Comments on: Surprise! Police Can Tell When You’re Texting

By: Baron

Baron — Sat, 03 Jul 2010 00:03:59 +0000

Sorry, Bill, I was trying to be silly. But that is cool that you posted it. It’s good they gave the police an out on using NCIC from the car! That’d be almost amusing otherwise: Here’s your ticket… And here’s yours, for running my plates while driving! See you in court. Again — just kidding. It’s the little things, I suppose.

By: Bill

Bill — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 23:50:37 +0000

Also, here’s the new law prohibiting telephone conversations by young drivers: http://www.legis.ga.gov/legis/2009_10/fulltext/hb23.htm

By: Bill

Bill — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 23:45:42 +0000

Here’s the link to SB 360: http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2009_10/fulltext/sb360.htm

Yes, the law applies to reading DM under the “…read any text based communication, including…Internet data.”

In reference to police and other exceptions:
(c) The provisions of this Code section shall not apply to:
(1) A person reporting a traffic accident, medical emergency, fire, serious road hazard, or a situation in which the person reasonably believes a person’s health or safety is in immediate jeopardy;
(2) A person reporting the perpetration or potential perpetration of a crime;
(3) A public utility employee or contractor acting within the scope of his or her employment when responding to a public utility emergency;
(4) A law enforcement officer, firefighter, emergency medical services personnel, ambulance driver, or other similarly employed public safety first responder during the performance of his or her official duties; or
(5) A person engaging in wireless communication while in a motor vehicle which is lawfully parked.

By: smalltowngal

smalltowngal — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 15:43:27 +0000

Using the phone while driving a motor vehicle is distracting, regardless of whether you’re texting or talking or looking up traffic conditions. If I or a loved one is ever mangled or killed in a motor vehicle accident involving another driver who is impaired by drink or drugs, I want legal recourse. The same goes for a driver impaired by talking on the phone or texting or watching TV or putting on makeup or anything else. Those are choices, and every one of us should be forced if necessary to take responsibility for those choices. Of course, laws governing these things can be problematic to enforce–so was drunk driving viewed, once upon a time. But having even semi-toothy laws on the books tends to (1) serve as a deterrent, and (2) help us help ourselves to become the kind of society we say we want to be.

By: Baron

Baron — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 14:27:19 +0000

Thank you! It’s not about needling out every little cause, it’s about managing the result. If you can text and not kill people, then good for you. But if you’re driving like a drunk coke head sitting on a nail, then you get a ticket. Seems easier to me to deal with legally, too? “I saw you driving like an a**. See you in court.” vs “I saw your behavior and I believe you to be texting.”