State Bans Texting While Driving

netbuzz writes "The state of Washington yesterday became the first in the nation to ban text-messaging while driving. The law could use sharper teeth, but it's a natural and necessary progression of the movement to clamp down on those who find the need to constantly communicate more important than the safety of their fellow travelers."

This is all Bill Gates' fault! ;-)

[writermike]

He said a long time ago we have to get rid of the keyboard. He STILL hasn't done it. Dammit, Bill, or billg, or whatever you want to be called, because you didn't get rid of the keyboard all these nice people are going to jail. Oooooh, I could pinch you!

I keed. I keed.

Why do they even NEED to ban this?

[jddj]

This reminds me of the time I got a free dashboard sun-shade at Road Atlanta one year. (These are the accordion-fold things you sit on the dash and stretch out across the entire windshield to help keep the sun from getting the interior of your car too hot in the summer).

It had a safety label: "Do not drive with sun shade in place!"

Re:question....

[oyenstikker]

They can get a court order to subpoena your phone records. Or if your provider is Verizon, they can just ask for them.

This is a First Amendment Issue!!!

[Anonymous Coward]

This is just more liberal do-gooding and interference with our everyday lives. This is by the same people who want to ban smoking [shelleytherepublican.com], force our kids to learn junk science [shelleytherepublican.com], and stifle honest [shelleytherepublican.com] American [shelleytherepublican.com] toil [shelleytherepublican.com].

We can only pray, before these nannying socialists force us to use inferior and dangerous [shelleytherepublican.com] operating systems [shelleytherepublican.com].

Re:question....

[Timesprout]

The ONLY exception would be dialing 999 (911) for an emergency which is also the reason why you cannot stop driving (for example a guy shooting at you from a car behind or such.

Usually you just raise the rear bullet proof shield and activate the oil jets causing your villaneous enemy to skid and crash in this scenario. Dialling 999 would just totally ruin your credibility within the secret agent community

Re:Whatever happened to common sense?

[ObsessiveMathsFreak]

Television.

Re:Whatever happened to common sense?

[Skater]

So no one drives a stick in WA?

Re:Reckless driving

[Timesprout]

I would add that the offender should be forced to txt someone while the phone is being run over. A few broken digits should help them with their pennance.

Re:Cel Phone = **EVIL**

[AsnFkr]

Once every car contains only one hermetically sealed individual we should be 100% safe.

Even at that, you'd have to limit the access driver has to his or her genitals.

....I used to have a truck that rode pretty high, I've seen things.

Re:Reckless driving

[dotbenjamin]

I don't quite understand. Can you give me a car analogy instead? ...oh, wait...

And In Other News...

[MightyMartian]

Frankfort, KY - Kentucky deputy director of the Department of Motor Vehicles, Melvin P. Snitzonpants has announced a new program to stop drivers from chewing their toenails, making love and shoving coins up their noses while driving.

"It's a serious problem." Snitzonpants said yesterday. "We have people weaving all over the road while they chew their toenails, make love and shove coins up their nose."

The new program would see a $15 fine be levied, as well as a stern lecture by a state patrol officer. "We feel that we have to make it absolutely clear that you can't chew your toenails, make and shove coins up your nose while operating a motorvehicle." Snitzonpants commented.

When asked why this doesn't come under existing dangerous driving laws, Snitzonpants merely shrugged and said, "This is different. Have you actually seen someone chewing their toenails, making love and shoving coins up their nose when they're coming at you. It's a terrible thing."

Re:Killing the Dangerous Drivers

[justthinkit]

Jeff Gordon, is that you?

Re:This is a First Amendment Issue!!!

[dykofone]

"It has been proven that talking on the cell phone while driving is almost as bad as driving drunk."

Do you have a link to support this? I've been trying to defend my morning beer on the drive to work, and having the data to say "hey! it's as safe as talking on the phone!" would be great.

Thanks!

Re:Whatever happened to common sense?

[Sanguis Mortuum]

[quote]I wished for something Darwinian to happen, but alas, god must have been busy that day.[/quote]

Am I the only one that sees the irony in this statement? God carrying out Darwins theories? Im sure those intelligent design nuts wont like that one bit...