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Give law enforcement tool to stop texting drivers
Lawmakers trying to prohibit texting while driving have succeeded in resurrecting the legislation in the Arizona Senate. Senators last Thursday gave preliminary approval to the bill on a 17-11 vote, which would be enough support for passage on a formal vote that could occur next week. Senate passage would send the bill to the House.
Last Tuesday, the legislation inexplicably failed on an 11-11 vote, despite support from cell phone companies which might logically have wanted to see it defeated. And there was strong support from insurance companies as well. One of the problem was that seven senators were absent from the vote.
The reason for the defeat on Tuesday was opposition to more government legislation. Give us a break. Here we have a specific activity that is patently unsafe. If you are texting or sending email while driving, you are not looking at the road. And clearly, that is driving blind and a good way to have an accident.
Sen. Ron Gould, R-Lake Havasu City, called the bill "feel-good" legislation. In his view there are already laws on the books that require drivers to maintain control of their cars.
So what.
Teenagers, who are already inexperienced drivers, are one of the groups most likely to be guilty of this behavior. What is wrong with a law that specifies that this is illegal? Why not give law enforcement another tool to make the roads safer? Our only complaint is that the fine is only $50, or $200 if the texting leads to an accident. We think that is way too lenient.
Changed in this version of the bill is a provision that allows drivers to text or email if they pull over to the side of the road and stop their vehicles. Perhaps that will make the legislation more palatable to the senators who didn't have sense enough to vote for it the first time.
Nineteen states already prohibit texting while driving. Phoenix has prohibited it since 2007. The federal government bans it for interstate bus and truck drivers. Apparently they were not frightened by the specter of "too much legislation."
We urge the senate to pass this measure when it comes back for a vote. It makes texting while driving specifically illegal. We think that makes sense.
Last Tuesday, the legislation inexplicably failed on an 11-11 vote, despite support from cell phone companies which might logically have wanted to see it defeated. And there was strong support from insurance companies as well. One of the problem was that seven senators were absent from the vote.
The reason for the defeat on Tuesday was opposition to more government legislation. Give us a break. Here we have a specific activity that is patently unsafe. If you are texting or sending email while driving, you are not looking at the road. And clearly, that is driving blind and a good way to have an accident.
Sen. Ron Gould, R-Lake Havasu City, called the bill "feel-good" legislation. In his view there are already laws on the books that require drivers to maintain control of their cars.
So what.
Teenagers, who are already inexperienced drivers, are one of the groups most likely to be guilty of this behavior. What is wrong with a law that specifies that this is illegal? Why not give law enforcement another tool to make the roads safer? Our only complaint is that the fine is only $50, or $200 if the texting leads to an accident. We think that is way too lenient.
Changed in this version of the bill is a provision that allows drivers to text or email if they pull over to the side of the road and stop their vehicles. Perhaps that will make the legislation more palatable to the senators who didn't have sense enough to vote for it the first time.
Nineteen states already prohibit texting while driving. Phoenix has prohibited it since 2007. The federal government bans it for interstate bus and truck drivers. Apparently they were not frightened by the specter of "too much legislation."
We urge the senate to pass this measure when it comes back for a vote. It makes texting while driving specifically illegal. We think that makes sense.
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