I see both sides of this argument. Obviously the laws are intended to balance the need for safety from those around the texter with the texters freedom and right to manage themselves. But we, as a society, have grown way too comfortable with allowing the Government to Nanny us and while some have willingly given up liberties in exchange for safety – others of us have had those liberties pried from us a gunpoint (or gavel point) in some cases.
I tend to dislike pre-emptive laws at face value: Anti drunk driving laws, gun restriction laws, anti drug laws, etc. And I reject the Nanny state out of hand. I would much prefer increasing the penalties for the consequences.
Drunk driving laws don’t really work. We hear about people being arrested for drunk driving all the time and there is a high rate of recidivism. They only give the police one more reason to harass otherwise law abiding citizens. Instead, make them pay for the consequences (when there are any) for their actions. Texting and driving will be the same thing.
I also have a problem with applying those laws across the nation. I’m more inclined to be afraid of texting drivers in highly populated areas. That doesn’t really apply when you are out in the middle of nowhere.
Lets use some common sense in the application of these laws before we hand over more civil liberties to the anxious of us who want to be protected from everything regardless of the cost to their neighbors.
I see both sides of this argument. Obviously the laws are intended to balance the need for safety from those around the texter with the texters freedom and right to manage themselves. But we, as a society, have grown way too comfortable with allowing the Government to Nanny us and while some have willingly given up liberties in exchange for safety – others of us have had those liberties pried from us a gunpoint (or gavel point) in some cases.
I tend to dislike pre-emptive laws at face value: Anti drunk driving laws, gun restriction laws, anti drug laws, etc. And I reject the Nanny state out of hand. I would much prefer increasing the penalties for the consequences.
Drunk driving laws don’t really work. We hear about people being arrested for drunk driving all the time and there is a high rate of recidivism. They only give the police one more reason to harass otherwise law abiding citizens. Instead, make them pay for the consequences (when there are any) for their actions. Texting and driving will be the same thing.
I also have a problem with applying those laws across the nation. I’m more inclined to be afraid of texting drivers in highly populated areas. That doesn’t really apply when you are out in the middle of nowhere.
Lets use some common sense in the application of these laws before we hand over more civil liberties to the anxious of us who want to be protected from everything regardless of the cost to their neighbors.