Posted on 02/14/2012 9:38:19 AM PST by appeal2
We all know that every level of government is broke and that in a vicious effort at self-preservation, they will stop at nothing to keep the game going. New York State and New York City have been masters of this game for decades. Visit New York City, and you'll be hit with the full force of the law, regardless how trivial your offense. Yesterday, one of Mayor Michael "Nanny" Bloomberg's boys in blue hit me with a ticket for the egregious offense of holding a cellphone in my hand while driving. When the officer approached the car and asked what I was doing with the cellphone, I informed him, "I'm talking to Siri." Alas this was no excuse, since merely holding any electronic device in one's hand is now grounds to receive a $150 ticket and 3 points on your driving record. Intent to violate the law is no longer required.
There's never been any finding that someone who merely holds a cellphone or other electronic device in their hand is any more likely to have an auto accident as someone who's holding a cup of coffee or a lipstick. Increased risk and threat to public safety is merely a justification for ever more intrusive and burdensome laws. And of course there's the revenue side of the ledger. Millions of dollars will flow to Albany and New York City's coffers as a result.
So it's the citizen be damned. Your purpose is merely that of a milk cow, being constantly squeezed to produce ever more revenue and sustenance for a government that knows no bounds. New York, in its glory days was once known as the Empire State. Now it has simply become an empire of corrupt, inefficient, exploitative, rapacious government. For some reason I don't think that's what the Founding Fathers had in mind when they created a constitution that gave the government limited powers and sought to insure individual rights.
The driver wasn’t just holding a phone in his hand, he was conversing with it. No different than a phone call. Next time, use a holder for the phone and then talk to it.
The author is just now discovering this? Been the case as long as I can remember.
And none of this will change unless the citizenry rise up and throw off the oppressors or when there is finally no one left to milk and the system collapses.
The police are now just revenue agents.
If police officers can safely drive and talk on their radios, why can’t I drive with a cell phone?
That is an excellent point. I guess because they’re the police.
So then what we all need is Dick Tracy watches instead, problem solved.
Or just spend a few dollars on a Bluetooth earpiece/mike and a cellphone that will work with it.
Oh, I failed to mention that the iPhone was going through my car’s bluetooth.
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