16 replies to this topic

[camay2327]

WOW, double WOW,   check this out...

 

Cops Hold Signs Saying ‘Not Homeless, Looking For Violations’ And They Caught A TON Of Stupid Drivers

 

 

 

 

 

http://www.brobible....cardboard-sign/

 

[2 Aces]

Nice!!...Very creative too. Would like to see more jurisdictions do this. Hey, if drivers are gonna be dumb, you might as well lighten their wallet a little bit..

[Steve Heard]

Pretty clever.

[leenda]

Now, that's some creative policing.  FPD should try this!

[caligirlz]

technically, being stopped at a stop light in not driving. Although, most people are too distracted to stop once they put their foot to the pedal. 

[awood]

technically, being stopped at a stop light in not driving. Although, most people are too distracted to stop once they put their foot to the pedal. 

Depending on the laws in your state, city or county, texting while stopped at a stoplight may not be considered "while driving" for purposes of distracted driving laws.

For example, Florida's ban on texting while driving specifically notes that "a motor vehicle that is stationary is not being operated and is not subject to the prohibition." As The Northwest Florida Daily News has explained, the law "allows texting while stopped at a red light, in a traffic jam or reporting criminal activity."

 

In other states, the law is less clear. For example, California's texting while driving prohibition merely states "a person shall not drive a motor vehicle" while writing or reading a text message (except if using a hand's free operation). So is being stopped at a stoplight "driving" for purposes of this law? The California Highway Patrol seems to think so, telling San Francisco's KGO-TV that it's not OK to check email or read text messages while at a stoplight or in bumper-to-bumper traffic.

 

And even in states that explicitly allow or have a stoplight loophole in their texting-while-driving laws, any time being distracted by your phone causes you to impede traffic in a way that creates a dangerous condition for other drivers, such as not going on a green light, you can potentially be cited for distracted driving or even reckless driving.

 

I am not sure that the police would agree with you.

[nomad]

technically, being stopped at a stop light in not driving. Although, most people are too distracted to stop once they put their foot to the pedal. 

 

Wrong. You need to be "in control of your vehicle at all times" so even at a stop light you can be cited.

[caligirlz]

in bumper-to-bumper traffic

 

I would agree with this. That's crazy stupid. But at a standstill with the foot off the gas pedal, at 0 mph, depending on the intersection. Not so much.

My friend uses Siri to text and post on FB while driving. That seems to be just as distraction as talking on the phone, but she is a very cautious driver. Just makes me laugh that some people are so into FB that they want/need to post while driving.

[Fjrtony]

And the cars behind just have to wait for you to finish?

[Sandman]

technically, being stopped at a stop light in not driving. Although, most people are too distracted to stop once they put their foot to the pedal. 

 

Does that work for drunk driving too???  Nice try...

[Sandman]

Like I've said in other threads texting while driving will NEVER be controlled by policing it.  It is a futile effort and a waste of our law enforcements time that could be better spent elsewhere.  The ONLY way texting while driving will ever be controlled is at the device level.  The technology is there today to make it happen but nobody seems to want it until one of their loved ones needlessly die to a distracted driver.

[2 Aces]

texting while driving will NEVER be controlled by policing it.

I agree...which is why I'm (and a lot of people) happy with hittin' 'em where it hurts...IN THEIR WALLET!! And I assume if you have a distracted driving infraction on your driving record, your insurance company can/will *adjust* your insurance premium. But you're right...people are obsessed with texting and checking their Facebook stuff every 19 seconds, so it ends up being a money maker for local jurisdictions. Hey, they need the money, so "driver beware".

[Steve Heard]

I agree...which is why I'm (and a lot of people) happy with hittin' 'em where it hurts...IN THEIR WALLET!! And I assume if you have a distracted driving infraction on your driving record, your insurance company can/will *adjust* your insurance premium. But you're right...people are obsessed with checking their Facebook stuff every 19 seconds, so it ends up being a money maker for local jurisdictions. Hey, they need the money, so "driver beware".

 

A year or so ago former sheriff John McGuinness said on his radio show that he himself has been guilty of looking at his phone while driving.

[Deanna H]

Bottom line is that the penalties need to be way more severe than they are now. Minor fines and no points on your record? Not a big surprise that people keep doing it, they aren't really worried about the consequences. 

ETA- Well, looking at your phone and texting are a bit different.

[nomad]

 

A year or so ago former sheriff John McGuinness said on his radio show that he himself has been guilty of looking at his phone while driving.

 

Right but bring this argument up with a cop (they look at their little computers, etc all the time while driving) and they'll tell you that they have been trained to drive like that!