http://www.wral.com/news/local/story/4954286/

Quote :

"Texting while driving may soon be against the law in North Carolina. A state House of Representatives judiciary committee on Tuesday unanimously approved a bill that would make it illegal for drivers to write or respond to text messages while driving. North Carolina has already banned cell phone use and texting for bus drivers and teenagers under 18. But House Bill 9 would prohibit the practice for all drivers, regardless of age. The full House could vote on the bill as early as next week, the bill's sponsor, Rep. Garland Pierce, D-Hoke, said. “It is just about safety on the highways,” Pierce said. If it were to become law, drivers would have to either pull over or wait until they have stopped their vehicle before they could text or e-mail. Violators would be fined at least $100."

Im glad they are doing it. Its about time. This is probably more dangerous than calling someone.

And to Taylor Zarzer who is the news/sports guy on 96 rock. STFU on this dude. Half the fun of being at work is being able to surf the web visit TWW.

4/15/2009 7:19:45 AM

just another excuse a cop can use as a reason to pull you over as far as Im concerned.

4/15/2009 7:41:08 AM

Quote :

"Im glad they are doing it. Its about time. This is probably more dangerous than calling someone."

ditto...i, personally, don't think people should be holding their phones to talk while driving, either (at least headsets leave their hands free)...but yeah, texting while driving is asking for trouble

4/15/2009 8:53:02 AM

Quote :

"» State House looking at No Cellphole in Cars Bill "

ok, spelling error aside...where does it say that the bill is to ban cellphones in cars as your title suggests?

this story says that texting will be against the law and i totally agree with that but i was really concerned about this bill b/c you didnt title the thread properly

4/15/2009 8:59:36 AM

i'm guilty of this practice, but def think it's a good idea. "gah why's he driving so slow!! DAMN TEXTER!!!! *chime* oh word a text! *text text text*"

i was also for mandatory headsets or other hands free devices for cell phones in the car too when that bill came around in 2005 but didn't pass (that's when they did for bus drivers and teenagers though IIRC)

HOWEVER, if i get pulled for changing a song on my iPhone imma be pissed

4/15/2009 8:59:37 AM

this seems a little tough to enforce. people are still going to text, just hold the phone below the window. can a cop pull you over because "it looked like you could have been texting"?

4/15/2009 9:09:06 AM

They do in Kalifornia

4/15/2009 9:23:00 AM

the good thing is i can still respond to emails or look at the internet hehe

4/15/2009 9:27:02 AM

My apologies for the spelling mistake. And yes it only bans txting (or will if its passed).

Question for someone other than me who can read into this more, is this a stoppable offense, eg a cop can pull your over just seeing you on the phone, or can they only pull you over for something else (speeding) and then see that youve been txting or something and tag you with a second ticket?

[Edited on April 15, 2009 at 9:33 AM. Reason : !]

4/15/2009 9:30:47 AM

i don't truly see how this is enforceable, but i'm sure the cop-haters will all start bitching and moaning, despite the fact that you'll hardly EVER hear of it happening (even though i think that MOST people believe this is a good idea and safer for everyone)

4/15/2009 10:49:18 AM

if you want the smoking bill like the north, you're gonna get the rest of the bullshit bills like this one.

4/15/2009 11:02:00 AM

How in the fuck are they going to prove you were texting?? Completely idiotic, unless they want to ban use of a cellphone altogether (or restrict it to handsfree only).

4/15/2009 11:02:17 AM

What the thread title implies can't possibly be what they are proposing. In fact, reading the story it doesn't even look like it's a hands free proposal, which doesn't even bother me. Bluetooth is easier when driving standard anyway.

In any case, people texting while driving are fools and directly increase my potential for an accident...

Quote :

"They do in Kalifornia"

Oddly enough the no texting law came a year AFTER the hands free for calls law out here. Kind of counter-intuitive to me...

[Edited on April 15, 2009 at 11:11 AM. Reason : x]

4/15/2009 11:09:57 AM

i wonder if the cops see you texting, you quickly put your phone down, they pull you...do they have the right to search your phone texting history w/o a warrant?

4/15/2009 11:16:26 AM

Quote :

"the good thing is i can still respond to emails or look at the internet hehe"

Actually you won't be able to...

Quote :

"(a) Offense. – It shall be unlawful for any person to operate a vehicle on a public street 15 or highway or public vehicular area while using a mobile telephone to: 16 (1) Manually enter multiple letters or text in the device as a means of 17 communicating with another person; or 18 (2) Read any electronic mail or text message transmitted to the device or stored 19 within the device, provided that this prohibition shall not apply to any name 20 or number stored in the device nor to any caller identification information. 21 (b) Exceptions. – The provisions of this section shall not apply to: 22 (1) The operator of a vehicle that is lawfully parked or stopped. 23 (2) Any of the following while in the performance of their official duties: a law 24 enforcement officer; a member of a fire department; or the operator of a 25 public or private ambulance. 26 (3) The use of factory-installed or aftermarket global positioning systems (GPS) 27 or wireless communications devices used to transmit or receive data as part 28 of a digital dispatch system. 29 (4) The use of voice operated technology. 30 (c) Penalty. – A violation of this section while operating a school bus, as defined in 31 G.S. 20-137.4(a)(4), shall be a Class 2 misdemeanor and shall be punishable by a fine of not 32 less than one hundred dollars ($100.00). Any other violation of this section shall be an 33 infraction and shall be punishable by a fine of one hundred dollars ($100.00) and the costs of 34 court."

http://www.ncleg.net/gascripts/BillLookUp/BillLookUp.pl?Session=2009&BillID=H9

4/15/2009 11:31:21 AM

What's the difference between reading a text and reading your GPS?

4/15/2009 11:34:51 AM

most gps is you are looking up, as its on the windshield.

4/15/2009 11:50:46 AM

so how do you read a text? in the backseat?

4/15/2009 11:51:31 AM

looking down at the phone in your hand/lap/center console...

unless you mount your phone to the windshield. i don't know that i've seen that although i've seen accessories that do that.

4/15/2009 11:55:18 AM

what if you use the GPS on your phone?

4/15/2009 12:30:31 PM

Yeah, what if the gps is your phone?

Otherwise I think this is a fantastic idea. I've done it maybe once or twice and it's amazing how distracted you become whilst texting.

4/15/2009 12:48:16 PM

if i get pulled i'll just say i was talking on the phone.

they need to just ban phones while driving altogether if they're going to do this.

4/15/2009 1:40:17 PM

http://www.aaanewsroom.net/Main/Default.asp?CategoryID=7&ArticleID=554

I think this law is a good idea, but it should be more clear-cut. something like "hands free only" or the sort.

[Edited on April 15, 2009 at 2:01 PM. Reason : .]

4/15/2009 1:58:06 PM

Quote :

"HOWEVER, if i get pulled for changing a song on my iPhone imma be pissed"

4/15/2009 3:01:50 PM

it's about damn time. my head went through a windshield because of a cell phone.

4/15/2009 4:17:41 PM

Are they basing this on actual accident statistics, or is this just typical feel-good legislation?

4/15/2009 4:21:33 PM

Quote :

"it's about damn time. my head went through a windshield because of a cell phone."

let's hope people follow this cell phone law closer than you (apparently) follow the seat belt laws, then?

[Edited on April 15, 2009 at 4:32 PM. Reason : d]

4/15/2009 4:32:13 PM

hands-free is only marginally better than a handheld phone. either way the problem is that people are not paying attention to the road while they are driving. holding a conversation with someone is a distraction, whether it be texting, on the phone (hands free or hand held), or even if the other person is in the car (although this is better than being on the phone).

4/15/2009 5:20:23 PM

Texting takes your eyes off the road, and into your lap or similar location. Texting while driving is retarded, and I do honk at people when I see it. Yes, they are startled back into reality.

How many people actually use both hands when driving anyway?

When you are talking on the phone, at least you are still watching the road, even if it is sent as a secondary process in your brain.

4/15/2009 5:24:16 PM

yeah, they'll pop you with a pretty nice fine if they see you driving with a phone up to your ear up here. still happens though. texting is def. worse.

in reality, using a phone while driving period should be banned. a lot of my research in grad school focused on this. the bigger problem lies in divided and degraded attention than not having your hands free.

4/15/2009 5:24:54 PM

Quote :

"this seems a little tough to enforce. people are still going to text, just hold the phone below the window. can a cop pull you over because "it looked like you could have been texting"?"

EXACTLY. And if you use navigation on your phone like I do, what is gonna happen with that?? Hell, some navigation screens installed in cars are further down as part of the console, but they aren't banned???

Also, if you DO get pulled over, just pretend you weren't texting or whatever. How hard is it to delete texts sent in the past *oh, I dunno* 10 minutes or so?!?!? That way he cannot PROVE you were doing so if the phone was held below the window. I just don't see how tactful this ban will be if enforced.



I know it's dangerous, VERY dangerous, but I drive with my knee and put on mascara, eat or text/call people ALL the time. Fortunately, I've never had a wreck or ever swerved or anything. But I really use my earpiece though mostly and try to avoid texting while in the car.

4/15/2009 8:06:39 PM

Eh, I support this. You can get more information across by talking to people rather than texting anyway.

I have no idea what happened to normal verbal phone conversations- somehow talking on the phone became lame, and texting became preferred.

4/15/2009 8:25:11 PM

^ For me, talking on the phone requires minutes. Minutes requires $$$$$$ for a higher, more expensive rate plan. Therefore, in my basic rate plan with FEWER minutes, it includes UNLIMITED TEXTING. This completely helps considering my minutes are NOT free until after 9:00 PM. *sigh*


Fucking cell phone companies!!!

4/15/2009 8:29:40 PM

that's why you talk to people on your network

4/15/2009 8:36:09 PM

Looks like this only applies to mobile phones. Good. I was worried I'd have to turn off my laptop while driving.

4/15/2009 11:00:30 PM

This is retarded while texting would be illegal too; a cop spotting someone with a cellphone texting in their lap has to be a lot more difficult. All this law do will encourage people to illegally text instead of talk; with the former being a lot more dangerous as your eyes go off the road. I just returned from california where the use of cellphones is prohibited while driving and my buddy told me that everyone just texts instead.

Besides use of a cell phone while driving, while it does provide a distraction, can be used in a responsible manner and is very useful in certain situation.

Cruising down I40 in the middle of nowhere while talking to your girlfriend- Relatively safe

Using cell phone to quickly ask for directions while trying to get somewhere or taking an emergency call- Reasonable

Some retarded soccer mom or 16 yr old chick blabbing on the cellphone while pulling out into traffic, merging onto a highway, swerving lanes, or driving 10 under in the passing lanes- Irresponsible and Unsafe. why do a few idiots have eliminate cell phone use while driving for all of us.

They might as well ban eating a hotdog, changing a CD, adjusting your GPS, or any of the other shit people do while driving also.

Quote :

"omehow talking on the phone became lame, and texting became preferred."

for me texting is often convenient when to communicate i can't talk on the phone, do not need an immediate response, or trying to save time.

For example i can shoot my girlfriend a quick "hey how's your day" than respond to her reply at my convenience. On the otherhand if I call I can expect to be stuck in a 20min phone conversation.

Or say I do not necessarily want to bother my friend (like if he may be at work) to ask a simple question like "what u doing tonight".

[Edited on April 16, 2009 at 12:18 AM. Reason : l]

4/16/2009 12:14:09 AM

lol who texts while driving? probably just women and gays and they were going to get in a wreck anyway

4/16/2009 2:27:01 AM

i dont see how texting while driving is even defensible. on any road at any time, the people talking on cellphones are the worst drivers.

4/16/2009 3:52:58 AM

BUT TEXTING DOESN'T USE MINUTES AND I CAN'T AFFORD A CELL PHONE PLAN THAT SUITS MY NEEDS! If you have so few minutes that a typically short text conversation done over the phone quickly depletes them, you're a moron for having such a fucking terrible plan. I don't believe this to truly be your argument, however. Certainly the lack of minutes prohibiting you from saying "hay gurl wuts goin down 2nite lets jock some athlete dicks" is the only reason you text while driving.

I won't say I never do this, but I still support this bill. Most people barely possess the ability to drive safely without having major distractions like texting adding to the incompetence. If it is important enough that it can't wait, then make a call.

Quote :

"for me texting is often convenient when to communicate i can't talk on the phone, do not need an immediate response, or trying to save time."

If this is the case, then wait until you aren't fucking driving.

4/16/2009 8:26:21 AM

I am not defending texting while driving you fucking asshat.

If you read my post I explicitly say that by outlawing cell phone use we are encouraging otherwise phone talking douches swerving all over Western Blvd to be texting douches swerving all over Western Blvd.

I was just providing insight as why people like to text since the user i responded to inquired why people text in general Not while just driving.

4/16/2009 8:36:14 AM

but this bill is about banning texting, not cell phone use.

4/16/2009 9:08:33 AM

^^^ amen

4/16/2009 9:58:33 AM

Quote :

"Cellphole"

4/16/2009 10:14:16 AM

I'm neutral on this. On one hand, its a waste of time to pass an unenforceable law.

On the other hand, the next law they consider might be something I don't like, so maybe its better for them to waste their time.

4/16/2009 11:01:13 AM

21 (b) Exceptions. – The provisions of this section shall not apply to:
22 (1) The operator of a vehicle that is lawfully parked or stopped.


does this mean i can text while stopped at a red light?

4/16/2009 12:30:18 PM

^ i would assume so

4/16/2009 1:54:26 PM