MS bans texting and driving (live, law, bill)

[golden eagles fan]

Governor Bryant signed a bill last week that bans texting while driving. The bill, which goes into effect July 1, calls for a $25 fine for each offense, but goes up to $100 in 2016.

I love the law. I once witnessed an accident that was caused by a driver texting. Fortunately, no one was hurt. But, you never when the next one could be a fatal one.

[sammyreynolds1977]

question is unless it's an accident, how are they are going enforce it?

[golden eagles fan]

The only way is to physically see that you're texting or looking at social media. Also, what if you're at a red light?

[JosephM1994]

It's a revenue scam. Cops will pull you over for something (busted tail light etc) and tack on an extra $100 to the ticket cause "I saw you were playing around on your phone". Where I live, New York has had this law for years and that's how they enforce it. There is no other way because even if you are texting you would have to be dumb to do it in front of a cop. They are trying to ban smoking and driving too, ugh.

[Southern man]

I suspect the built in computers in new cars already have the capability to save a log of what you are doing. You will just get the fine in the mail.

[An Einnseanair]

Originally Posted by JosephM1994

It's a revenue scam. Cops will pull you over for something (busted tail light etc) and tack on an extra $100 to the ticket cause "I saw you were playing around on your phone". Where I live, New York has had this law for years and that's how they enforce it. There is no other way because even if you are texting you would have to be dumb to do it in front of a cop. They are trying to ban smoking and driving too, ugh.

It's also dumb to run a red light, run a stop sign, speed, or make illegal lane changes in front of cops, but people do it every day. Someone looking down at their phone isn't paying attention to the road, much less to the cop that may be watching him.

Yes, police forces will use it to generate revenue. It will also save lives.

[Listener2307]

I don't believe any of the various "revenue scam" theories I've heard over the years, other than the speed traps that pop up.

I think it's an honest attempt by law makers to address a serious problem. Don't forget: There are people who will follow the law. Texting while driving should be illegal. If you are ever in an accident and it is found that the other person was texting, the debate over who was at fault is pretty much over.

[BamaBlue]

Originally Posted by golden eagles fan

Governor Bryant signed a bill last week that bans texting while driving. The bill, which goes into effect July 1, calls for a $25 fine for each offense, but goes up to $100 in 2016.

I love the law. I once witnessed an accident that was caused by a driver texting. Fortunately, no one was hurt. But, you never when the next one could be a fatal one.

$25 is a joke.

It should be $250 minimum. That'd stop idiots that are driving & texting.

[Phil75230]

Even if the law isn't easy to enforce, it gives further legitimacy to a widely accepted common sense notion: texting and driving is not a good thing to do - You Drive, You Text, You Die (repeating the LED roadsign slogan). That adds "that much" more social pressure to not text-and-drive. Anyone saying this is just a revenue scan simply is not looking at the broader picture. How anyone can dismiss it as a "scam" is beyond me.

[golden eagles fan]

Originally Posted by BamaBlue

$25 is a joke.

It should be $250 minimum. That'd stop idiots that are driving & texting.

It's going to go up in 2016. Can't remember the exact amount.