens of millions out of their budget in the next few years so policing is far from a profitable, or else CPS would run in the black. You seem to have quite the bad taste in your mouth about policing but I'm a strong believer that people like yourself either bring it upon themselves or they're bad drivers in general and get pulled over than more than once a year.

/rant

[MoneyGuy]

Originally Posted by Ducay

I'm with To Be Quite Honest; its all just a cash grab by silly hall to pay for their dual $25 million dollar euro-trash bridges so all the yuppies in Sunnyside can get their eggs in the morning to go with their lattes.

Oh darn, there was supposed to be an airport tunnel reference in there too....well everyone can just add their favorite.

Rolling eyes right back at you. This isn't a city bylaw. It's a provincial law. It has absolutely nothing to do with the city.

[To Be Quite Honest]

Originally Posted by GreenTeaFrapp

4X4
One of the Nine

Join Date: Dec 2004

To Be Quite Honest
Powerplay Quarterback



Join Date: Jan 2010

Since HE joined CP? What was your previous username on here? Or do you really expect anyone to be so stupid to believe that you browsed this place as a guest for over 5 years before signing up?

LOL - somebody is trying to be a detective?

I've been reading this site for years. I never posted because my hockey knowledge sucks... Like a lot. Then a fellow editor here had a problem I could solve for him. I had to sign up to help. Now I post. Next time PM and be respectful instead of trying to get people to gang up on others.

[4X4]

Originally Posted by MoneyGuy

Rolling eyes right back at you. This isn't a city bylaw. It's a provincial law. It has absolutely nothing to do with the city.

Pretty sure "Duckie" (as his bro calls him) was joking.

As for you, TBQH, I apologize if I offended you. It just baffles me that people are up in arms over something that is purely a tax on stupid. This is almost as great as fining people for smelling bad or wearing spandex while fat, except it targets people that are not only stupid and oblivious, but also dangerous.

Y'know what? I HATE it when I'm just driving along trying to get where I'm going, and I have to deal with morons who are so engrossed in their text conversation that they miss their turn and then get all flustered and start making erratic moves. Keep your eyes on the road and you wont get a ticket, stupid.

[Jimmy Stang]

If these mysterious quotas do actually exist, would it not be more efficient for a cop to set up in a playground zone and nail speeders for a couple of hours? I can't see how driving around and waiting for someone to do something stupid so you pull them over and write a ticket for being distracted is going to be something that a cop trying to hit x tickets is going to bother with.

I'm not denying that there is a financial side of policing, but surely there are faster and easier ways to write a pile of tickets. But if a cop is driving between calls, and sees someone who is reading, writing, grooming, texting, etc. then damn right they should be pulled over. When an activity is endangering others, and self policing through common sense hasn't worked (in fact, the problem has been getting worse), then what other option is there?

[4X4]

Originally Posted by To Be Quite Honest

The way I see it happening now is one of those a-hole types will see me switch a CD or my coffee does spill and hit my leg or something happens that distracts me temporarily and I get pulled over because of a no tolerance a-hole bully cop wants to make my life miserable too...


/rant

Well then how about just keeping your eyes on the road if you're too much of a struggler to change a station while driving? Is that too much to ask? Boo fricken hoo for you if you need to swerve to drink coffee. I hope you get two tickets if you really need to swerve to do anything while driving.

Do you see that you're the problem? And you're whining about it like it should be legal to multitask while driving?

[To Be Quite Honest]

Originally Posted by jar_e

PSA's don't work cause they don't scare people. Believe it or not, some people are still scared ####less of being pulled over by a cop and learn from that experience whether they get a ticket or not. Financially, some people know that they can't risk the $172 fine and won't break the law to prevent that. Knowing that risk of getting caught is a deterrent to people. Not all people, but some. That alone covers a chunk now who will drive more safely cause they aren't distracted. Majority of people won't do it simply because now its "the law".

I strongly disagree. Education and Reason should be the first option to go to. But you have a different opinion and that's fine and your opinion seems to be the majority on this board. Again, it does not mean you opinion is the only one that is valid. But this has already been said and your post doesn't change or alter mine in anyway. I am heavily against using fear as a tactic to get your way - even if it is the easiest way to get something done.

Originally Posted by jar_e

Its not a conflict of interest, as all the money goes to the province. So its not a complete circle that if CPS writes a ticket, CPS gets the money. I guess CPS is funded by the province to an extent, but unfortunately that's the way the system works and you're not going to get around that.

Okay... You should look up conflict of interest. Just by saying "No it's not!" does not make it true.

Originally Posted by jar_e

Furthermore, cops in their 50's and 60's policed in a EXTREMELY different time than now. The liability, the risk, the public perception, has all changed and none of it really favours the police. I'm baffled you think the "application of safety" has been turned around, especially considering Calgary is one of the safest cities in the nation to live in. CPS is consistently ranked high in satisfaction from public surveys and in public acceptance. I don't know where you live but if you live in Calgary, you're very ill-informed.

lol - okay. This is all coming from the horses mouth. So he must be ill informed. (this is where on might insert condescending eye roll)

Originally Posted by jar_e

Furthermore, CPS is cutting somewhere in the tens of millions out of their budget in the next few years so policing is far from a profitable, or else CPS would run in the black.

Good. The CPS can hire a business consultants to cut costs and for balancing their budget and actually focus on real CRIME.

Originally Posted by jar_e

You seem to have quite the bad taste in your mouth about policing but I'm a strong believer that people like yourself either bring it upon themselves or they're bad drivers in general and get pulled over than more than once a year.

I have a bad taste from bad cops when I have done NOTHING to warrant their brutal treatment. I don't get pulled over often at all. I get a ticket maybe every 5 years and that includes photo. I'm actually a "very good boy"...

"People like yourself" Really, what are people like myself? Do we know each other? Please stop with the personal assumptions.

[To Be Quite Honest]

Originally Posted by 4X4

Pretty sure "Duckie" (as his bro calls him) was joking.

As for you, TBQH, I apologize if I offended you. It just baffles me that people are up in arms over something that is purely a tax on stupid. This is almost as great as fining people for smelling bad or wearing spandex while fat, except it targets people that are not only stupid and oblivious, but also dangerous.

Y'know what? I HATE it when I'm just driving along trying to get where I'm going, and I have to deal with morons who are so engrossed in their text conversation that they miss their turn and then get all flustered and start making erratic moves. Keep your eyes on the road and you wont get a ticket, stupid.

In all honesty I'm really not that sensitive... But thanks 4X4.

I GET the point you're making. I really do. I get the want for it from the public. Of course we need to stop the idiots on the road! I just believe there is a better way then this.

[4X4]

Originally Posted by To Be Quite Honest

I have a bad taste from bad cops when I have done NOTHING to warrant their brutal treatment. I don't get pulled over often at all. I get a ticket maybe every 5 years and that includes photo. I'm actually a "very good boy"...

"People like yourself" Really, what are people like myself? Do we know each other? Please stop with the person assumptions.

You've got a bad taste from cops? Where have you been hanging around? South Central? Mogadishu?

[ResAlien]

Originally Posted by To Be Quite Honest

In all honesty I'm really not that sensitive... But thanks 4X4.

I GET the point you making. I really do. I get the want for it from the public. Of course we need to stop the idiots on the road! I just believe there is a better way then this.

Random snipers? Intermittent spike strips? What is the better way, because the way it's being done now sounds good to me.

You're worried about getting a ticket because you're screwing with your cd's and whatnot in traffic? Good. Maybe that will keep your eyes on the road instead of you not paying attention.