this nu texting law sux

Texting law targets morons

By Kelvin Wade | | January 1, 2009 16:30

The new texting while driving law that goes into effect today is for morons. It seems the do-gooders in the legislature just can't seem to understand that the problem of distracted drivers is the distraction, no matter what it is. By the way, this law won't stop texting.

If you're zipping down North Texas Street while looking at your phone and texting away, you've got to be crazy. You deserve to be ticketed. If you cause an accident while doing it, you deserve a reckless driving charge.

However, I think that most people who text while driving, do it at stop lights. Just as some people look at maps, change their CD, or quickly read their snail mail or some other documents while sitting at a red light.

I admit it. I text while driving. It's usually when I've forgotten my Bluetooth headset and don't want to risk getting a ticket under that other nanny law, that you can't hold a phone to your head while driving. So I get a text and when I stop at a stop sign or light, I glance at it. I might quickly send one back. One-handed texting is easy on an iPhone.

What is the harm in that? That I might be looking down when the light turns green and a car behind me will honk? That can happen when a driver is engaged in conversation with a passenger.

But here's the part of the law that makes no sense to me: Section 23123.5 (c) reads: '. . . a person shall not be deemed to be writing, reading, or sending a text-based communication if the person reads, selects, or enters a telephone number or name in an electronic wireless communications device for the purpose of making or receiving a telephone call.'

So an officer is supposed to be able to determine whether I'm reading or writing a text message or scrolling through my address book or dialing a phone number. Um . . . how? Do they use some kind of X-ray vision? Some advanced mind-reading technique? Do they teach this skill in the police academy?

Here's how absurd this law can be. While I'm driving, I can legally buy a hamburger, bite it, and shove it in a box to give to my brother Tony as the ultimate gag gift for Christmas, but I can't glance at an incoming text message?

Which is more distracting?

Since this law deals with communication such as e-mail, IM and texting, where does the law stand on Internet use for those of us with smart phones? If I use my voice-activated Google search app on my phone, is that cool? And how can those with GPS built into their phones use that technology to map where they're going without an officer thinking they're texting?

I think these questions contain an implied answer. This is a law that will largely go unenforced. It was passed to make us feel good that something was being done. The only people who will be ticketed are people, holding a phone up in plain view, obviously texting. Like I said in the beginning . . . morons.

Now that we've banned smoking with minors in the car, talking on handsets and texting, let's ban hate, prejudice, homelessness and unhappiness. It'll have no effect, but it'll make us feel so good. Happy New Year.

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Look, I hate to be behind some fool talking on their cell phone or whatever as much as the next guy. But I have this problem with passing laws that aren't really going to be enforced. Colin Powell, when he was in the military, says whenever they had to do something for show, they called it "breaking starch." He hated it. So when he was in government, he wanted to do things that worked. Cops aren't going to spend their time peering into cars trying to decipher if someone is texting or not.

This law isn't going to stop people from texting. If I'm holding my phone out of view while typing, who is going to know what i'm doing?

If someone texts and causes an accident, then hit them with reckless driving. Believe me, nobody wants a reckless on their record. Now, what are they facing? A twenty dollar texting ticket. BFD.

But if you're one of those people who just thinks it sounds like a good idea, then the law has accomplished what it set out to do: Make people feel better.

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Check this out....It's the video of the 2008 Best Wade Gag Gift. Click HERE.

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