Quick rant about cell phone laws

[Mongo]

Colorado recently passed a law forbidding cell phone use while driving.

Yesterday (wish I got a pic with my cell phone :brows: )I was passed by a state trooper; talking on his cell phone WHILE typing something in to the laptop mounted in front of his dash at 65mph. WTF! The news has been extolling the virtue of this law, just cracks me up that it is only applicable to the masses and not people charged with enforcement. :thwak:

[Lenard]

wow that blows.

As for the copper, sound about right. :nuts:

Not to be impolite to the police officers out there, as they all have a hell of a job.

it just pisses me off, when i see a cop that enforces laws that he does not follow himself.

And for the most part, they never get in trouble and will never get a speeding ticket or $#!& like that because

of the whole brother hood cop thing.

As far as I'm concerned its there job to be setting an example.

I love it when i get passed by a cop when I'm doing the speed limit and he does not have his lights on,

cause i just speed up and hang with him. I'm just hoping one of these days they will pull me over and try to give me a

speeding ticket, cause ill be damned if they can write me a ticket for doing exactly what they were doing. :rant: :rant:

 

sorry rant over.

[Eagle]

While I agree that police should live by the same rules as the rest of us, I have seen way to many accidents and I have had far too many narrow escapes due to people yakking on their cell phones when driving to have any sympathy for people who think such laws are "unfair." I don't think even hands free cell phone use should be allowed when driving. It's a simple fact of life that chatting on a cell phone is too much like ... chatting on a cell phone. The brain shuts down the part that's supposed to remember that you're driving a 4,000 pound guided missile, and the next thing you know you just T-boned a soccer mom 'cause you ran a red light.

 

Sorry, Mate. Cell phones in vehicles (for the driver) are toxic.

[wyk]

Police often have:

 

Radios, laptops, video, GPS/Sat Nav, mobiles, radar, etc etc in their vehicles. There are plenty of opportunities for an officer to be distracted. So be extra careful when you see one on the road ;)

 

I saw some stats from Washington state the other day that claimed cell phone usage accounted for as many fatal accidents are drunk driving, and slightly MORE than speeding. I hope that isn't right because I see everyone jabbin' on their mobiles nowadays... I also know a couple folks that text while driving, and they are looking at their phones while doing it :(

 

WYK

[streetjeep2.5]

Wife and I were driving on the interstate. Pulled into left lane to pass a van that had a bumper sticker on it saying "get off your cell phone and drive!"

When we saw the driver she was....

 

 

 

 

scroll down ......

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

just a bit more ......

 

 

 

 

 

 

this should about do it ......

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

talking on a cell phone? Nope!

 

 

 

 

 

Reading something opened up on her steering wheel!!!! :nuts:

[johnnyc]

We have these electronic message boards on the freeways to advise drivers of accidents, traffic jams, and such. When the roads are open, these signs urge drivers to "Call 911 to report drunk drivers". Always wondered if calling 911 on a cell phone while driving is a ticketable offense.

[Lenard]

While I agree that police should live by the same rules as the rest of us, I have seen way to many accidents and I have had far too many narrow escapes due to people yakking on their cell phones when driving to have any sympathy for people who think such laws are "unfair." I don't think even hands free cell phone use should be allowed when driving. It's a simple fact of life that chatting on a cell phone is too much like ... chatting on a cell phone. The brain shuts down the part that's supposed to remember that you're driving a 4,000 pound guided missile, and the next thing you know you just T-boned a soccer mom 'cause you ran a red light.

 

Sorry, Mate. Cell phones in vehicles (for the driver) are toxic.

You are right Eagle. I didnt mean for message to say that that law is unfair. I think it is fair.

Being up in Kansas City most of the week, its unbelievable how many people are on their phone's

and NOT paying attention to there driving. It's like driving in a damn mine field.

Here in MO if your under 21 it's illegal to text and drive which is stupid, cause what the heck

does the age matter for that?? :nuts: But.....they are working on making it illegal for all age

drivers.

[the_wizard_of_fire]

well, for myself, the law is.... useful, but shouldn't apply to me.

reason being, you never really want to call me when I'm driving, cause for the most part, i will ignore the conversation, and drive. kind of like listening to the radio while driving, thats about as distracted as i let myself get. BUT i accept that i am the exeption to the rule, and most people who talk om the phone driving are scary as hell.....

[reson46]

These laws are ridiculous, redundant, and do little besides giving moronic politicians something to do besides solving real problems. As well as give them propaganda to spoon feed to their brain dead constituents to show how much they have accomplished. There are already laws for distracted drivers. I have a novel idea, enforce them!!!! :fs1:

 

I have become completely irate when dodging distracted drivers. For some reason these idiots do not have the mental capacity to understand that they are putting everybody else's life in danger with their stupidity.

 

It is amazing what I see - and I hardly even drive anymore. I work from home and during the week I usually don't make more than 3 or 4 trips - all within 5 or 10 miles of home. These trips are during low traffic times. Almost every trip I have to dodge some idiot driver where if I wasn't paying attention they would cause an accident for which they would be at fault. Until driving infractions are taken seriously, this will do nothing but get worse. :wall:

 

Politicians passing more redundant, unenforced laws will do nothing but waste our tax money.

 

Willy

[wyk]

Wife and I were driving on the interstate. Pulled into left lane to pass a van that had a bumper sticker on it saying "get off your cell phone and drive!"

When we saw the driver she was....

 

Reading something opened up on her steering wheel!!!! :nuts:

 

Reminds me of a photo I snapped on Texas 183 just north of Austin back in 2001:

[Wildman]

You can all thank NY state for starting alot of the "odd" laws :roll:

 

We've have the "hand free" cell phone law for about 6-7 years now, police are exempt from the law, calming that they make alot of "off radio" call with there cell phones :roll:

 

And this carries a nice $150 fine if you get caught *know a few people that paid that*

 

Now, we have the "no texting while driving" law, I think that carries the same fine :hmm:

 

Guest you'll all be seeing that law in your home town soon :eek:

 

Me, I don't text, but.......I might grab a call while driving, not in heavy traffic, but off the beaten path, and yes, it's distracting.

 

I watch out for the other guy that's weaving all over the road while talking on the cell, or get behind some one that on there phone for 20 minutes :shake:

 

The problem is, if you have an accident, and they can prove you were on the phone, hang it up, your done.

 

Last December, a woman was killed on the thruway, she hit a deer, Daytime, and her car stalled on the passing lane, an 18 wheeler came along, and plow that car into a thousand pieces, they latter proved the truck driver was watching porn on his lap top, he's sitting in the gray bar hotel right now waiting for his trial to start.

 

http://www.buffalonews.com/2010/01/27/9 ... d-and.html

 

So, I'm sure our next new law will be 'no watching porn on a lap top while driving' :teehee:

[AmJay]

We have these electronic message boards on the freeways to advise drivers of accidents, traffic jams, and such. When the roads are open, these signs urge drivers to "Call 911 to report drunk drivers". Always wondered if calling 911 on a cell phone while driving is a ticketable offense.

 

We have those too. I like to call them platitude boards.

 

Example:

 

Click it ot ticket.

when snow falls so should your speed.

over the limit under arrest.

drive right pass left...it's the law.

construction workers give them a break. (Do they me broken leg, arm?)

move over or stop for emergency vehicles.

 

Whenever there is something meaningfull to say, like "stalled vehicle in right lane". You're already in the traffic jam. Millions of wasted dollars for these in my opinion.

 

Mac...

[88pioneer]

i agree with the no cell phone laws, i've been to many the scene of a car accident, and when the driver is asked if they were on there phone you always get the definitive "NO!" only to find the phone laying in the middle of the road, or right by the car :fool: . Also, being on the fire department i have come to meet many troopers, and most of them do drive recklessly and almost all are on there phones, what seems to be all time. I think this is wrong, but when it comes down to it, whos going to stop them :dunno:

[87Warrior]

In the middle of the morning traffic rush last week, I look over at this white car who was driving like a see-saw. The gal behind the wheel, was using some clamp device on her eyes with one hand and putting on lipstick with the other, steering with one knee at 45mph. I worked my way around her quickly.

 

Most folks are bad drivers. Throw in a distraction and they have no reason driving. Most jeepers are great drivers. We understand the dynamics of the vehicle and are generally ready for anything.

 

I don't text or make phone calls while driving. Plus I absolutely hate talking on any phone.... Driving time is my peaceful time (unless in the city).