2009.06.30
Editorial: Outlawing TWD (Texting While Driving)
Texting crosses the legal line
A new law against texting while driving shouldn't be needed, but it is.
Texting while driving becomes illegal in Virginia on Wednesday, so remember: Unhand that cellphone when you slide behind the wheel. Put temptation aside. This means you, too, Mom and Dad.
Read more.
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Anyone care to post a link to the text (no pun intended) of the law?
If it is truly a law against reading and writing TEXT messages while driving, then it would not apply to things like emailing, facebooking, etc.
Comment by Jack — June 30, 2009 @ 9:25 am
Remember the "Civil Penalties" that were imposed for speeding a few years ago, to try to bridge the gap in the transportation bill?... but were found to be unconstitutional? Is looking-up a phone number on your Blackberry any different than texting?
If our legislators really wanted to make the roads safer, they would illegalize using cell phones while driving. The practice endangers everyone on the road. It also might provide a more legit means of raising needed funds.
Comment by Dan M — June 30, 2009 @ 9:57 am
"Texting" is their buzzword that they built the legislation around. As far as I know, until I see the text of the bill, the rest of the phone stuff is legit.
Fine by me... I don't have a texting plan.
Comment by Jack — June 30, 2009 @ 10:02 am
I think this is the final version (HB 1876, enrolled)
1. Manually enter multiple letters or text in the device as a means of communicating with another person; or
2. Read any email or text message transmitted to the device or stored within the device, provided that this prohibition shall not apply to any name or number stored in the device nor to any caller identification information.
I think that covers reading or writing any message, whether e-mail, text or IM.
Comment by Dan Radmacher — June 30, 2009 @ 10:25 am
This will end up being just like the seat belt thing... they'll start tossing out tickets like candy and you won't be able to do anything about it.
Comment by Jack — June 30, 2009 @ 1:12 pm
Dan,
Thanks for providing the link.
I think it's great how police can keep driving around doing what they want with their cell phones. I can't think of the last time that I saw (and I look every time) a police officer in his car that wasn't talking on his cell phone.
Comment by Jack — June 30, 2009 @ 1:17 pm
Yeah, I definitely saw a Roanoke City cop texting while driving a couple weeks ago at the corner of Church and 1st.
Comment by scott — July 1, 2009 @ 1:42 am
Well, every cop busy texting is one less cop nailing me for rolling through a stop sign.
Comment by Kristen — July 1, 2009 @ 7:48 am