the merits of the proposed law aside, it is not the function of the federal government to control driver’s activities while driving down a rural country road in Anyplace, USA. let congress stick with the things the Constitution authorizes them to do, and let’s the individual states run their own affairs. we elect state legislatures to handle these things; I don’t want my congressional leaders wasting their time with it.
States are already going through the motions of making texting illegal with no impact on the practice. This is another piece of useless legislation. The root cause is the individual who does it. Until and unless there’s a significant penalty to pay they’ll continue. But nobody has the balls to take this too seriously and impose a perceivable consequence. How about a $500 fine for the 1st offense, a $1,000 fine and 30-day license supension for the second, and a 30-day jail sentence plus a 6 month license revocation for the 3rd. THAT will make even the densest of idiots think twice.
If you want to talk about inept, Our so called leaders in Washington have got to be the most inept individuals to ever disgrace an office. They are nothing but a bunch of overpaid control freaks. At least at the state level you can get them to listen.
It’s a shame that common sense doesn’t seem to be around anymore that we have to make a law like this. It should be at the State level. I like the idea of the penalties being higher. Treat it like a DUI because that is how they drive. It may be hard to enforce this but it still needs to be a law so there is a penalty for those who do it when they are caught. My phone gets answered when I get home. They can leave a message or not and I sure don’t need to type out a text while trying to drive. Whatever happened to common sense.
Does the Federal Government really have to make a law that states they will hold back federal highway funds if a given state does not pass an anti texting law? There are many things states must and must not do to be elligible for those funds. Is a special law really required to add something to that list?
I’m pretty good at texting while driving :-) I agree with Bob though, keep the gov out of the state. The blind leading the blind never goes well.
Also, perhaps increase the difficulty of getting your drivers license? People who stare at the bumper in front of them, don’t use turn signals, brake constantly, don’t consider the traffic behind them, etc. shouldn’t be licensed.
No, it’s not a solution. It’s in force here in Michigan and has only led to worse government. We now get not only poor legislators, but individuals who have no clue on how the legislative process works. The old style long timer may seem an anachronism, but they do know how to pass legislation. Ours don’t know how to zip up their pants after discussions with interns.
While I do not necessarily agree with the approach, this type of law is long overdue. I had a friend that lost his wife and one of his children as a result of some idiot text message. The moron in question rear-ended his vehicle, thus pushing him into oncoming traffic. I think they need to address something like this, but just not sure the fed needs to be involved.
They are trying to reduce accidents right? Instead of cell phones, texting, fooling with the radio, and whatever else, they should just ban driving. That would solve the problem. We are too incompetent as a society to handle automobiles.
People are still dying on the highways everyday. Some Messiah this president is.
Let’s see- I’m driving down the road at 50 Miles/hour in a 5,000 pound SUV looking at my iphone as I type a letter.
Wow, I wonder if anything could go wrong!
There is no excuse to get behind the wheel of a car after having several drinks, that said I would rather be a passenger in a car driven by someone that has had 3 drinks but is looking at the road, then a person that is “Stone-cold-sober” but is not looking at the road.
the merits of the proposed law aside, it is not the function of the federal government to control driver’s activities while driving down a rural country road in Anyplace, USA. let congress stick with the things the Constitution authorizes them to do, and let’s the individual states run their own affairs. we elect state legislatures to handle these things; I don’t want my congressional leaders wasting their time with it.
Should we ban texting while driving or driving while texting?
I think we should ban texting while driving. If we ban driving while texting, there will be a lot of stopped cars out there.
Who proofreads these articles anyway?
States are already going through the motions of making texting illegal with no impact on the practice. This is another piece of useless legislation. The root cause is the individual who does it. Until and unless there’s a significant penalty to pay they’ll continue. But nobody has the balls to take this too seriously and impose a perceivable consequence. How about a $500 fine for the 1st offense, a $1,000 fine and 30-day license supension for the second, and a 30-day jail sentence plus a 6 month license revocation for the 3rd. THAT will make even the densest of idiots think twice.
And what do you do when the state legislature is completely incompetent- a la NY?
Here go the feds again. They can not keep there own house in order but yet they want to take control of the individual states.
The Leaders in Washington have lost sight of what the constitution of this great country allows.
If you want to talk about inept, Our so called leaders in Washington have got to be the most inept individuals to ever disgrace an office. They are nothing but a bunch of overpaid control freaks. At least at the state level you can get them to listen.
It’s a shame that common sense doesn’t seem to be around anymore that we have to make a law like this. It should be at the State level. I like the idea of the penalties being higher. Treat it like a DUI because that is how they drive. It may be hard to enforce this but it still needs to be a law so there is a penalty for those who do it when they are caught. My phone gets answered when I get home. They can leave a message or not and I sure don’t need to type out a text while trying to drive. Whatever happened to common sense.
The two word solution to most of the problems in this country is this: TERM LIMITS
Does the Federal Government really have to make a law that states they will hold back federal highway funds if a given state does not pass an anti texting law? There are many things states must and must not do to be elligible for those funds. Is a special law really required to add something to that list?
I’m pretty good at texting while driving :-) I agree with Bob though, keep the gov out of the state. The blind leading the blind never goes well.
Also, perhaps increase the difficulty of getting your drivers license? People who stare at the bumper in front of them, don’t use turn signals, brake constantly, don’t consider the traffic behind them, etc. shouldn’t be licensed.
There ARE term limits. They’re called elections.
I don’t think I’ve ever agreed with anyone more, Independent.
Who was it that said politicians are like laundry; they must be changed often and for the same reasons??
Anybody else think it’s time for another Tea Party? Seems to me, our legislators no longer represent our interests.
No, it’s not a solution. It’s in force here in Michigan and has only led to worse government. We now get not only poor legislators, but individuals who have no clue on how the legislative process works. The old style long timer may seem an anachronism, but they do know how to pass legislation. Ours don’t know how to zip up their pants after discussions with interns.
While I do not necessarily agree with the approach, this type of law is long overdue. I had a friend that lost his wife and one of his children as a result of some idiot text message. The moron in question rear-ended his vehicle, thus pushing him into oncoming traffic. I think they need to address something like this, but just not sure the fed needs to be involved.
They are trying to reduce accidents right? Instead of cell phones, texting, fooling with the radio, and whatever else, they should just ban driving. That would solve the problem. We are too incompetent as a society to handle automobiles.
People are still dying on the highways everyday. Some Messiah this president is.
It was Ben Franklin — Only it was “Politicians and diapers should be changed regularly and for the same reason.”
Let’s see- I’m driving down the road at 50 Miles/hour in a 5,000 pound SUV looking at my iphone as I type a letter.
Wow, I wonder if anything could go wrong!
There is no excuse to get behind the wheel of a car after having several drinks, that said I would rather be a passenger in a car driven by someone that has had 3 drinks but is looking at the road, then a person that is “Stone-cold-sober” but is not looking at the road.
Trying to Text while driving makes about as much sence as driving blindfolded.
http://www.urbaninsuranceagency.com