Cell Phone Law rant

[drclark]

Originally Posted by L8 APEKS

But the vast majority of people behind the wheel are friggin morons, and the only proof I need is to ask anyone in denial of this fact to go drive around for a while and count the morons.

So then you add in the cell phone variable...and it simply exacerbates the problem. People who were already horrible, inattentive drivers (ie, the general public en mass) are now even MORE horrible and MORE inattentive behind the wheel.

Sure, this law is like prescribing ibuprofen for a severed limb...it's far too easy to get a DL here because traffic citations make money, and this, coupled with a society built on driving, outweighs the costs of accidents and deaths.

The REAL solution would be to address the larger problem and make it more difficult to obtain a driver's license.

While it sucks the root problem wasn't addressed, I am happy for this band-aid fix and I hope tickets scare a few of these dolts out of using their phone while driving.

I agree with you on this point. It is too easy to obtain a drivers license, and the consequences for screwing up are usually far to light. The real question is whether or not the said dolts will drive any better or will find a new distraction. I believe the law will have little impact since enforcement will be spotty at best.

Originally Posted by spookydave

not related to this thread one way or the other but .....

I have BIG respect for drclark after watching him in action at P.V. He is one of the few that does something instead of just talking about it.

Thanks for the vote of confidence, however there are others who have been working much harder than I have been lately at getting reasonable trail access restored in PV. All I did was speak my mind at a couple of the PUMP meetings. I will freely admit that my postings to this thread are more an indulgence to rant about an inane law than accomplish something real.

Originally Posted by freekengo

I think the legislation should make it law that people must use common sense. I unfortunately feel that common sense is not so common these days.....

Bingo. Unfortunately we have proven time and time again, you cannot legislate common sense and personal responsibility. For the record, I only got a cell phone this year and only because my fiancee insisted on it. I have little use for them in general, let alone when driving. I just get riled up when the general reaction to a perceived problem is that something needs to be banned. It just chips away at the collective freedoms of the citizenry one small piece at a time. I would prefer the CA legislature spend more of its time figuring out a way to pass a balanced budget without taxing crap out of us and businesses than spend their time micromanaging how we are to conduct our daily routines.

drc

[Rockinthecasbah]

Lets pass a law that says everyone should be awake at least an hour before driving, because you know drowsy drivers cause accidents too, also every week you must have your tires inspected because you know blowouts cause accidents, why don't we just let the computers that already in our cars automatically cite us whenever we go over the speed limit or forget to click our seatbelts before rolling out of the driveway. The whole idea of the post was not this one stupud ass law, which isnt going to solve anything, its about how much the goverment is impending onto our everyday lives this can be applied to , MTB trials you cant ride a fireroad through a burned area? Give me an F in break, or any other stupid rule. Yeah you can make assumptions about people who would appose such a "GREAT LAW" the more dumb laws that get passed the closer we get to a total police state and people start jumping the fence back to mexico. I think I have seen 5 or so accidents since July 1st, they must have all been on there phone, because we know thats what causes accidents its not that fact that most people are morons !

Originally Posted by DDB@OCR

Everyone knows talking on the phone while driving makes you a better driver. Just like 2 beers does.

Idiots.

Ever actually really take the time to SEE how 99% of people drive, w/o the distraction of a phone?

Stupidity is at an all time high. Common sense is at an all time low and getting lower all the time. Combine that with the simple fact 99.99999% of cell calls are pure and utter useless bullshit and you have a recepie for disaster. Studies? Why? That's laughable as 90% of asshats driving has no busniess doing so w/o a phone glued to their brainless heads.

Also- If you conduct 'important business' over the cell phone (Loser acting like a high-roller....'oh, 'scuse me, I gots ta take this:...hullo- yeh, uh, yeh, uh, late.' ) - get an office or pull over- don't make your distraction my hospital visit.

I'll bet I spend more time on a regular phone talking to the GP than quite possibly anyone here, and by a large margin....I take my share of calls from drivers too- it is the most idiotic and unproductive conversation ever.
Even worse than being in the store while some jack-off is cussing out his wife over what salad dressing to get.

Anyone that condones anything other than the basic oppeation of a motor car when behind the wheel is a complete and utter f***ing moron and needs to take the bus.

'Waaaaa-they made me hang up and drive.....now I can't talk about American Idle w/ my buddies and text usesless info back and forth while doing 50 on a side streeet ......waaaaaaaah'.

Oh yeh- big ol bummer....guess you'll have to go back to doing what you are supposed to do- so hang the f**k up and drive, dipshit.

Don't like it? Here's a suggestion - go on the Interweb and complain, that'll work, everyone does it!

This planet so needs to get a clue. Really, people, I mean really.

You have officially gotten me started.

[bigpete61]

I'm with the "drink a beer and pet your duck".
There are bigger fish to fry out there. As HAPPY Gilmore would say gusfraba.

[kdog4130]

Originally Posted by Rockinthecasbah

So the government thinks they can tell us we cant use a phone driving the car. Sounds like some more BS. We can still text message, fiddle with our ipod, do hair/nails/etc. What is this law doing? Except being extremely invasive on peoples private lifes. Just anouther reason for a cop to pull you over and screw with you. Also since we are allowed to drive and use blue tooth, its not that the conversation is the problem, california doesnt want us driving with one hand. Are we going to take the liecenses from all the one armed residents in California whats the difference between a one arm'd man having a conversation with a passenger and a person holding the phone with one arm? Nothing.. Typical BS and everyone knows laws are alot harder to get rid of then to create. This country has gone to hell in a hand basket,I just got into an argument with a friend becasue she thinks Bush is a great President...Dont get me started on that.

Got your point.......you might feel a little different if you had your vehicle totalled by a person that was splitting their attention while talking on the phone. Driving is a privelage, and requires more attention than most people give it. I think this law is fair, and yes it does not cover texting.....but if people do that while driving, then they are a knucklehead in my opinion, and should not be driving in the first place. Too many people have their life altered one way or another by cell phone yeilding drivers every year.

[DirtymikeTDB]

Originally Posted by katonk

It's already illegal to drive recklessly. Why do we need a law to ban behavior that's already illegal?

That is actually the answer, It is my belief that the law was imposed, mainly to make the POPO enforce it.


Truth be said, there are Many.... MANY things an officer can site you under wreckless driving..... Problem is, that I think alot just dont care.

[Danimal]

without reading all the posts, I have one thing to add;
It's all about the revenue.
Money, baby, money.

[Abui]

To make this more confusing Verizon does voice recognition for text messaging.

[DISCO]

So we have to spend a few bucks to chat behind the wheel, crafty folk can simply clip their phone on the seat belt and keep a conversation going with a lot of "huh" and "speak Up!!"

I miss being a teenager when I could drive with my feet while taking bong hits and nursing and open container. Now I can even pick up a call, every body makes such a big deal out of what goes on in a car but how else are you supposed to get the car back to your house?

Personally I cut out pre-driving antics when a group of mothers got MADD. But hey last week it was a thread about saving money on gas commuting by bike, carpooling, or that haven for lice and STD's public transportation.

[Chewyeti]

Originally Posted by Rockinthecasbah

and people start jumping the fence back to mexico.

I wait for that day LOL

traffic would be light, national debt would be way down since we wouldnt be paying for schools/welfare/etc of illegals... and lots less remittances being sent back to mexico and more money in our economy.

you thought the war was expensive... it doesnt hold a candle to services for non residents

[Danimal]

Originally Posted by Chewyeti

I wait for that day LOL

traffic would be light, national debt would be way down since we wouldnt be paying for schools/welfare/etc of illegals... and lots less remittances being sent back to mexico and more money in our economy.

you thought the war was expensive... it doesnt hold a candle to services for non residents

I know of at least 2 people that have moved back to Mexico due to the slow economy and difficulty getting work, and another considering it.

I also know of a few men that work for the same company as I that do not take the health insurance. They know it's available free. I do not know how to get free health care, but they do. That is in itself a drain on the financial health of health care.

[hoovermd]

Originally Posted by freekengo

I think the legislation should make it law that people must use common sense. I unfortunately feel that common sense is not so common these days.....

So, it is illegal for me to listen to my iPod with headphones while driving...

But it is now required to use a headset while having a Cell conversation... does this mean if I listen to my iPhone with the SAME set of headphones I use for the phone call it is now legal??

Also, deaf folks can drive so what does hearing have to do with driving??

[Rockinthecasbah]

and one armed people can drive so what does it have to do with two hands

[hoovermd]

Originally Posted by Rockinthecasbah

and one armed people can drive so what does it have to do with two hands

Two hands isn't "La Ley"

[Mommie Mayhem]

delete button?

[Mommie Mayhem]

Originally Posted by L8 APEKS

But if they try to pull you over for texting and you didn't send the message yet, you could easily say they didn't actually see you texting - you were just checking what time it was. Even if you did send a message, you'd have time to delete it. I have a feeling that's why this didn't become a law as well.

I guess if you were quick enough to delete the message, maybe you could just be quick enough to put the phone down?

Anyway, texting and calling on a cell phone is something everyone does daily, even during rides in the car (you too my love) However, some people can't walk and chew gum at the same time, those types have no business in the car anyway.... ya know? Multitasking is a part of driving, it's a must. You must know who's behind you, next to you, driving erratically, not signalling, going too slow/too fast... yadi yadi. Gotta multi task. Especially us mothers with children in the car

[Abui]

Originally Posted by hoovermd

So, it is illegal for me to listen to my iPod with headphones while driving...

But it is now required to use a headset while having a Cell conversation... does this mean if I listen to my iPhone with the SAME set of headphones I use for the phone call it is now legal??

Also, deaf folks can drive so what does hearing have to do with driving??

You can not cover both ears when driving. If you don't need stereo you can listen to your iPod with an ear piece.

[DBD]

Originally Posted by Mommie Mayhem

... Multitasking is a part of driving, it's a must. You must know who's behind you, next to you, driving erratically, not signalling, going too slow/too fast... yadi yadi...

If you want drivers to learn to do/realize all that just make 'em ride a motorcycle for a couple days, even just sitting on the back of one in traffic would work.

[Mommie Mayhem]

Originally Posted by DBD

If you want drivers to learn to do/realize all that just make 'em ride a motorcycle for a couple days, even just sitting on the back of one in traffic would work.

Totally! I love bikes, but who the Heck is crazy enough to ride em in LA or other places with congestion and stupid drivers???