Page 1 of 2

Federal Ban on Texting while Driving?

Posted: December 13th, 2011, 7:33 pm
by jbock13
Debate it here. You probably know where I stand.

Re: Federal Ban on Texting while Driving?

Posted: December 13th, 2011, 7:36 pm
by lynchburgwildcats
Not going to stop the people who are the reason behind the drive to get it banned.

Re: Federal Ban on Texting while Driving?

Posted: December 13th, 2011, 7:55 pm
by jbock13
It just makes me sad how many people are willing to give up their personal liberties in order to be "safe".

Re: Federal Ban on Texting while Driving?

Posted: December 13th, 2011, 8:13 pm
by jmdickens
Nanny State....Nanny State....Nanny State

Oh and this article states that they want to end ALL electronic devices in the car, with the exception of GPS and using a phone for dialing 911. SMH

Re: Federal Ban on Texting while Driving?

Posted: December 13th, 2011, 8:16 pm
by jbock13
Just remember, these are the same people who think the TSA is keeping them safe. It's be funny if it wasn't so seriously screwed up.

Re: Federal Ban on Texting while Driving?

Posted: December 13th, 2011, 8:30 pm
by BJWilliams
Once again the federal government overstepping its boundaries...I mean I dont do anything with my phone while Im driving (heck I dont take calls when Im driving unless its my boss or one of my parents and even then I try to keep it short)

Re: Federal Ban on Texting while Driving?

Posted: December 13th, 2011, 8:32 pm
by flamehunter
jbock13 wrote:Just remember, these are the same people who think the TSA is keeping them safe. It's be funny if it wasn't so seriously screwed up.
If they outlaw texting while driving, only outlaws will text while driving. They just need to make it legal to run someone off the road who is driving erratically while distracted. That will take care of a lot of it.

Re: Federal Ban on Texting while Driving?

Posted: December 13th, 2011, 8:43 pm
by RubberMallet
wait you guys are for a person's "right" to text while they drive? here in illinois we hand out tickets like candy to texters and i applaud it. an employee here died when an adult barrelled into him while he was on his bike. the guy was texting. our local enforcement cited that almost 25% of accidents in our area are texting related.

i am all for states rights over federal but a federal law here i wont complain about.

its like saying you support ones right to not carry insurance on their vehicle or driving blindfolded.

Re: Federal Ban on Texting while Driving?

Posted: December 13th, 2011, 8:49 pm
by LUconn
States grant the licenses. I assume there are other federal regs in regards to driving but why not just let the states decide this? Some of them already have. Seems like states that want it, have it and those that don't, don't.

Re: Federal Ban on Texting while Driving?

Posted: December 13th, 2011, 8:55 pm
by RubberMallet
LUconn wrote:States grant the licenses. I assume there are other federal regs in regards to driving but why not just let the states decide this? Some of them already have. Seems like states that want it, have it and those that don't, don't.
yeah i agree. i just don't really see the need to be up in arms about banning such a blatantly idiotic activity. especially when i can't see this possibly passing. things like this are brought up all the time.

Re: Federal Ban on Texting while Driving?

Posted: December 13th, 2011, 9:38 pm
by jbock13
The honest truth is Mallet, I call into question whether that count is that high. I watch the local news like a hawk here and I very rarely ever here of an accident caused by texting. Of course they occur, but it's not as common as drunk driving.

It's just funny how FOX news this morning kept showing a picture of the school bus flipped over, while talking about how texting should be banned. They didn't even mention if texting had anything to do with it, we were just supposed to see a flipped over school bus as if 50 children had just died.

It's just stupid. And it's wrong. Virginia has chose to ban it as a secondary offense. I don't like it, but they did it right way.

Having said that, if you text while you're driving, you're stupid. But just because I hate it, doesn't give me the constitutional right to ban your activities.

I'm just sick of all these people giving up their liberties to feel safe. If you're on a two lane road, do you not completely trust that the car coming down opposite from you will stay on their side of the road to not hit you head on? Well since you never know, let's pass a law stating that car's should stay on their side of the road. That'll fix those daredevils running into people head on! Which of course, is built on a faulty premise, because nobody in their right mind wants to do such a thing.

Yeah I'm on a rant, so I'll leave it at that. Hopefully some of that made any sense.

Re: Federal Ban on Texting while Driving?

Posted: December 13th, 2011, 9:46 pm
by PAmedic
jbock13 wrote: If you're on a two lane road, do you not completely trust that the car coming down opposite from you will stay on their side of the road to not hit you head on? Well since you never know, let's pass a law stating that car's should stay on their side of the road.
75 PACS ยง 3301. Driving on right side of roadway.
(a) General rule.--Upon all roadways of sufficient width, a
vehicle shall be driven upon the right half of the roadway

Re: Federal Ban on Texting while Driving?

Posted: December 13th, 2011, 9:49 pm
by thepostman
States decision...

texting and driving rarely causes major accidents but it provides a lot of close calls that annoy me on a regular basis

Also I agree with states outlawing texting and driving more then I agree with adults having to wear seat belts. Texting and driving puts others in danger...not wearing a seat belt is only putting yourself in danger. Just my 2 cents

but yeah it needs to be left to the states

Re: Federal Ban on Texting while Driving?

Posted: December 13th, 2011, 9:51 pm
by jbock13
Don't worry PA I'm well aware it's already a law. :lol: I was just proving that you need a law for common sense things.

Re: Federal Ban on Texting while Driving?

Posted: December 13th, 2011, 9:51 pm
by PAmedic
another idea which is fine in concept and virtually impossible to enforce.

how do I PROVE beyond a reasonable doubt you were texting and not placing a call (which is currently legal)?

hint: no way patrol guys are going to sit and type out warrants, then wait weeks to get your phone info from Verizon, just to prosecute a summary moving violation.

I could see if you were looking at a homicide by vehicle charge or something, but we'd just add a charge of reckless driving anyway in that case.

but if it makes people feel safer, so be it.

Re: Federal Ban on Texting while Driving?

Posted: December 13th, 2011, 10:52 pm
by RubberMallet
jbock13 wrote:The honest truth is Mallet, I call into question whether that count is that high. I watch the local news like a hawk here and I very rarely ever here of an accident caused by texting. Of course they occur, but it's not as common as drunk driving.
just because its not on the news? look at a police blotter. not every accident is on your local news. especially when the majority are not major death causing accidents.
jbock13 wrote: If you're on a two lane road, do you not completely trust that the car coming down opposite from you will stay on their side of the road to not hit you head on? Well since you never know, let's pass a law stating that car's should stay on their side of the road.
um. i'm pretty sure that is a law.

enforcing laws that keep the cost of our insurance down and keeping me safer on the road are fine by me. once again, i'd rather it be a state decided law. but i'm not up in arms about restricting ones freedom to drive wrecklessly.

like medic said, enforcing that is tougher. i assume most of the tickets issued here locally are dismissed one way or another but its huge here.

Re: Federal Ban on Texting while Driving?

Posted: December 13th, 2011, 11:13 pm
by jbock13
you didn't read the part where I said it was already a law obviously.

Re: Federal Ban on Texting while Driving?

Posted: December 13th, 2011, 11:21 pm
by RubberMallet
so it shouldn't be a law? that yellow line is infringing on your civil liberties to be able to drive wherever you think you should? that is your point?

Re: Federal Ban on Texting while Driving?

Posted: December 13th, 2011, 11:26 pm
by jbock13
RubberMallet wrote:so it shouldn't be a law? that yellow line is infringing on your civil liberties to be able to drive wherever you think you should? that is your point?
Nope. It was just a point I was making but way to distort the conversation.

Re: Federal Ban on Texting while Driving?

Posted: December 13th, 2011, 11:32 pm
by RubberMallet
you said that its a law that only makes people feel safe? so what was your point then? you probably don't even know either.

Re: Federal Ban on Texting while Driving?

Posted: December 13th, 2011, 11:44 pm
by jbock13
My point was, since it's a law, you trust that people will always stay on their side of the road. When that person could just ignore the law by plowing head first into your car.

And even though there's a law against what you did, it didn't stop you from doing it.

Re: Federal Ban on Texting while Driving?

Posted: December 13th, 2011, 11:46 pm
by RubberMallet
lol

Re: Federal Ban on Texting while Driving?

Posted: December 14th, 2011, 12:00 am
by Purple Haize
Thank God for SIRI. It lets me listen to and send texts without typing!

Re: Federal Ban on Texting while Driving?

Posted: December 14th, 2011, 12:33 am
by RubberMallet
Purple Haize wrote:Thank God for SIRI. It lets me listen to and send texts without typing!
the new ford explorer read me texts. i don't think i could send them.

Re: Federal Ban on Texting while Driving?

Posted: December 14th, 2011, 8:56 am
by ATrain
Well, if the federal government wants to ban texting while driving, then the federal government should fund, 100%, each of the state DOTs and build/maintain ALL the roads, from the little dirt roads in many rural counties to Boston's Big Dig, NOVA's Mixing Bowl, and the Hampton Roads bridge/tunnel network. Otherwise, the roads are state property and let the states decide.