Latest excuse for driving 80 mph in wrong lane? Texting

Minneapolis StarTribune (aka The Red Star) ^ | 8/05/08 | Lora Pabst - Staff Reporter

[MplsSteve]

A 25-year-old driver in Cass County offered a lesson Sunday in what not to do while driving.

When pulled over by a sheriff's deputy, not only was he traveling at speeds near 80 miles per hour, but he also said he'd drifted into the wrong lane because he was text-messaging, the Minnesota Department of Public Safety said Monday. As if that weren't enough, he was arrested on suspicion of drinking and driving.

"This is the kind of traffic event where almost everything that could go wrong, did go wrong," said Nathan Bowie, a spokesman for the Department of Public Safety. "Fortunately, the officer was there to make the stop before anything else happened."

The arrest came just two days after enactment of a state law that makes it illegal for drivers to text-message while operating a vehicle that is moving or in traffic.

The driver was traveling in the wrong lane when he approached the Cass County deputy's squad car on Hwy. 371 near Walker. The driver swerved to avoid hitting the squad car, then took off at speeds of up to 100 miles per hour before pulling over

[mek1959]

I used to have it but now I don’t because my parents took it away, and it’s a good thing they did in my opinion. It’s really just popular because everyone else is doing it. I used to miss it, but now I don’t care. Talking on the phone is far more efficient and in many cases more enjoyable. I’m young and I don’t appreciate it.

[Zeddicus]

My youngest just won't answer the cell phone when I call most of the time. He'll only respond to texts, and does so promptly. His friends are the same way. It's a generational thing, just have to get used to it.

Um, who's the parent here? How young is this youngest you are speaking of?

Actually, I do not have to get used it. If one of our kids has one of our cellphones (which would only be for the purpose of being in contact with us), and they didn't respond when called, or call when expected, they'd be grounded. Period, end of discussion.

[doodad]

Must people gab or text incessantly on the phone while driving? What could possibly be that important?

That is what I can't figure either. What could you possibly talk about so much? I watch so many people (well mostly women) here at work and if the car starts, the cell phone goes to ear. Why can't you call before you leave or when you get to your destination? I drive a manual transmission in a high performance car and never use the phone while driving. Couldn't hear if I did anyway. :)

[Doc Savage]

This is EXACTLY why the firing squad was developed!

[Hulka]

>>BlackBerrys (Berries ?) are addictive.<<

That’s why they are called, “Crack-Berrys.”

[jalisco555]

Um, who's the parent here? How young is this youngest you are speaking of?

He's 18 and of course I'm the parent. My wife and I are fairly relaxed parents, we don't set lots of rules, and as a consequence our kids have never been in any kind of trouble, unlike the kids of some more controlling parents we know. But back to the topic, I find texting to be pretty simple on my Iphone and a good way to quickly dash off a simple message. If all I want to know is, say, "Where r u" I don't need to make a call, wait for it to ring, etc. It's actually very efficient.

[allmendream]

Recently California passed a “hands free headset” law about cell phone usage while driving. Rather than passing a ruling that cell phone usage while driving would always be considered “unsafe operation of a motor vehicle”, they felt that NEW Legislation was called for. Fine, whatever, a new law.

But the FUNNY part was all the talking heads trying to sound smart by saying the new law didn't cover TEXT messaging while driving. As if Texting while driving was perfectly legal and ANOTHER new law was called for.

What a bunch of morons! If a Police Officer sees you texting while driving he WILL pull you over and give you a ticket for unsafe operation of a motor vehicle. Telling the nice officer that Connie Blather on the local affiliate news said that texting while driving was not illegal while talking on the phone was will not get you very far.

[thefactor]

i'm surprised no one has chastised the officer (or revenuer as they are called around here) for setting up the illegal speed trap.

that being said, i am addicted to texting. it is so much better than talking. especially for guys. and the best part is that when i'm in a crowded, loud bar i dont have to go outside to talk. just text 'em and let them know the plan. it's the best.

and i have an unlimited text/gps navigation/email/surf plan on my phone for $80/month! life is good.

[Conservative4Life]

I used to give warnings all the time. But only if they were honest and respectful about the whole thing. (warnings within reason, 10 over will definately get you a ticket... )

[Drawsing]

if the car starts, the cell phone goes to ear.

Allow me to join this chorus. What are they talking about!! I think it is probably something like the following:

Hi, I'm in the car now. What are you doing?

Nothing what are you doing?

Just driving, what do you want to talk about?

I don't know, what do you want to talk about?

[Eric in the Ozarks]

The patrolman leaned in from the passenger's side window and noticed my fuzz buster attached to the rear view mirror...
"What's that little thing," he asked, knowing perfectly well that his instant on radar had defeated my detector.
"That keeps me honest in little towns that have radar traps, especially in paper mill towns over in Wisconsin" I said.
"That's the first forthright explanation I've heard," he said and wrote me a warning for 9 over the limit.

[InsensitiveConservative]

I will catch up with friends while I’m crawling along on my commute but there isn’t much ‘speed’ involved in my crawl. I do wonder about the people I see yapping away at 6:00 am... who in the world are they calling that early?

[Publius6961]

BlackBerrys (Berries ?) are addictive.

They are?

Would that be jam or jellies?

[NCC-1701]

I once came up on someone playing a recorder ( a type of wind instrument) while driving the expressway. He even had the sheet music propped up on his steering wheel. That was during morning rush hour. That’s the most “unusual” thing I’ve ever seen on the highway.