Comments about ‘Lawmakers targeting phone use by drivers’

Perhaps they should target people not smoking and driving at the same time as well. Until I see cops not talking on their cell phones while they are driving they shouldn't force citizens either. I'm all for hands free and agree with it, but I've almost been hit by people trying to light up their cigarette and drive, sometimes trying to shift their car all at the same time.

"The Blackberry business . . . ." Heh.

I'm fine with this bill as long as each legislator who votes for it gets up and, with a straight face, swears that they currently refrain from EVER talking on their phone while driving because it is just so darn dangerous that they have to ban it.

Let's start with the sponsors--Riesen, Ray, and Moss, do you currently refrain (not minimize, REFRAIN) from talking on your cell phone while driving? If so, kudos to you for not being a hypocrite. If not, why not?

What about girls who do their make-up or guys shaving. Thats freaken wrong. People who do hands free talking on their phone arent the problem.

"other people who rely on radios for work to be negatively affected" does he really mean it? I am in sales and should not be treated different than truckers. They are not paid for radio time. It is either safe or it is not. Unless it is an emergency call even cops should be banned, They can pull over and while eating donuts make their routine calls.

The only exemptions to the Blackberry law should be law enforcement. Even the hands free phones should not be exempt, how do they think these devices get truned on and off and dialed? None. And anyone can claim they are using their phones for business use or an emergency, and we are right back where we started. Pass the law with no exemptions and then adjust it as necessary to meet needs. Truckers should not be exempt either, their own companies prohibit drivers using them. And what about all those government agency vehicles running around the state on "errands"? Is it business or is it a home call? This law is too lax and lean and doesn't have the ability to be enforced. Then why is there any need to mention school zones? They are automaticaly included. This change should also include the inattentive drivers law that is already on the books with the same penalties and fines. The fine and penalty should be a minimum standard, not the max. Especially in cases involving an accident or death. Anyone caught should also have their phone or device confiscated and returned after the penalty phase and fine is completed.

Only 90 days in jail? And its ok to use one to report on a fellow citizen using one??? Lets see 20 drivers arrested for cell phone use... all used the same defense: I was reporting the driver of the next car using a cell..... the lawyers will love this one!

This is something that I feel we can really use.

Impared driving in my opinon is also texting, dialing or even holding your cell phone to your ear.

I am tired of following some one with their head cranked to the side with their hand on the side of the head doing 30mph in a 55 mph speed zone.

I feel the ticket would be a great source of revenue for a cash starved state.

What's wrong with hand free devices? They are not as bad in my opinion.

I rented a car in California last week and they had a sign at the rental agency advising people of the hands free law.

Phil Riesen is a breath of fresh air in Utah politics.

Good luck with this one. Maybe they should ban smoking while driving or eating while driving. How many accidents do these cause each day?

The legislators are worried Utah will become a "nanny" state. Utah is ALREADY a "nanny" state.

I think there should be more laws. Especially laws restricting things that people can do in public. We have way too many freedoms in this country and state.

Lots of talk on this, there will be no action.

Why? Because 10% of the pop. are doing it all the time.

Lots of talk, no action.

We already have a law prohibiting cell phone usage:

Utah Code 41-6a-1715 states, "... A ... person is guilty of careless driving if the person commits a moving traffic violation ... while being distracted by ... using a wireless telephone or other electronic device unless the person is using hands-free talking and listening features while operating the motor vehicle;

Thus, if a person can drive safely when using a cell phone, its OK. Only when it is associated with other careless driving behavior it becomes a violation.

This law is simple to enforce and addresses the real problem which is distraction while driving causing drivers to commit other violations.

Let's enforce what we already have and save the time and cost required to write additional, more complicated, and less effective legislation.

Obviously the legislators have nothing to do! Don't they understand that a law already exists? Being distracted while driving is already a crime in this state. So why not work on something else that may be more important....Like cutting taxes, and balancing the budget! Why are they so stupid??

is the Utah or the peoples republic of massachusetts????

because the legislators will never do something that would impede them from doing their business - or, at least, what they see as their business - and if you have ever watched as the parking lot under the capitol drains after a working session, you will see at least half the legislators talking on their cell phones as they hit the roads.

Where does it end, laws protecting people against themselves because someone feels that they should be made to live a life style by their standards. Yes some people can not drive and use a phone safely, but they also can not eat or smoke and drive safely or even change a radio station. One more pc. feel good law our law enforcement people will have to enforce. Many states restrict young drivers from having passengers because of distractions, I could agree with a law restricting under 18, leave the adults alone.

Before I even clicked on this article I knew Paul Ray would be involved somehow.

Utah's modern-day version of Carrie Nation must lie awake at nights worrying there is some aspect of life that the government has not yet regulated, and in order to protect us from our own stupidity he must ride forth on his White Steed and introduce silly new laws.

For The Children, of course.

Don't we already have laws converning distracted drivers?

And these proposed laws are different how?

The idiots are not the legislators but most of the people that are so self righteous and arrogant to think that they are better than others in this aspect of their lives. I am sure you all will say you have never had a mishap but the person that you cut off or near missed would not agree. The U study showed that many of the problems associated with cell phone use was not even perceived by the offenders. Pull your head out of your cell phone case twits.

These comments are just more proof of the "NOW" generation and their facination with pricey toys. They don't get it from a safety standpoint or financial. Get all of the technology toys and the mind altering drugs, the big houses, the rec toys, the new autos and trucks, then cry when you go broke or someone in your family dies from a pre-occupied driver. They just want EVERYTHING NOW, thats all. Idiots.