I am a proponent of a texting ban in Ohio. As a civil libertarian, I tend
to be against laws that tell us how to live our daily lives; however,
texting while driving is just one of those activities that needs criminalized.
It is just way too dangerous to the rest of us if you are looking at your
phone while traveling the length of a football field in less than 3 seconds.
H.B. 99 passed the Ohio House already this year. The Senate Transporation
Committee now has it. Testimony will be taken this Wednesday. 34 states
already have a state wide texting while driving ban. According to some
studies, a texting driver’s reaction time is much slower than the
motorist high on marijuana. This is hard to believe, but there is at least
one study that finds texting while driving even more dangerous than DUI.
Of course there are many variables attendant within each dangerous activity.
I also agree with making texting while driving a primary offense that will
allow police officers to pull us over if they see us engaged in this activity.
The key will be what specifically the statute prohibits — just texting
or other activities that can be done on a PDA or cell phone (i.e. looking
at a GPS map on the phone, checking email).
Writing, enforcing, and prosecuting these cases will be subject to a dangerous
level of officer discretion. Too much discretion on the part of police
officers tends to lead to tales police abuse and misconduct.
Nonetheless, HB 99 is a positive step in the right direction.
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