Fridgitator

We have local ordinances here prohibiting cell phone use in school zones, and there is a major lobbying effort to ban all hand held use in cars state wide. Personally, I don't think the 'hands free' variety are any safer, but that's another rant. Anyway, today I was on a fast moving stretch of road that crosses a lake. A cop in the lane next to me drifted from one lane to the other without signaling or looking. I can't say it's the first time I yelled at a cop, or flipped one off, but it's the first time I had to honk my horn at one to get him to watch what he was doing.

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JunkyardDog

I wouldn't say cell phones are evil, but they are definitely very dangerous if used while trying to operate a motor vehicle. I am not the type to favor more laws, I think we have 10 times to many already. But this cell phone thing has gotten out of hand. I would support any law that makes it illegal to use a cell phone in any way while in actual physical control of a motor vehicle, and think the same penalties as for DUI should apply.


It amazes me that the IIHS (an insurance company lobbying group) wants to make anti-lock brakes mandatory on motorcycles, yet I can find nowhere that they have come out against cell phone use while operating a motor vehicle. If we are going to allow people to use cell phones while driving, why not just let them drink and drive too?
Jerry.

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twocoolgliders

http://www.youtube.com/verify_age?ne...%3DfjGfv2AeUss

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Fridgitator

Great video. I admit that when I had my moped many years ago, I was in the habit of riding no handed and doing things I shouldn't have been. This has much to do with why I gave up riding for so long. That still doesn't make me think any better of Officer @#&*%.

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JunkyardDog

That guy is a total moron. I would never ride like that on the street. I have done all kinds of crazy things on dirt bikes, and crashed a lot. If that idiot goes down, he will almost certainly get hit by a car on that busy road, which means he's roadkill. Jerry.

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Admiral Beotch

A god among men. Holy cow that was hilarious.

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2005 Honda Shadow Aero VT750
2009 Honda Rebel 250 CMX250C
VegasBikers.com

DeeG

Problem is, its not just cell phones. Eating, programming the GPS, fussing with the radio, reading maps, putting on makeup, talking to passengers, etc etc etc. Why they choose just to pick on phones is beyond me. But I guess the state has to look like its doing 'something'.

We already have a law that says you can't text or talk on the phone (hands free OK), but it hasn't changed anything.

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twocoolgliders

Was that "Pun indended"?

(Cows are Holy in India.... where that was filmed)

Cookie

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JunkyardDog

You are right about all those other things, and IMO, if a cop witnesses someone doing one of those things, they should be stopped and charged with DUI. I have seen just about everything, but still 9 times out of 10 it is a cell phone. And laws against using cell phones won't do any good if they are not enforced. Unfortunately, getting someone for using a cell phone is not as easy as for alcohol DUI. By the time you get them stopped, the evidence is gone.


I'm all for going about it from the other end. Simply make cell phones inoperable at anything above 5 mph, and the problem is solved. And the technology to do that has existed for years.

I recently flew from Phoenix up to Portland, OR and back, first time I have flown in several years, and cell phone use was not permitted on the plane. Jerry.

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DeeG

Cell phones on planes are because of interference with radios and nav , AND if you are up that high, you will ping off about 15 dozen cell towers.

And they will never make them inop above a certain speed...because what would all them Prius owners do when their accelerator pedals get stuck? hehehe (and besides, it isn't illegal for the passenger to talk on the phone)

Right now, WA cell law is a secondary offense. Meaning they have to stop you for something else and THEN get you for the phone (ie, speeding, running a red light, etc etc) However, you can call in accidents, traffic offenses, emergency stuff like that. That is supposed to change June 10, when it becomes a primary offense. And I think the cops are pretty jazzed.

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