Could there be a ban on all cell phone devices behind the wheel?

bigbud said on October 14, 2010 at 10:53 AM

Sorry, La Hood was the greedy land grabber so I have been informed. We will send Clint back to DC and he can fix it...

bigbud said on October 14, 2010 at 10:50 AM

La Hood is a tard. Next they will not allow you to sing with the radio when you drive, or talk to a passenger. I concurr, especially with the texting but hands free conversation is no different than a conversation with a passenger , in fact safer. I know I have a problem communicating without looking at the person I am speaking to so a passenger would be more detracting than a speaker. What about kids. Has been a few years since I delt with kids but we all know how distracting they are. Get a grip La Hood. Wasn't La Hood the bad sherrif in Pale Rider?

hebeshebewebe said on October 14, 2010 at 4:12 AM

freedomthinker lets ban the prohibition on murder too....moron

freedomthinker said on October 13, 2010 at 6:28 PM

prohibitions never work. increasing the strictness or penalty is just adding to an already burdened court system. ditch all prohibitions!!!!

mlloyd said on October 13, 2010 at 5:37 PM

salix, I'm knowing this as far as your comment. It's like addictions, people don't stop until they have to. That's why I said a thousand dollar fine. And I mean no exceptions, no suspended fines, no judges reducing the fines, A THOUSAND DOLLARS if you are caught. The law is in place in Washington and I see people all the time, ALL THE TIME holding a phone up and talking on it. I don't have the answers and it's up to legislature to make the laws that can be enforced that will have an effect and not just some watered down bologna. Gotta go. I'm hungry

salix said on October 13, 2010 at 3:42 PM

mlloyd - doesn't matter if they can't enforce it - people ignore the law with no consequences. Until there are meaningful consequences, laws don't have any bite.

mlloyd said on October 13, 2010 at 3:14 PM

I'd love to post a comment on this issue, but all my comments get deleted. I'll try anyway. If they ban cell phones, then BAN it for everyone and don't exempt law enforcement as that just builds resentment. An all out ban is unrealistic. I would be in favor of 30 second law. Get on the phone and get off, no long drawn out, involved conversations. Texting is a big NO. No matter what, no texting behind the wheel. I agree with some that distractions are too much! Just slow down, pay attention. I do agree with that. I personally don't even like a radio on, but an all out ban is unrealistic. Make the use of a cell phone without hands free a $1,000 fine, but a all out ban will never go.

clear2copy said on October 13, 2010 at 1:26 PM

the road-children won't like this idea at all

zaxxon7469 said on October 13, 2010 at 12:23 PM

Just what commercial had Ray LaHood whatched, The one I saw had a dad tell his new Teenage Driving Daughter to be safe and do not do distracted driving. Hey i am happy that he sent a letter of accomidation to Subaru, but the car companies who have been marketing cars with built in Hands free will not let this bill pas, They will Lobby it to death, that it won't pass. I will bet all other car companies will do the same, for comersials. Just like alcohal Comercials add the dink responsable warnings to their comercials. As to the bloggers who have said that distracted driving that causes accidents should be like adding a wepons charge to the Crime. An accident is that an accident, but if caused by not properly using a hands free device or texting then it should had expendital amounts of money to the fine. This would only work if Police came to every crash, but in my experiance, unless there was a fatality or injury, or one of the cars is totaled, good luck getting them to respond.

terpmom said on October 13, 2010 at 11:51 AM

Better get rid of take out food and children too... that's what takes MY eyes off the road... not cellphones :-)

freemonttroll said on October 13, 2010 at 11:01 AM

I saw allow people to use cell phones all they want when they drive, but if you get in an accident or pulled over for making a goofy move, have a ridiculous fine if a cell phone is present in the vehicle, regardless if it was in use or not. Perhaps then people will pay a little more attention to what their doing.

skok_cush said on October 13, 2010 at 10:44 AM

awol50, you have more common sense than most the evergreen/UW campuses combined. . . . . .

brentallica said on October 13, 2010 at 10:40 AM

Yeah, they should probably be done away with in the car. Everyone really needs to just slow down, relax and pay a little more attention driving. We don't need the heading to Starbucks tweet. We can all wait until you get there.

hj2008 said on October 13, 2010 at 10:30 AM

perspective....you don't have a clue! that was a dumb statement!

cbrenton said on October 13, 2010 at 10:13 AM

The current laws we have don't work because people ignore them. I was ahead of a guy for about 1 1/2 miles and all this while, observed him talking on the cell phone. No cops around, so he didn't get caught.

chuckstr76 said on October 13, 2010 at 10:02 AM

Just put your phone on "speaker phone" and sit it in you lap. thats what people do now anyway. Adding another law, will not stop the use of phones while driving..

awol50 said on October 13, 2010 at 9:34 AM

First you make seat belt use a secondary offence. Then after a few years a primary offence. Then you make cell phone use a secondary offence, then in a few years a primary offence, then you ban even hands free. What's next? Requiring drivers wear gags and noise cancelling headphones so they can't talk to a passenger or listen to the radio? Along those lines, the same goes for the "income tax on the wealthy". How long do you suppose it will be before it trickles down to everyone? Not long, I am afraid. Remember the federal income tax started out at about 3% max and affected only the millionaires of the 1913 era. What is it now? almost 40% and heading higher. Remember our state sales tax probably started out at 2-3%. What is it now? Approaching 10%. Need I say more on the Bill Gates Sr. Income Tax. Vote now to lower taxes, spending and cutting government. And lets flush the toilet this Nov 2.

fedupfromwa said on October 13, 2010 at 9:31 AM

Make reaching into your purse, drinking or eating while driving illegal. Make getting after your kids illegal. I was almost hit by a mother looking back at the kids in the back seat. No difference then someone on the phone. It is ridiculous. They can't enforce it all, so just make tougher penalties for when someone doing these things (distracted, negligent, etc) causes an accident. There are not enough officers to enforce and catch everyone that does it and micromanagement does not work.

treeclimber said on October 13, 2010 at 9:29 AM

most drivers can,t walk and chew gum at the same time ,and they have more trouble trying to drive and talk ,espicealy at the slower speeds, the slower the speed the less attion people pay to there driving. whats needed is drivers training to show these people that can't talk, walk ,drive and chew gum at the same time,they are a accident waiting to happen,and need to look around and see whats going on more often.a new drivers test should be installed at S.I.R. road course,ONE GALLON OF GAS THROTTLE STUCK WIDE OPEN,IF YOU MAKE IT AROUND THE COURSE WHILE TALKING ON YOUR PHONE YOU GET A LICENSE AND IF YOU DON'T YOU CAN ALWAYS BUY ANOTHER CAR AND TRY AGAIN.,

perspective said on October 13, 2010 at 9:16 AM

This is about insurance companies trying to increase profits. IF you dont like it, its a bood suckin lawyer or insurance company that changed the rules.

blankingout said on October 13, 2010 at 9:12 AM

There was a study that came out that showed these laws INCREASED the danger...

whawhaisback said on October 13, 2010 at 9:10 AM

goamerica- To answer your question- When the liberals stop and realize that we can infact survive without them.

goamerica said on October 13, 2010 at 9:01 AM

How about banning little dogs riding on driver's laps. Don't see that one yet. Pretty soon it will be illegal to carry on a conversation with anyone riding with you in the car. When is this controlling BS going to end !!!

jayjohnson said on October 13, 2010 at 9:00 AM

dakotanative has it spot on. make "distracted driving" a huge fine when it causes an accident. Otherwise, we'll be outlawing little things here and there and end up with a convuluted mess of whats legal and whats illegal to do in cars, making out-of-state drivers and travellers completely confused. There is really little else we can do until we convert our cars to automatic drive-mode (like what google is working on) and simply lean back and nap through our commute. Thaaaat would be the life.

salix said on October 13, 2010 at 8:38 AM

@retrievers is right. Why spend time and money making more laws if you don't have a way to enforce it? I have been in so many near-accidents from people engrossed in talking on their phones. I got off the freeway as soon as I could yesterday because a woman was weaving all over her lane from texting. Why clamp down on drunk driving when the courts let them out to do it again with just a slap on their hands?

telman said on October 13, 2010 at 7:53 AM

What a bunch of BS. These lawmakers are wanting to micro manage our lives. The reason they make laws is not for our own good but to profit from the laws they enact. The Democratic part has rally gone off track, they are swinging back to the slave years putting all the people under the bondage of Big Brother.

retrievers said on October 13, 2010 at 7:22 AM

We seem to have dui enforcements, seatbelt enforcements, lets try cell phone enforcement. I bet there will be a lot of tickets written that day

retrievers said on October 13, 2010 at 7:20 AM

Why not enforce the law we have on the book now? I was in Puyallup the other day and people are talking on their hand held cell phones and driving. Not just one or two people but several people. Why write laws if they are not going to be enforced. Let's enforce what we have on the books now before writing more laws.

lksproodle said on October 13, 2010 at 7:11 AM

Drunk driving laws do no good either!! Technology needs to be utilized so that phones don't work in vehicles when the engine is running.

waterkider said on October 13, 2010 at 7:05 AM

This state is always trying to bind us up with laws that try and prevent the 'what if's'. Taking one freedom away at a time. Enforce and elevate the penalties for those actually causing problems and educate us about those risks ie: IF an accident occurs and its found they were texting while driving then make them waive all rights to retalitory suits and make the penalty very painful. ie: IF motorcylist doesn't wear a helmet, gets in accident and dies. Family is prevented from sueing for wrongful death regardless of reason for accident, as the motorcyclist chose to put his own life in jeapordy. ie: Seatbelts save lives, but if I choose not too wear one then I shouldn't expect someone else to pay for any injuries caused by not wearing one - MY CHOICE. Our laws seem to suggest we all need to be wrapped in bubble wrap before going out in the world. Life is a risk - get used to it.

dakotanative said on October 13, 2010 at 6:44 AM

Ok, we can't make it illegal to gab whhile driving. Fine. How about we make it a felony if you are at fault in an accident while chatting? Kinda like adding a gun charge if you are committing a crime. Not illegal to have a gun, just to use it. That way, the people that are not doing anything wrong won't be offended.

freedomfrank said on October 13, 2010 at 6:03 AM

I ride a motorcycle and I'm just tired of people violating my "space" saw a 20 something texting yesterday, 2 hands on her phone steering with her elbows. Texting and laughing,,, just in her own little world. Hope I don't end up under her car someday. Fine,,, talk on your phones, just quit texting.

whatsyurbeef said on October 13, 2010 at 5:13 AM

For every advance in technology there is a plus side and a minus side. Cell phones have made it convenient to stay in touch with people. Cell phones have also created a element of invasion in every day activities.

maltbymike said on October 13, 2010 at 4:13 AM

What's next? Ban the use of radio listening? Where does it end. Liberal nanny state.

bouncer said on October 13, 2010 at 3:28 AM

I am a retired Professional Driver and I have never caused any problems while talking on my cell phone or C.B radio while driving in my 35yr. career. If they outlaw cell phone use while driving, then they should outlaw the use of two way radios, C.B.s and on board computers that Law Enforcement uses. I have seen to many State Patrol, County Sheriffs, Local Law Enforcement and EMS talking on cell phones and typing on the computer while driving. Oh wait... They all are above the law!! That's why they don't get in trouble for it. How can Law Enforcement expect people not to talk on cell phones and text while driving when they are just as guilty!! It's just another way the state steals money from your pocket.

kindkara said on October 13, 2010 at 2:41 AM

You can even still use your speaker on your cell phone as well up to your chin as long as it's not up to your ear, thought that was funny when the new law came out what is the difference between your ear and chin?? I think this is getting way out of hand there is plenty of things people do while driving that distracts them, talks to their passengers, changes radio stations, fixes their heat temps, eat, drinks, navigations systems, smoking, nothing anyone can do to stop what people do in their cars laws or not people will still get distracted from driving it's just how it is, we can't just put our hands on our wheels and expect that people will stay that way the whole time while driving. They simply can't control everything, they made the law the way it is, now leave us alone!!!

oneski said on October 13, 2010 at 12:39 AM

Since the cell phone law went into effect the only change I see is that law-abiding people are not using their phones while driving. I am one of those people. Before the law, I might answer my phone to give a quick response or call my husband to say I'm late getting home. I never texted and I never had long conversations. The same people who were doing those things are STILL doing them - there is no change in behavior. The law doesn't help at all.

shan79marie said on October 13, 2010 at 12:00 AM

OK now here is where this gets stupid. They don't want us using phones in our car, not because we are talking to someone but because we are using our hands... so, um... why are they not outlawing eating, smoking, drinking while driving? All this law is making people do is hide their phones out of sight, thus causing more problems because now we have drivers looking down at their laps to make calls, etc.

dougdab said on October 12, 2010 at 11:24 PM

Get a grip, just make the cell phone a hands free only, if you use the phone to the ear or get caught texting then it becomes a 10,000 dollar fine and loss of license for 6 months, no if ands or buts. This will work because we simple just cannot afford the fine. Its kinda like when I told the governor to raise the speed limit and change the fines for speeding excessivly to $5000. Her response was simple, (thats way to much, people cannot afford that) and my response was, yeah thats why you raise the fine, lower auto incidents, less speeding, cheaper insurance rates, thats a no brainer. So hands free is ok just dont do the bad part.

gablestout said on October 12, 2010 at 10:42 PM

OK, can't resist. speeding is illegal, but people do it all the time. And you thought driving with a cell phone would be different? And really? An all out ban on talking? Seriously? Did I just read that? What's next, a ban on drivers talking to anyone in their car? And finally, how old is that stock photo they used for the article? Who in the world still used wired over-the-head headsets? THAT should be illegal. P.S. I placed a call on my factory blue-tooth kit on my way home tonight, but I failed to come to a complete stop at three stop signs and one red light, drove 26 in a 20, 40 in a 30, 72 in a 60, 29 in a 25 and made one left turn and one right turn without signaling. Oh, almost forgot, I also made a left turn from the left lane to the right lane and honked my horn at a driver who wasn't paying attention to a light change, which is also illegal because it I wasn't using my horn in an emergency. RCW 46.37.380 and SMC 11.84.320, for those of you who don't believe me :)

angelainbothell said on October 12, 2010 at 9:42 PM

Yet we still see people, STILL see people driving with a cell phone clamped one-handed to the sides of their heads.