San Antonio Bans Texting while driving

[justahobby]

The law sounds great, until they ban drinking, eating, smoking, catch you doing anything other than looking straight ahead (and you may think I am trying to blow smoke, but yeah they really have put that one on the table). If Sally sue or billy bob weren't texting to get in a wreck, it would have been fiddling with the radio or something else.

Now look at the bad (yes the bad), Police now get the right to pull you over and search your phone to prove you were texting. Call me crazy, but I have a problem with having your belongings searched without a really truly probable cause. Arizona is fighting what they will believe will be profile stopping, yet we just enacted a law that allows profile checks to no limit... the cop can just say he/she thought they were texting!

[FireWater]

Police have to have reasonable suspicion and be able to document it.

[jrsatx20]

like the cops ever follow the rules. they just as bad a firefighters

[FireWater]

You are killing me Ruben.

I have lost my identity now that I am all 3.

[jrsatx20]

congrats to u. its not that bad. even if nobody likes u because of ur job.

[FireWater]

That's why I don't tell them.

Luckily I won't be running traffic.

Justin, I see your point and agree that it can and might lead to other things being regulated. I really do not see it happening that way though. The problem is the minority of people that cannot self regulate themselves cause issues for the rest of the population. If you look at this way - you or someone you care about is riding in a vehicle not controlled by you, wouldn't you want the full attention of that driver and other drivers to be focused on the task at hand?

[justahobby]

That's why I don't tell them.

Luckily I won't be running traffic.

Justin, I see your point and agree that it can and might lead to other things being regulated. I really do not see it happening that way though. The problem is the minority of people that cannot self regulate themselves cause issues for the rest of the population. If you look at this way - you or someone you care about is riding in a vehicle not controlled by you, wouldn't you want the full attention of that driver and other drivers to be focused on the task at hand?

I don't really agree with victimless crimes and things that should be self regulated, being controlled by the government. Of course their will be people that make wrong decisions, but taking away freedoms of millions is hard to rationalize in my eyes. But oh well, what's done is done. It will be interesting to see what warrants being pulled over... looking in your lap, checking a missed call, dialing a number, clearing a text??


You aren't doing traffic, what will you be doing John? And congrats btw!

[FireWater]

I don't really agree with victimless crimes and things that should be self regulated, being controlled by the government. Of course their will be people that make wrong decisions, but taking away freedoms of millions is hard to rationalize in my eyes. But oh well, what's done is done. It will be interesting to see what warrants being pulled over... looking in your lap, checking a missed call, dialing a number, clearing a text??


You aren't doing traffic, what will you be doing John? And congrats btw!

We can go back and forth on this all day. I don't believe in victimless crimes. We know each other well enough to know that we are responsible people and productive parts of society. Unfortunately there are those that aren't and we all have to pay for that. Most things people take for granted as rights are really just privileges. I do however agree with your statement of not being controlled by Government. I just do not know where to draw the line sometimes. I use my cell phone and try to use it properly while driving including no texting or pulling over out of the way to do phone business. I can only speak for myself though. I can tell you that the most scared I have ever been as a firefighter is when I worked crashes on the roadways. I cannot count the times we were in the middle of working an accident scene only to have another crash happen in our vicinity or right next to us. It seemed to get worse as the camera phones got better and also as folks realized they could conduct business on their phones.

As for my police certification, it has to do with my job at the FD.

[vman181]

I live in UC and they passed this law months ago and its not a problem. It's only against the law if you are driving while texting and not illegal if texting while stopped at the light.

I'm all for this law but don't see how it will be inforced when amongst all those people I see texting everyday I also see MANY of our SAPD patrol cars doing the same !

From MY SA News.....The ordinance also will prohibit drivers from using cell phones for anything besides calling even when stopped at red lights.
The ordinance includes an exception for public safety personnel during the course of their official duties.

[Kristy]

Even at red lights? Ah man, I am hosed! Next they are going to say I can't put on my makeup, eat my breakfast taco, and talk on the phone while driving down the highway!