[Rocketfan]

RICHMOND, Jan. 11 -- Some Virginia lawmakers want drivers to take their thumbs off the keyboards and put them back on the steering wheel while cruising down Virginia's roads.

They are tackling the problem of drivers who send, read and write messages on cellphones, PDAs and BlackBerrys. It's a thoroughly modern distraction dubbed Driving While Texting or DWT.

The General Assembly, which began its 60-day session Wednesday, is considering a pair of bills that would ban texting while driving a car, bicycle, motorcycle, moped or even an electric wheelchair. Lawmakers in four other states, including Maryland, are considering similar proposals.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/co ... 19_pf.html

[ToTheLeft]

SJ!

[Hold My Own]

They would have to ban cell phone use while driving...I mean seriously how in the world can they prove I was texting and not typing the phone number

[El Scorcho]

This is a waste of government time and taxpayer money. This law would be completely unenforceable.

1. How are the police going to see you sending a text message in your car? They won't. They'll only see a driver using a phone (at the most), and they'll always just claim they were making a phone call.

2. At night it may be a little easier to see since a bright cell phone can light up the dark interior of a car. However, "I was just looking for a song on my iPod." sounds like a good excuse there, too.

3. I've read on some sites that the police will likely ask to see your phone to determine if you were actually sending text messages or not. If a phone (like mine) requires a PIN before you can access the device, I'd say you're probably safe. Are they really going to get a warrant to search your phone for a misdemeanor ticket? No. Also, you (currently) don't have to give the police any password that protects data, so they're out of luck if your phone is password protected. Even if they tried to guess, my phone does a hard reset (erasing all data) if you type the password wrong eight times.

This is such a waste of time.

[ATrain]

According to the article, the only way they can get you for it is if they pull you over for something else first. However, just keep the phone low and there's really no way they'd ever know.

[bigsmooth]

there is already a law for teens on cell phone use in virginia. i hope it passes. i get real irritated when i see some jack*** holding up traffic or driving slow because of texting or talking on the phone.

[SuperJon]

I'm screwed.

[Hold My Own]

there is already a law for teens on cell phone use in virginia. i hope it passes. i get real irritated when i see some jack*** holding up traffic or driving slow because of texting or talking on the phone.

I normally go 30 over the posted speed while texting (instead of the normal 20) I think it's the rush of doing something I know I shouldnt be or something

[Fumblerooskies]

More of a menace are those driving while applying MAKE-UP.

[JDUB]

you got that right FR! that is the worst

[RubberMallet]

texting is one of the most cork on the fork retarded things i've ever seen....

[RagingTireFire]

I get the sense from the article that the lawmakers just realized this was happening -- actually, one guy even says that -- and are reacting to the "crisis" without having actually thought it through. Again.

[El Scorcho]

texting is one of the most cork on the fork retarded things i've ever seen....

Apparently you don't understand the usefulness of it for some people, or how to use it to save money.

[Hold My Own]

no kidding, there are some people that you KNOW you wont be able to get off the phone with...so send a text of the few sentences you need to say and then your done!

[SuperJon]

GMTM what?

[RubberMallet]

texting is one of the most cork on the fork retarded things i've ever seen....

Apparently you don't understand the usefulness of it for some people, or how to use it to save money.

apparently you haven't been to a grade schoo/ highschool/ jr high in a long time...its just aiding in the retardation of america....

i get like 3 or 4 "texts" a day....i don't think i've ever read one. if its important they would have called..

[RagingTireFire]

if its important they would have called..

Maybe they just don't like you.

[Hold My Own]

GMTM what?

It makes sense although I will admit it's one of the worst constructed sentences I've seen in a long time....I was on the phone though so I really wasnt thinking

[SuperJon]

No, I meant you were talking about him.

[RubberMallet]

if its important they would have called..

Maybe they just don't like you.

good...then don't call...you would probably only waste my time anyway...

people seem to enjoy having access to email and texts 25 hours a day....being able to have anyone reach them whenever they want.

we got phones from work and i still haven't set up email on it.....i don't care. my boss doesn't understand that he'll call at 8 pm and get my voicemal...."you never answer the phone or check emails after 5"....well until i start getting paid from 7am to 10pm my phone goes off. it drives him banans but what can he do...i'm his best salesmen other than himself....

[blwall1416]

my boss doesn't understand that he'll call at 8 pm and get my voicemal...."you never answer the phone or check emails after 5"....well until i start getting paid from 7am to 10pm my phone goes off.

I agree with this completely. My time is my time. Work ends when I walk out the door at 5:00pm. Gotta have priorities straight.

[HenryGale]

GMTM what?

It makes sense although I will admit it's one of the worst constructed sentences I've seen in a long time....I was on the phone though so I really wasnt thinking

Kind of relevant to this thread, huh?

[Fumblerooskies]

Half the time my son won't even answer the phone if I call...but if I send a text...almost instant response.

[El Scorcho]

my boss doesn't understand that he'll call at 8 pm and get my voicemal...."you never answer the phone or check emails after 5"....well until i start getting paid from 7am to 10pm my phone goes off.

I agree with this completely. My time is my time. Work ends when I walk out the door at 5:00pm. Gotta have priorities straight.

I get where you guys are coming from, but since my employer provides my phone, I'm always expected to answer it. I really don't mind it at all, actually. They do a good job of only calling when necessary.

As for text messaging...

apparently you haven't been to a grade schoo/ highschool/ jr high in a long time...its just aiding in the retardation of america....

That's the Internet effect. If you type with stupid abbreviations, you're stupid. It doesn't matter if you do it on a phone, in an IM or on a message board. It's not exclusive to text messaging and no one I know sends texts with that kind of crap in it.

Example 1 of why SMS messaging is cool: My parents and sister share a cell phone plan. They bought the cheapest shared plan offered by their provider for $20ish a month. The number of minutes they have to share is ridiculously low. However, they paid $5 extra for unlimited text messaging to any phone on any network. Now they can communicate with each other wherever they are, and they pay a lot less than most people to do it. It may not be some peoples' preferred method, but it certainly works for them. They have voice time to use in an emergency or a pinch, but they run no risk of going over and save some cash in the process.

Example 2 of why SMS messaging is cool: Even when I don't have high speed data coverage for my email to sync with my phone, my servers and network equipment can send me an alert instantly wherever I am to let me know that a serious problem has occurred. I know instantly and don't have to wait for our NOC to parse through a phone tree of people before I'm aware of what's going on.

Example 3 of why SMS messaging is cool: It means I don't have to talk to people on the phone. I hate talking to people on the phone. When I do the conversations are usually short. A text message accomplishes the same thing and saves me from having to fake laughing at dumb jokes, exchanging lame pleasantries and talking to people who just can't spit it out.

[Hold My Own]

No, I meant you were talking about him.

HAHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHAHAHHAHA



I actually was!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Smooth and I talk about that all the time!!!! I didnt want to say the name though but that's funny you said that! He just has a lot to say though, hence being a professional talker