One less freedom
The Detroit City Council voted 8-1 to ban talking on your cell phone while driving in Detroit. All that is left is for Mayor Kwame to put his stamp of approval on the bill, and within two weeks it will become a law.
What ever happened to this being a free country, if I choose to drive while talking on my phone that should be my right. When I go for a long drive alone I prefer to speak on the phone because it keeps me awake and alert. It should be a preference, if you feel safe talking and driving that's up to you. The driver should be a semi-responsible person, and capable of making his/her own choices.
There are things far more dangerous while driving then cell phones, but they haven't been outlawed, like kids. There are many times when Jonah drops something and he needs it, like a pacifier or drink, and I have to feel around behind my seat for the object, so he'll stop screaming. I hope they don't ban driving with a child under 4 on the car, that would make life really tough.
If your driving is erratic because of being on the cell then you should get a ticket for reckless driving, much like you should for any kind of reckless driving. But to get pulled for being on a cell phone, even if you are driving just fine, that is just plain wrong.
I know that other states and cities have this law, and I hate it when I'm there.
posted by Just Shu @ 12:56 PM
6 comments
6 Comments:
Then you can get a ticket for reckless driving, but if driving fine, and I get pulled over because I'm on the phone, thats crap
I'm on the Mid-County Citizens' Advisory Board of Montgomery County, Maryland, and we voted to ask the state not to pass a bill that was on the docket, which would punish "distracted drivers". But that was for different reasons. I don't necessarily think that if you want to do something that possibly endangers you, that's your right. You have to account for other people on the road around you. Ever hear of defensive driving? It's like worrying about Maris 'Ayin. It shouldn't be your concern what other people do, and everyone should just mind their own business. But you do have to consider what other people do when you choose your actions. When you're driving, you have to account for people like Shauli Zacks, who is talking on his phone and not paying attention to the road. That's what defensive driving is about. We shouldn't have to worry about other drivers, but we do have to. That's why they are trying to ban cell phone use. That's why they are trying to punish "distracted drivers". Our concern wasn't that it diminishes one's freedom to be an idiot in a potentially dangerous situation. It was more that the language of the specific bill was too vague, and would give police broad power to pull you over if they felt you were "distracted", instead of just adding a penalty onto your ticket if you speed or run a red light or cause an accident, because you were talking on the cell phone or putting on makeup at the time.
Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick has indicated that he will only sign the ordinance if it allows for the offense to only be an add-on. In other words, the police cannot pull you over and ticket you just for talking on your phone. There must be another offense, like speeding.
I guess that makes it better
if i drive safely while drunk, should that be ok also?
Menachem - If you are driving safely while drunk you won't get pulle dover, since the cops wont be able to tell that you are drunk by your safe driving
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