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Cops and Drivers React To Possible Texting Law

Jeff Hess

@ March 10, 2010 5:28 PM Permalink | Comments (8)

It is almost a guarantee that there will be some new law about texting and driving this year. So how are cops and drivers preparing?

The law being considered would make texting and driving a secondary offense, meaning you would have to be stopped for something else.
St. John county sergeant Chuck mulligan said that is OK because texting often causes other crimes.
"There are going to be other indicators that indicate to the law enforcement officer that something is going on in that care besides focusing on the road ahead of them," Mulligan said.
He said texting drivers behave a lot like drunk drivers and the danger is clear, making it essential to keep the roads safe.
The danger of distracted driving is enough to have Marsha supporting the law.
"It's amazing how quickly when you are concentrating on texting, you can lose focus on what you are doing on the road," she said personal experience has shown her how dangerous it can be.
But others, like Nathan, don't see texting as any more dangerous than calling.
"It's quicker and a lot easier than picking up the phone and calling the person," he said he e-mails and texts while on the road.
He said the law would not make him change what he does. But Marsha thinks the threat of the law would be enough for most people to stop texting and driving.
The biggest question this year seems to be not if a law will pass but which.

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What others are saying

Texting laws
We do not need a law passed in Florida or any other state regarding "texting" while driving. We need accountability. Let's think about this.....

It's illegal to drive without a seatbelt in the state of Florida; however, you can ride a motorcycle without a helmet. It makes no sense. Insurance companies can help people be accountable for wearing seatbelts by doubling their deductible or charging a much higher premium for people who "choose" not to wear a seatbelt. That's accountability and it allows the police officers time to go after the more dangerous criminals.

Rather than pass a law against texting, throw it back to accountability. I propose that insurance companies impose a penalty on their insureds if they are in an accident that is the result of them driving distracted. That would include texting, reading the paper (I saw that on I-4 today), or arguing with someone on their phone. If the State wants a cut, they could charge a higher fine if texting is a contributing factor to an accident - not unlike "speeding fines double when workers are present". Again, the police could focus on hunting down the murderers, rapists, and other violent criminals. More importantly, we get accountability without infringing on the rights of people who are not causing accidents.
By Jan @ 04/05/10 11:40:05 PMreport abuse
Texting Law
It's amazing that we have to have a law for something that should be "common sense" while driving your EYES should be on the road. DUH! But why another law? As another poster pointed out reading the paper while driving is just as stupid.. do we need to make a law for this too?
By Jim D @ 03/11/10 05:05:25 PMreport abuse
Florida Desperate for Money
Only 8,000 people die each year across the nation as a result of talking/texting while driving. This is being done to get federal dollars to bail out bloated budgets, a result of over-spending by our useless politicians
By TB @ 03/11/10 12:51:06 PMreport abuse
Banning all electronic devices
First of all, Nathan is a reckless, self-serving idiot. Anyone who uses these devices are a danger to everyone. This includes law enforcement who use their laptops while driving. Florida needs to wake up and pass this law.
By Mike Conklin @ 03/11/10 11:23:04 AMreport abuse
Driving/texting
Do you know someone who does this? Do you want that person near you on the road where EVERYTHING happens at or above the speed limit? Good drivers watch the road ahead, to both sides and the rear EVERY 2-3 SECONDS, and sometimes it is still not often enough to avoid a terrible accident that can KILL people! Does the person that ATTEMPTS to operate even one more device have DRIVING SAFETY as their PRIMARY focus? Not hardly, but unfortunately, it will take a loss of life for them to understand, so the new law is moot unless their license is REVOKED when caught doing this STUPID TEXTING! Phone calls are bad enough, and currently result in distracted drivers having most of the incidents involving DEATHS of people and destruction of property equal to the drunk drivers. Do we want MORE?
By Jim K @ 03/11/10 10:15:18 AMreport abuse
Texting and driving
Things one should do while driving:
1) DRIVE
2) Think about what you are going to do next
3) Think about what the other drivers may or may not do next
4) Watch where the $#%& you are going

Things you should not do while driving: 1)Text message
2) Dial you phone
3) Read a book or newspaper
4) Put on your make up / look in the mirror
5) Turn around to slap your unruly kids in the back seat
6) Wash your cat
7) Get the message now?
By ricardo maxwell @ 03/11/10 08:51:59 AMreport abuse
Texting while driving.
The comment from Nathan in the article is about as idiotic as they come. He and his type are the reason we need a law against this type of behavior on the roadways.
By Bill @ 03/11/10 04:33:43 AMreport abuse
Texting while driving
I think that the comment from Nathan in the article is about as idiotic as they come. He is the reason we need a law combating this unsafe and dangerous behavior.
By Bill @ 03/11/10 04:29:55 AMreport abuse