Although I agree there are more than a fair share of idiots and those driving without any common sense. We already have a law for people who cause a wreck while using a cellphone, adjusting the radio, picking a CD, using a CB, watching their GPS, looking at the pretty girl walking down the street, picking up a dropped lit cigarette, reading the paper, doing their make-up, fighting with the kids, fixing their hair and just not paying attention. It's called FAILURE to remain in control of your vehicle! While taking away this liberty from those of us who practice common sense will save lives, so would a law requiring everyone swimming in a pool to wear a life-vest. Anyone on a boat as well. Let's not stop there however... I think we need a law that states "No one is allowed to stick a knife into a live electrical outlet." This might save a few lives too! Point is, Liberty and Freedom come with a price. In this instant people will die every day no matter how many laws you create. It's sad truth and reality of humanity. I'm willing to enjoy my Liberty and Freedom and take my chances every day to keep them while allowing others to do the same. If you feel giving up yours makes you more secure than you deserve neither Liberty or security! P.S. The seatbelt law was the biggest violation of our liberty as it's the only traffic law on the books that your choice of wearing one or not will not cause a wreck or endanger anyone but yourself. I had always said it would have been better had insurance companies said they wouldn't pay out if you weren't wearing one rather than create a law to enforce it and take your choice away. Same could be done with cellphones. Insurance companies should step up and deny benefits if cellphone use was the cause. This still leaves you with your own freedom of choice.

It's also freedom of "choice" to yell fire in a crowded auditorium. It's against the law, but you can yell "fire", if you wish. This is exactly the same thing. "It's called protecting the greater good". I see people talking on cell phones, swerving all over the road, sitting in the middle of an 8-lane intersection not knowing which way to go, because they're too involved in conversation to pay any attention to what they're doing. I DIDN'T MAKE THAT UP.

How could anyone object to this? We didn't have cell phones 25 years ago and all of us made it through the day, just fine. There are more and more people on the road today and it takes concentration to avoid accidents, talking or TEXTING (for God's sake) is the last thing we need to be doing.

It's not the same thing at all. Yelling fire when there is no fire to get a stampeed is not the same as someone using common sense or not while using a cellphone. 25 yrs ago there were and still are today Truckers and other using CB Radios. You don't think they carry on conversations? They're not outlawed. I see people every day not paying attention as you do. I'm very aware it causes accidents. It upsets me too, but I'm not for creating another law that takes the rights away from those people who can talk and drive without any trouble. This whole thing reminds me of the few bad apples at school who always got everyone else in trouble because they didn't do what they were suppose too. It just pisses those of us who can handle it off! I ride a motorcycle by the way and have for over 40 yrs... if anyone is qualified to talk about drivers without common sense and not paying attention it would be ME!

New Patriot - Your convoluted logic implies that any law designed to protect society comes second to an individuals rights to freedoms.It's the other way around, your individual rights ends when it infringes on the safety of the general public. And your BS about enjoying liberty is just crap you read from the NRA.

What I ment to say was... No this is more like arresting everyone in the auditorium because someone yelled fire! I agree, protecting the greater good in this instance should win... that being protect Liberty! What's your odds of being killed by another driver talking on a cell phone? Guessing you have greater odds of dying from a heart attack. Don't worry however we're all over it making laws what fastfood can sell to those of you without common sense. You mean eating fried foods can kill you? Noway!

No, how can this even be considered while reading the newspaper with it spread out across your windshield is still legal? Why is this being considered before banning driving while asleep, or banning driving while having sex?

My point here is that instead of banning individual actions, why not simply ban driving while distracted? Oh wait, we already did... it's called wreckless driving! The problem here isn't one of not enough laws, the problem is of cops not doing enough to enforce our current laws. Writing another law to ban what's already illegal isn't going to change anything, except it might make a few idiots feel safer as they can then go about their day thinking that the whole world will suddenly decide to follow the latest law, even though they were ingnoring the last several. Don't be so naieve.

New Patriot's first post illustrates one big problem with our society today. Americans think EVERYTHING is a right. You are NOT guaranteed the right to use a cell phone while driving. In fact, you do not have the RIGHT to drive. Driving is a privilege that is supposed to be earned--that's why it requires a license as proof that you've earned that right.

The problem here isn't one of not enough laws, the problem is of cops not doing enough to enforce our current laws.

I completely agree, especially after following a cop for over 10 miles, during which time he had a cell phone plastered to his left ear, crossed left of center into oncoming traffic to get into a turn lane, drove in the left lane, and ran a red light to get into the 7-11 parking lot. Laws are only laws if they are enforced.

I agree, but this will never work, people think the laws don't pertain to them, just look at all the people who park in fire lanes while going to stores. Nobody inforces the laws.

I agree, but so are cigarettes and chew "tobaccoaddict". Sadly, we all get to pay for those who make bad choices.

It would be too hard to enforce. How can you tell if someone is texting or dialing or just making a note in their phone.

- 5:21 am CEST on Wed Sep

#10

- KCComes
That's why we need some nannies, and that's why we need a law.

Flbikerchick, Driving is a privilege? It's a right I have earned! I pay for my license, I pay tax on the car I purchased, I pay tax for the gas, I pay for plates, I pay taxes for the road I drive on weather I own a car or not! I pay for manditory insurance. Heck I even pay taxes for the cellphone service you're telling me I can't even use anytime I'm behind the wheel! Which is several hours in a day! I've been driving gas powered engines since I was 4. I've passed ever test the law requires to keep an auto and motorcycle license since I was 15! I've had NO accidents or tickets since! I occasionally use my cell phone while driving. Now you and these others come along and tell me that the "privilege" I've earned and enjoyed is being taken away because a lot of people use poor judgement while using a cell phone? I don't think so! These people would still cause a wreck more than likely no matter WHAT law you passed! We already have road blocks for so called "safety checks" which is in violation of your rights and mine as we are free to travel from point A to point B in this country without being detained without cause. Pass this law and you'll see more "safety checks"(road blocks) checking to see if you have a cellphone in your car or person. Listen people I'm not here to tell you that driving while using a cellphone is safe. I'm just telling you that we already have a law for this issue and it's obviously not being inforced as people continue to show lack of common sense. Why am I so passionate about "liberity and freedom"? Last summer I was stopped trying to leave my house at 2am to make a Wendy's frosty run. I was told I couldn't leave and needed to go back in my house. Why? because 3 police officers thought I had been drinking. I don't drink! It took me 30 minutes to prove I was sober. All because they asked me where I was going and a refused to tell them. Gee, I feel safer already!

Here we go another law that the police will not be able to control. Unless they put a very heavy fine on it, it will only amount to a slap on the wrist. We have many laws on the books, what is missing is the enactment part by the policing authorities to do something about it. Don't get me wrong.. I believe that there should be a law, just the willingness of the police to do something instead of letting it go with a word of caution. One must look at drivers as young children when you tell them not to touch the stove it could be hot.. and what does the young child do? They touch the stove because they do not believe it or they are curious... You can continue to tell a person they shouldn't do something until your blue in the face, but unless you show them with meaning like a heavy fine and their insurance going up by say $500 a year for 3 years.. then the message will not be clearly sent...

For another example: Say on the street that you live people are flying up and down the street going 20-30 mph over the speed limit... if the police do not stop and give tickets out people do not get the message. In my town just on my street for one year - the police stopped over 480 drivers.. among the 480, 120 were Unlicensed drivers, 80 were uninsured drivers, 12 had warrants for their arrest, and 90 were drinking while driving, 1 was a fugitive with a gun.. there was 2 people in the same truck, that had a truck with marijuana and cocaine, and a couple of guns

This is why I would be in favor of any policy that would have the police stopping people on cellphone and texting... not because of the act itself.. it is because I would like to see the police grabbing the more offensive people..

If the government can't ban drunk driving, how can it possibly ban cell phone use? I don't think it will work whether the fines are big or small. My cynical feeling is that people are going to do whatever they feel like doing no matter who gets hurt or what the cost/penalty.

Drunk driving penalties aren't universally enforced with any consistency. In small rural areas, a person can easily avoid a fine if he or she "knows" the district attorney or judge. In larger cities, this isn't the case.

There are people picked up for DUI's every day and they sometimes have three or four previous citations for the same thing. Some have to serve time, some have to pay a huge fine, some lose their license for a time and others get a smack on the hands.

If we decide to punish people who talk on cell-phones, each one of us has to share in upholding this law, so that every one has the same pumishment. The parents and families of those who have been murdered by a drunk driver should demand justice. DEMAND JUSTICE for reckless cell-phone users as well.

There is no excuse.

The government does ban drunk driving but the reason people keep doing it is because all you have to do is pay a $1500 fee and you're done. Many european countries don't have problems with drunk drivers because the first time you get caught you lose your license forever. If we did that here we would have less of a problem. Same thing with cell phones. First time you get caught is a hefty fine, but if you are a repeat offender you start losing your right to drive. Talk on the cell all you want while you're on the bus.

Even though it's common sense not to drive while texting, I like having the LAW back me up when I'm ragging my kids about it. My kids are in their early to mid 20's and I've been "assured" that they only text when it's "safe". That's BS and I know it! There is nothing THAT important that needs to be immediately responded to. And, being rear ended while texting at a red light could seriously hurt the driver that didn't notice that you are sitting there texting "OMG" to your friends.

I want the cell phone companies to be accountable also. I asked T-Mobile to turn off the text reception to my phone last year and they said it wasn't possible. Sure it is, they just don't want to do it! I would have used this when my kids were younger and I had more control. I can't think of anything worse then an inexperienced driver distracted by trying to SPELL something out with their little phone!

Sooooo...do we require that all phones have temperature monitors, so we know when a person is holding it in their hand? What if you live in a hot climate? The blocking technology could only be implemented if it was an expensive vehicle modification, or perhaps the phone companies could implement it by disengaging your phone if it's moving between towers at a certain rate. Neither one of those comes cheap, and in each case the consumers, ALL consumers, will pay for it.

As I said in my comment with my vote above (which was no, for lack of better options), the intent is good, but the implementation and implications are far-reaching and expensive. It's not like they can regulate and flip a switch to make this happen.

What about passengers and trains/subways? So I am on a subway and there is an emergency, can't call until the next stop?

What about passengers and trains/subways? So I am on a subway and there is an emergency, can't call until the next stop?

Unbelievable.

So you would prohibit anybody in the vehicle (not just the operator) from using a cell device? That is not an appropriate technological solution. Also, GPS does not offer sufficient resolution to determine of you are in one vehicle or another, let alone one seat or another (about 15 feet resolution unless using assisted GPS).

And keep in mind, GPS also does not work unless it has a clear view of the sky....this would result in behaviours where texting would occur when in a tunnel for example, increasing the likihood of an accidnet beyond even normal conditions. Technology just isn't the amswer here - education and heavy fines are.

AMEN!!!!!

YES! The right to the not be killed by a texting driver completely trumps the right of another to have a mobile conversation. The only people I can think of who actually require being connected 100% of the time have drivers and pilots carting them around....

They are as dangerous as a rattlesnake!!

That happened to me too --- probably the closest I have ever had to feeling road rage. I wanted to follow them until they stopped and rip the phone right out of their hands!

RR in Al, I know exactly how you feel, the same thing happen to me, and the perpetrator flipped me off.

I draw the line there, and simply motion them to pull over and lets have a nice friendly southern discussion about the situation. They are too chicken to pull over, though.

Irish2- What's a Southern discussion? I'm from Philadelphia, the city of brotherly love...

excellent point

Great point... as always - if you want to get to the bottom of an issue, "follow the money".

Also: it's scary when the elderly have become the safest drivers on the road... simply by putting both hands on the wheel & watching where they're going. Reaction times in the elderly have slowed, but their attention while driving has been a life-long habit.

Stay safe out there -

correct,,,we cage dogs that bite and fine the owners

Well said Bill-a-Bong

What's so bad about those suggestions? The answer sounds perfectly logical to me.

What's the difference between state governments and the federal government? That's all I hear day in and day out...STATES RIGHTS...STATES RIGHTS...

It's all government, one way or the other. If all of the people who bitch about government interference would secede from the union, we would be a lot better off. Then, each state could be a country and each one could fight off communists, fascists...by itself. Sounds like a great idea to me.

Scott, I am usually with you on keeping the Feds out of it, but in this case it is a public safety issue, and the states are falling short by either not passing the laws or by not enforcing the laws, or both, and people are dying because of it. If the states would do their damn jobs, we wouldn't need the Feds to come in and lay down laws like this, but in this case, I think that's just what needs to happen.

ikie 12pts FFS man learn some history and a little bit about your country! America was founded on several principals, one being that states have rights to regulate as they see fit. In fact we had a whole WAR aka the American Revolution partly because of government interference.

Your comment makes me sick to my stomach. The day people stop caring about State's rights and government interference is the day America BECOMES a communist facist dictatorship.

If the people of a state don't want to take away personal freedoms it's up to them.

What's next, banning kids, food, the radio? Some people, like my father (his job necessitates it), talk on the cell phone and have never been close to an accident, although he has been hit twice, once because of a woman yelling at her kids, the other because people don't know how to drive on wet roads and people were tailgating. Mobile devices are NOT the problem, it's the people. If they weren't texting they'd find something else to distract them, like reading a book (I've seen it!) or playing games with their passengers. How about instead we actually teach people to drive instead of having this joke of an 'exam' we currently have that does nothing to prepare people to drive in the real world

Apparently with your knee, jack kelly. I car pooled (notice the past tense) with a 19-yr-old student to campus. She drove 112 mph while talking to me in the seat next to her and texting on the phone in both hands, controlling the wheel with her knee. When I expressed my concern about her safety, she said she would die from something else before she died from texting, then she said she had a speed-control devise on her Mazda truck that limits her driving to only 92 mph, so even when the speedometer reads 112, she's actually only going 92 mph. My mother used to make me and my three other sisters be quiet in the car so she could concentrate on driving, not bad advise. I've made it eight years without even owning a cell phone and guess what, I'm a happy, camper with lots of pocket change and tons of experience in avoiding accidents. Who needs video games when you have Florida Highways to play on.