Why do We Arrest people for DWI, When we do nothing for Drivers on Cell phones?

Question

When someone is on the cell phone WHILE driving, they have slower Rections than someone with a .12 Drinking problem.
So lets get a law for Those who are behind the wheel driving while on the Dreaded Cell phones in hand!
If you talk then pull over to do it.
And all the Speed Ticket laws need to be uped on the fines, 2 years on your record, and double the current fines, please. What does my Fellow Peace and police officers and patrol feel about this.
i'm tired of the dam Weaving all over cell phone Drivers cutting me off.
Soon i will buy a beat up pick up truck and correct their Swayings from lane to lane. As an protective American trying to keep my family safe on the road, when they cut me off the road.

Answer 1

I had to do a driving class a few weekends ago for a speeding ticket I got and the instructor was a retired state trooper, he was awesome and the class was actually really good and informative and eye opening, but he mentioned several states trying to pass laws about drivers on cell phones causing accidents, and in our state a person under 18 I think he said was the age driving and talking on the cell phone can be pulled over and given a citation, but I dont think they should just limit it to kids, adults are irresponsible drivers too when they are on their phones!! great question!!

Answer 2

You are a cop eh? Then you should know how long violations stay on your record, obviously you do not.

And I guess we will see you on the news when you are arrested for Assault with a Deadly Weapon for ramming/running cars off the road because you don't agree with their LEGAL activity while driving or because you get road rage when you get cut off!! Cop eh? Doubtful.

And to the best of my knowledge, their reactions are not slower then someone who has a BAC of .12, they are just usually not paying attention as well. Their reaction time is not hampered, just their potential ability to focus on the important thing, driving. It isn't the reaction time that is affected by doing something else while driving (like talking on the phone) it is the driver's attention that becomes divided when it should be focused on driving. Again, you would know what alters someone's reaction time if you were a cop.....

And what statistics do you have that show that someone driving with a .12 BAC is less impaired then a driver using a cell phone?

I am NOT at all saying that I think it is safe to drive & talk, but considering that in a lot of States it is currently LEGAL to use your phone and drive, while driving after drinking is not, THAT is why "we do nothing". I, personally, will stop and cite anyone who breaks a rule of the road because their head is up their rear end if they are committing violations while yapping on the phone, reading the paper, applying makeup, using an electric razor, etc.

By the way, as someone else has stated, several States are pushing to make it illegal to drive & talk without some sort of headset/bluetooth device, etc. Some States already have that law on the books. IF you are a cop, you should know this!!

And for a guy who allegedly is employed to write professional reports of incidents, arrests and activities, your grammer and spelling needs a LOT of work. I am just saying.

Answer 3

New York state does have a law about hand-held cell phones and driving. (Maybe other states do as well; I don't know.) They issue tickets all the time, but it doesn't seem to be enough of a deterrent, since it's not unusual to see people driving while on a cell. There's talk of amending the law to include text messaging, after a terrible accident in which six high school girls were killed because a driver was texting.

Answer 4

You are absolutely correct. I would not criminalize cell phone use while driving (like DUI is criminalized) but there should definately be a traffic offense for it.

In many states there is already a law against cell phone use while driving. Many more states have legislation in progress. This is a new issue that is just catching on.

Some states allow cell phone use with a "hands free" ear piece. I'm not a big fan of this either. Its better, but should still be a traffic offense.

The best laws are for distracted driving and so apply to cell phone usage, putting on makeup, shaving, eating, etc....

Answer 5

where i live all moving violations stay on your record 3 years and you can only go to traffic school every 18 months, been that way for at least as long as i've been driving (10 years). As for ticket fines, I paid 281 on my last ticket & that was plenty in my opinion (sheez i wasn't even going that fast). yet, people still drive like crap here, so i'm kinda scared to drive in your state.

starting july 1 '08, talking on a cell & driving (w/o hands free device) is a ticketable offense (here at least).

Answer 6

*LOL* Let's all buy a pickup and ram the cell phone users, making the highways safe. By the way, some states have that law already.

Answer 7

I don't know what state you are in but NJ just made it a primary offense. You can now be stopped for using your cell while driving.

Answer 8

yes i agree. as a relative of a cop. he even agrees. i think it is really dumb how people always think they can just talk on their cell phone get a blue tooth!!!!!!! its better much better.

Answer 9

If they bust them for booze then test morons for pot.

Answer 10

you think jails are overcrowded now?