QuoteStarting this week, drivers in Florida could get a ticket for texting while driving.
The law starts Tuesday.
Drivers can still talk on the phone, but they will no longer be able to type on the phone.
Drivers will also be allowed to text while stopped at a red light -- the law only applies when the car is moving.
It's a secondary offense, meaning an officer can't pull someone over for just texting. The driver would have to be committing another violation, like speeding or not wearing a seat belt.
If ticketed, drivers will have to pay a $30 fine.
http://www.firstcoastnews.com/topstories/article/329863/483/Floridas-texting-while-driving-law-takes-effect-Tuesday
OK you can't "text" does it say anything about "surfing" while driving? .................... of course it goes back to the original "distracted" while driving law.
You can't be stopped for this offense, it's an add on. I'd be amazed if many tickets were written for this anyway.
^ Agreed. Its almost silly for this to be a law if it can't be adequately enforced.
I guess the cops could pull you over if you're driving erratically (swerving, etc.) and get you for texting? It really bothers me how many people drive with their phones in one hand the the other hand on the wheel.
Quote from: Jason on October 01, 2013, 08:13:41 AM
^ Agreed. Its almost silly for this to be a law if it can't be adequately enforced.
I guess the cops could pull you over if you're driving erratically (swerving, etc.) and get you for texting? It really bothers me how many people drive with their phones in one hand the the other hand on the wheel.
There are a lot of them arent there. It would not be so bad if the one hand on the phone was being help up to the ear... but no... the device is in their lap and they are staring at it ... while moving at 55mph + with a foot or two beween cars...
Yesterday I was following behind a truck that had a "Don't text and drive" bumper sticker on it. The driver was an old guy, and he was playing on his phone while the truck was moving.
We have all seen other people texting, searching the Web or looking for a phone numbers on their Cell Phones but how many of "US" have done the same once, twice or multiple times?
It sounds like FL's version is watered down and can't result in tickets? Kind of surprising this is just now coming to be (in weak form) in an autocentric state with some of the worst accident figures in the country, but it is FL - anything goes. If it does have meat on it, I would NOT text and drive. I know people that have gotten tix in GA and other states and it is really serious and really really expensive. And yes you can easily get busted. Test it out to see for yourself, but it's a huge revenue ticket elsewhere and a trophy kill for cops, so if it's at all similar in FL, they WILL be on the lookout and they have their ways.
I would NOT text and drive anyway, or surf, or whatever. Yes, we all have work we can't escape, but people in real worker bee states have accepted no texting and driving so people in FL can too. ;)
Quote from: If_I_Loved_you on October 01, 2013, 09:47:08 AM
We have all seen other people texting, searching the Web or looking for a phone numbers on their Cell Phones but how many of "US" have done the same once, twice or multiple times?
How many of
us have fiddled with the radio, or checked our faces in the mirror, or been distracted with a hundred other things while driving, etc?? Answer: Everyone. They're all potential distractions that can equally lead to an accident, so calling a single one out (as this law does) is stupid & pointless. Not to mention, unenforceable. But hey, its a law now, so it should all just go away. Amiright? ::)
Honestly, if these people really want to do something that would actually save lives & truly help the situation, they'd try to lessen car dependency so everyone isn't forced to drive a 4,000 pound death machine when they want to step outside their front door. I know, that's crazy talk.
Quote from: peestandingup on October 01, 2013, 11:00:57 AM
Quote from: If_I_Loved_you on October 01, 2013, 09:47:08 AM
We have all seen other people texting, searching the Web or looking for a phone numbers on their Cell Phones but how many of "US" have done the same once, twice or multiple times?
How many of us have fiddled with the radio, or checked our faces in the mirror, or been distracted with a hundred other things while driving, etc?? Answer: Everyone. They're all potential distractions that can equally lead to an accident, so calling a single one out (as this law does) is stupid & pointless. Not to mention, unenforceable. But hey, its a law now, so it should all just go away. Amiright? ::)
Honestly, if these people really want to do something that would actually save lives & truly help the situation, they'd try to lessen car dependency so everyone isn't forced to drive a 4,000 pound death machine when they want to step outside their front door. I know, that's crazy talk.
Well if we stay in Jacksonville Florida waiting on the future Tram to get us around we will die from old age. ;)
Quote from: Jason on October 01, 2013, 08:13:41 AM
^ Agreed. Its almost silly for this to be a law if it can't be adequately enforced.
I guess the cops could pull you over if you're driving erratically (swerving, etc.) and get you for texting? It really bothers me how many people drive with their phones in one hand the the other hand on the wheel.
It's a moot law at best, unenforceable and just a way for the GOB to shut us up by pretending to do something about it. I mean, we can't piss off those precious bad drivers, they help fund the GOB's friends in the auto industries. If they were ticketed, that would mean possibly more money going to publick works projects for "public use" and less they'd spend on gas or other car maintenance.
Quote from: peestandingup on October 01, 2013, 11:00:57 AM
Honestly, if these people really want to do something that would actually save lives & truly help the situation, they'd try to lessen car dependency so everyone isn't forced to drive a 4,000 pound death machine when they want to step outside their front door. I know, that's crazy talk.
Considering the fatality on San Jose last month, it would be a start if we could keep people that have been ticketed for driving without a license multiple times from ever getting behind the wheel. I'm not sure how that does not earn one serious jail time.
Quote from: peestandingup on October 01, 2013, 11:00:57 AM
Quote from: If_I_Loved_you on October 01, 2013, 09:47:08 AM
We have all seen other people texting, searching the Web or looking for a phone numbers on their Cell Phones but how many of "US" have done the same once, twice or multiple times?
How many of us have fiddled with the radio, or checked our faces in the mirror, or been distracted with a hundred other things while driving, etc?? Answer: Everyone. They're all potential distractions that can equally lead to an accident, so calling a single one out (as this law does) is stupid & pointless. Not to mention, unenforceable. But hey, its a law now, so it should all just go away. Amiright? ::)
Honestly, if these people really want to do something that would actually save lives & truly help the situation, they'd try to lessen car dependency so everyone isn't forced to drive a 4,000 pound death machine when they want to step outside their front door. I know, that's crazy talk.
I see your point, however, these cell phones are an epedemic. I can count on one hand that number of "distracted" drivers I see on a typical commute. I would need 10 hands to count the number of people I see on their cell phones during a typical commute.
IMO, this is a stop-gap put in place to be used as a scare tactic to try and reduce the number of cellphone related accidents until the technology necessary to make everything hands free hits a price point low enough to become the norm for daily drivers. We're close to enjoying hands free cell phone integration into our cars on a wide scale. Right now its just the newest and higher end vehicles that are utilizing it. Soon, all cars will have hands free capabilities for cell phones.
On a side note, as far as I can see, all of the technological advances with cell phone integration into our vehicles has been the result of the FREE MARKET meeting the demand of drivers.... :)
If every one was good and responsible, we would not need laws like this at all.
I would MUCH rather get in a car with a drunk driver than someone texting.
http://www.cnbc.com/id/31545004
QuoteUnimpaired: .54 seconds to brake
Legally drunk: add 4 feet
Reading e-mail: add 36 feet
Sending a text: add 70 feet
When I'm a passenger and the driver wants to play with their phone I give them hell. >:(
I don't mind at a stop light, but not while moving, even slowly - you might hit a pedestrian.
Quote from: Jason on October 01, 2013, 03:38:09 PM
Quote from: peestandingup on October 01, 2013, 11:00:57 AM
Quote from: If_I_Loved_you on October 01, 2013, 09:47:08 AM
We have all seen other people texting, searching the Web or looking for a phone numbers on their Cell Phones but how many of "US" have done the same once, twice or multiple times?
How many of us have fiddled with the radio, or checked our faces in the mirror, or been distracted with a hundred other things while driving, etc?? Answer: Everyone. They're all potential distractions that can equally lead to an accident, so calling a single one out (as this law does) is stupid & pointless. Not to mention, unenforceable. But hey, its a law now, so it should all just go away. Amiright? ::)
Honestly, if these people really want to do something that would actually save lives & truly help the situation, they'd try to lessen car dependency so everyone isn't forced to drive a 4,000 pound death machine when they want to step outside their front door. I know, that's crazy talk.
I see your point, however, these cell phones are an epedemic. I can count on one hand that number of "distracted" drivers I see on a typical commute. I would need 10 hands to count the number of people I see on their cell phones during a typical commute.
IMO, this is a stop-gap put in place to be used as a scare tactic to try and reduce the number of cellphone related accidents until the technology necessary to make everything hands free hits a price point low enough to become the norm for daily drivers. We're close to enjoying hands free cell phone integration into our cars on a wide scale. Right now its just the newest and higher end vehicles that are utilizing it. Soon, all cars will have hands free capabilities for cell phones.
On a side note, as far as I can see, all of the technological advances with cell phone integration into our vehicles has been the result of the FREE MARKET meeting the demand of drivers.... :)
They could have integrated this a long time ago. All it would take is a heads up display (which they all have), mics, speakers & bluetooth integration. And software that isn't a POS & that plays nice with modern phone OSs. All of this hardly costs anything. The problem is car manufacturers are notoriously SLOW at adding technology like this to vehicles. They just now started putting auxiliary jacks into cars on a wide scale only a couple years ago. And I can remember when CDs were the norm & the fuckers were still putting cassette players in these things as standard.
They want these things as upselling "add ons" like they're some great luxury or something in 2013. Because everyone knows its all about the addons & anything to squeeze a buck from you. Ask any honest dealer, they'll tell you the same.