Posted on 07/30/2009 7:35:32 AM PDT by Mr. Blonde
A bill introduced Wednesday in the Senate would require states to write laws to prohibit text messaging by drivers or risk losing 25 percent of their annual federal highway money.
The proposal, sponsored by a group of Democrats including Sen. Charles E. Schumer (N.Y.), came a day after the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute released a study on commercial truck drivers that found texting drivers to be 23 times more likely to be involved in a crash or a near miss.
The legislation would set deadlines for Transportation Department regulators to devise minimum penalties for states to implement. States would have two years to enact their own laws.
Already, the District of Columbia and 13 states, including Virginia, have driver-texting bans in place or scheduled to become effective this year. Maryland's ban takes effect Oct. 1.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
So, why does the federal government feel the need to stick its nose into this particular issue?
The Federal Government! Is there nothing they can’t do?
For the chillen!
Its tyranny, plain and simple.
"Mobile" texting is just plain dumb, but its not to be legislated against, especially at the federal level. OTOH, its a diversion from worse things.
The day’s coming when the federal government regulates the size, frequency and odor of your bowel movements.
At the rate they’re regulating things, we should see that in about a year.
From my cold dead hands!
It is just typical bullying from the feds to get the states to do what is best for them.
States should do this on their own — and I agree with you, texting (or any other activity) while driving, such that it distracts the driver from driving, is idiotic and should be punished, particularly if there is an accident. That said, however, this is what happens when states become too dependent on the federal government for things like federal highway money.
crackberry and iDrone
Actually the iPhone has encouraged a lot of my friends to stop texting while driving. It is pretty hard to do with one hand while switching between looking at the road and the screen.
There already IS a law against doing this sort of thing while operating a motor vehicle. It’s called reckless driving or careless driving, or reckless endangerment while operating a motor vehicle.
I’d like to see it made a capital crime. Sentence to be carried out immediately .
TWD is so dangerous. Please don’t do it. Lives can be destroyed in a split second.
While it would certainly fall under that I wonder if they are wanting to set up a slightly different punishment schedule. Although in Oklahoma the punishment for reckless driving is generally going to be a fine of between $100 and $500. I would think that would wrap up a lot of texting. That is just the reason I would think of for setting it out in a different law.
Well that would certainly clear out the roads quickly.
They have been doing this for years. Highway money has been used as a club forever it seems.
It would certainly improve the average IQ of drivers...
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.