Police in Seattle cracking down on texting

[futurefields]

Police in Seattle will begin cracking down on people who text while drive. According to the radio they will be keeping an eye on anybody doing anything they consider distracting.

Does this = police can pull me over for any reason at any time? What if I'm adjusting the volume on my cd player while I drive?

 

[BeeBoop]

Is navigation legal?

 

[slag]

The law in Kansas is a texting law but doing anything other than talking on your phone falls under that law. So no nav, looking for music, etc. Find where you want to go, put the phone on your dashboard, and then take off. Don't mess with NAV when driving. There's even a popup at the beginning that tells you this.

 

[master_shake_]

http://www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/safety/distracted-driving/

so four years ago....

and yes they can pull you over for anything that can be considered distracting, including adjusting your raido...

its a good thing the government is looking out for me...it's a wonder we humans have made it so far without their help...

omfg....

Some Ontarians might not realize it, but distracted driving is a huge issue on Canada’s roads. This includes eating, drinking, personal grooming and most notably texting/talking on the phone. Most people probably think nothing of sending a few text messages or talking on the phone while driving, even though doing so is illegal under the highway traffic act.

http://o.canada.com/2013/06/28/distracted-driving-is-a-huge-issue-on-ontario-roads/

 

[mrrman]

see this all the time..I was coming back from Oregon on Friday doing 70 on the I5 and some older lady was in the fast lane texting...couldn't believe it. Its to bad that they couldn't make a device where as soon as you got in the car, all cell phones would not work. That's a billion dollar idea.

 

[CZroe]

see this all the time..I was coming back from Oregon on Friday doing 70 on the I5 and some older lady was in the fast lane texting...couldn't believe it. Its to bad that they couldn't make a device where as soon as you got in the car, all cell phones would not work. That's a billion dollar idea.

It's also a trillion-dollar liability. Genius!

Not everyone in the car is the driver.
Cell phones are also lifelines and emergency tools.
Any disabling technology no matter how limited is going to be subject to EXTREME scrutiny.

Think about it: cellphone-jamming tech marketed for movie theaters was banned by the FCC. What would have happened if it were not and someone had their way with a hostage movie audience for two hours before anyone knew? Remember the Batman incident? What about the Russian terrorist theater hostage incident that showed us why it's a bad idea to knock out a room full of innocents with gas?

 

[dawp]

too many accidents are caused by distracted drivers, even talking on the phone has been shown to increase risks whether hands free or not. I see no problem with this. it's not just about you, you have to take into consideration the others on the road around you.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Good. I wish police everywhere would do this.

Too many idiots on the road paying attention to their stupid phones instead of driving.

 

[MrDudeMan]

Good. I wish police everywhere would do this.

Too many idiots on the road paying attention to their stupid phones instead of driving.

You win the thread.

 

[schneiderguy]

Good. I wish police everywhere would do this.

Too many idiots on the road paying attention to their stupid phones instead of driving.

This.

Police enforcing no texting laws

Spoiler

preferably with deadly force

is the only legitimate function of government,

 

[Linux23]

I do it all the time. I am a great driver.

 

[Red Squirrel]

Isin't this already illegal? You can't use a cell while driving (not even to talk) unless you have a hands free handset.

I'd hate to see the way police in the states would enforce this though. Definitely confiscate the cell for "evidence", possibly impound the car and in random cases, just for shits and giggles, public execution of the driver via unloading all available clips each cop (10+ will show up) have on them. "he looked at us funny, it was self defense!".

 

[blurredvision]

The only way this will ever be resolved is when all vehicles on the road drive themselves, allowing passengers to do whatever they please. Until then, it's up to each of us to drive responsibly.

 

[shortylickens]

KNowing what I do about Seattle, this is more about control than safety.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

I do it all the time. I am a great driver.

2/10. You have the formula, but it needs more prattle to get bites.

 

[Linux23]

2/10. You have the formula, but it needs more prattle to get bites.

was trying to be serious.

i live in a big city, with a shit load of traffic lights, and I get bored waiting for the light to turn green. i do more waiting than driving.

 

[Engineer]

was trying to be serious.

i live in a big city, with a shit load of traffic lights, and I get bored waiting for the light to turn green. i do more waiting than driving.

I've seen many people sit at lights texting....even to the point of still sitting there 10 seconds after the light turns green. Hell, I saw an old woman pull out of her driveway yesterday, pull to the stop sign at the end of the street and sit there for 45 seconds texting before going on. Why couldn't she have done that from her driveway before leaving?

If you guys want to text, get the fuck off the road.

 

[Patranus]

I await the mother being distracted by her children in the back seat being pulled over.
Then again I know that is never going to happen.

#Equity

 

[HeXen]

I think it's also pretty bad outside of driving. I mean when a family of 4 in a restaurant is not interacting but each has a cell to their face the entire time has a serious problem imo. However I think our future is heading towards everyone doing similar on more elaborate devices while they drive, walk or whatever in public.

 

[Engineer]

I await the mother being distracted by her children in the back seat being pulled over.
Then again I know that is never going to happen.

#Equity

So because other distracted drivers aren't punished, neither should people texting? (at least that's the way I read it).

Oh, and it's #Equality, unless you're looking at how much value the woman with the kids has in her car or home vs the loan outstanding!

 

[dave_the_nerd]

So because other distracted drivers aren't punished, neither should people texting? (at least that's the way I read it).

Oh, and it's #Equality, unless you're looking at how much value the woman with the kids has in her car or home vs the loan outstanding!

Not the actors' union?

 

[futurefields]

I'm not worried about being pulled over for texting, I never text while driving. What worries me is this "they can pull you over if they suspect you doing anything distracting" wtf does that mean?

Seems like an excuse for them to pull over anybody they want at any time. All they have to say is "Saw you texting", what power would I have in that situation?

It's especially concerning for me because I am a medical marijuana patient and my car smells like weed a lot, and sometimes I have it in the car if I am on my way home from the dispensary. Could lead to a lot of messed up situations for me where I am constantly having to defend myself.

 

[Patranus]

So because other distracted drivers aren't punished, neither should people texting? (at least that's the way I read it).

Oh, and it's #Equality, unless you're looking at how much value the woman with the kids has in her car or home vs the loan outstanding!

How about enforcing 'reckless driving' laws equality and stop singling out certain behaviors because those behaviors are whatever is the flavor of the day in the world of politics?

Don't need a billion laws singling out texting while driving, ect.
Need a single law and regardless of what people are doing, if they are driving recklessly they should be pulled over. If they are not driving recklessly then they shouldn't.

Pretty simple concept.

 

[Rakehellion]

its a good thing the government is looking out for me...it's a wonder we humans have made it so far without their help...

If it weren't for laws protecting you, you'd have been murdered in your sleep for a loaf of bread years ago.

 

[Rakehellion]

Don't need a billion laws singling out texting while driving, ect.
Need a single law and regardless of what people are doing, if they are driving recklessly they should be pulled over. If they are not driving recklessly then they shouldn't.

Most people don't drive recklessly. Until they do. Texting while driving has caused deaths, but it's an impairment that can be reversed at the flick of a switch.

By your logic, why make it a crime to drive recklessly at all? I mean, just because you're swerving all over the road doesn't mean you're going to hit someone.