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News-Sentinel.com Your Town. Your Voice.
Opening Arguments

Didn't see this one coming

Oh, good lord:

Police across Indiana are calling on lawmakers to beef up a new state law that bars texting while driving so that it covers all activities that can distract motorists behind the wheel.

[. . .]

Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood has called for states to ban drivers from sending texts and using cellphones while behind the wheel. But Deputy Chief Matt Fillenwarth of the Greenwood Police Department said even that isn't enough because it's too specific. It won't cover someone applying makeup, reading or doing something else that takes attention away from the road, he said.

No enforcment problems expected, right? Those of us who routinely whine about the intrusions of the nanny state have argued that it's silly to single out texting or cell phone use when there are so many other things that can distract drivers. What're they gonna do -- ban all potentially distracting activities. Guess that argument is no longer useful.

Sometimes I'll see a pretty woman when I'm driving and my mind starts to wander to, well, you know. Come and get me, coppers! Catch me if you can.

Comments

tim zank
Tue, 06/12/2012 - 11:16am

Told ya so #3672...

Until we've gone full circle and realize we can't do away with any and every thing that can potentially harm a human being we will be subject to more and more layers of protection (for our own good of course).

Anybody else think it's not far off that your car won't be able to move unless both hands are on the wheel? Just wait...

 

Christopher Swing
Tue, 06/12/2012 - 2:03pm

"Law enforcement officials have complained that the existing law doesn't go far enough and is too difficult to enforce."

"But Deputy Chief Matt Fillenwarth of the Greenwood Police Department said even that isn't enough because it's too specific. It won't cover someone applying makeup, reading or doing something else that takes attention away from the road, he said."

"Fillenwarth said police need a tougher law, as well as the ability to enforce it."

This is all police wanting more power to pull people over, and increase revenue/performance numbers.

"If an officer sees a driver cross the center line while on the phone or applying makeup, for instance, police should be able to write the motorist a ticket, he said."

Since when could police not pull someone over just for crossing the center line? This has been a problem before? Isn't that the boilerplate pretext for every DUI stop, ever?

Government isn't the problem in this case. Keeping "law enforcement" under control is.

And the next time a cop tells you he "doesn't make the law," tell him to shove it.

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