Pet Peeves II: Texting in Traffic

[RadicalModerate]

So . . . I noticed in the newspaper, today, that Gov. Fallin signed into law the No Texting in Traffic bill.

Ironically, on the way to work--also, today (and just before reading the aforementioned article)--some idiot completely blew through a red light on westbound Memorial and made a right turn, north onto Penn, right in front of me. I changed lanes and pulled up next to the idiot in question. She was totally involved in some sort of phone activity that had her laughing like mad rather than paying any attention, whatsoever to driving.

Here is my quesion: Would a citizen's phone photo of the violater, along with a snapshot of the car/licence plate be admissable evidence in court? (I didn't actually take the proposed snapshot, because that would have, in itself, involved creating a traffic hazard. However, had I had a passenger in the seat next to me . . .)

[kelroy55]

I'm thinking you should have shot out her tires.

[Mel]

I'm thinking you should have shot out her tires.

Can't top that one.

[mkjeeves]

Does punching a location into a GPS count as texting and driving? Not a phone GPS, a stand alone GPS or the one built into the dash. How about setting the temp on a digital dash control? How about the GPS on a phone, officer?

[Mel]

Does punching a location into a GPS count as texting and driving? Not a phone GPS, a stand alone GPS or the one built into the dash. How about setting the temp on a digital dash control? How about the GPS on a phone, officer?

That's what the DW is for.

[RadicalModerate]

Yes/Yup it sure does. (at least until the advent of cars that drive themselves)
Any further inquiries?

[RadicalModerate]

Does punching a location into a GPS count as texting and driving? Not a phone GPS, a stand alone GPS or the one built into the dash. How about setting the temp on a digital dash control? How about the GPS on a phone, officer?

Yes/Yup/Si/Hai/OK, it Does.
I will Yield to Your Point, Sir.
At least until the Advent/Invention
Of self-driving automobiles
Is Perfected. =)

(sorry . . . redundant post)

[mkjeeves]

Can the cops still video me while they are driving?

Can I video them (or anyone else) if I have a mounted dash cam or is this a one way street? Does it only pertain to phones or cameras in general? What will google do?

[rezman]

The way I understand it, using a GPS was exempted, but snapping photos while driving was included as being illegal.

[RadicalModerate]

The way I understand it, using a GPS was exempted, but snapping photos while driving was included as being illegal.

Only if the driver is: a) taking a shot of the scofflaw; b) shooting out the tires of the violator; c) not having a passenger to take care of the business of reporting a dumbass, running a red light on account of the dumbass using a cellphone in traffic. Please be advised that I simply got pissed off, then got mad as hell, then posted in here without actually doing anything about it. (and my actual question regarding evidence in a situation like this remains unanswered, yet, somehow I feel better about the entire situation. I think it's called "Sublimation". Don't Google the answer in traffic. Thanks, in advance.)

Or instead of Sublimation . . . How about . . . Road Rage Irritatationalized? =)

[RadicalModerate]

As I said, at the top of the thread: Governor Fallin, signed into Law, a Bill, putting more pressure on police officers to do a better job of Law Enforcement. I think a photo shoot, showing her slapping the cuffs on A Texter in Traffic, then escorting the scofflaw to The Van bound for The Hoosgow might go Viral on The InterWebs. Hopefully not while in traffic. =)

I know that all of this sounds vaguely 1984/Orwellian, but we are talking about traffic safety here.

How about: Repeal the SeatBelt Law . . . Enforce the No Texting Law . . . and Require Helmet Wearing while operating a motor vehicle . . . ? =)

With, of course, an exemption for Motorcycles. =)

[RadicalModerate]

Edited to Add (in the interests of "common sense" . . .
and with a smile of recognition on the side):

Tornadoes are One Thing.
Texting in Traffic Ain't That.
Try to Focus on Operating a Motor Vehicle
Rather than The Other Thing.

[Tritone]

Some folks would say that one way streets make things safer.

[boscorama]

Some folks would say that one way streets make things safer.

Stomp on their f'n phones. That'll get their attention better than a measley fine!

[jompster]

I saw a lady one day who was driving with her left wheels just over the line, and she had her face buried into whatever was going on on her phone. I leaned on the horn good and long and scared the crap out of her. She dropped her phone in the floorboard, she looked down at it, then she flipped me off. It was a happy moment for me until she ducked down to try to retrieve it. Nothing on a phone is so important that you should risk your own life as well as the lives of others.

[Urbanized]

Slightly deviating from the texting pet peeve, but related to your post, it is amazing to me that these days a wreck-saving or even life-saving honk is almost always followed by a honk from the offending driverand often other unpleasantries. I've had it happen several times recently where someone has started to pull out in front of me or change lanes without realizing I was next to them - instances where they were clearly in the wrong - and my honk became the only thing that saved us both a ton of hassle, bent sheet metal or worse, and their thanks was a loud honk and a one finger salute. I'm not talking about laying on the horn to get someone to move or other aggro horn-honking behavior, I'm talking about HEY LOOK OUT YOU'RE ABOUT TO CRASH INTO ME!!! type of stuff.

We all make mistakes when driving occasionally, and when I do something dumb that almost causes an accident - and the thing that saves me is someone else's horn - always feel admonished, chagrined and honestly a little bit thankful. If I'm able to give a response it's an embarrassed look and maybe a mouthed "sorry". Laying on the horn when I'm clearly in the wrong? WTF is that?

[catch22]

I had a lady run a red light yesterday and the same thing happened. I was exiting a neighborhood at a stop light, my light was green and I see her barelleling through. So I don't enter, but I do sit on my horn for a second or two as she cleared the intersection. I happened to have caught up with her at the next light, and she looked at me and was waving her arms and pointing at me. If I wanted to ruin her day with a $750,000 lawsuit and was in my older car and wearing my crash helmet, I would have pulled out and let her hit me. But I didn't. She was the one who was in the wrong.

Idiots.

[Mel]

Not to sound ageist but a lot of younger people don't know the difference between a tap on the horn which is used to sometimes say hello or remind someone they may be not quite focused on the road like drifting a lane or not moving for after a reasonable wait at a light. Then there is the long f**k y*u honk that is meant to express your disdain at the idiot in the other car. I too have received and given both. A few years ago my Dad got t-boned at a light because a young guy blew a red light. Fortunately he said, in front of the responding officers, "Last time I looked up it was only yellow".

[Mel]