. We need to speak out loud and clear -- driving is too important and too dangerous for all this highly-distracting multi-tasking. Since individuals won't use common sense and common care, the rest of us need to set the rules and enforce them.
Smoking cigarettes while driving should be outlawed also. Holding on to a hot cigarette while operating a 2000+lb piece of machinery is lunacy. Putting all on the roads at risk. Screaming kids in the back seat of the car should be banned also, or at least encapsulate the driver in a sound proof cabin, as to prevent distraction away from task at hand.......Driving. One hand driving should be banned also, enforcing the 10 and 2 position on the steering wheel. Open toed shoes could potentially be a hazard when operating a motor vehicle, so we might want to look into banning open toed shoes and even high heels since it may interfere with proper contact with the gas and brake pedal.
I could go on and on with this. Maybe I should run for legislator.
David, with one week until the budget is adopted and a huge tax increase and spending plan is forced down our throats, this is a cynical attempt to distract, which represents more than walking and chewing gum. This is political gamesmanship at it's best, and it is surprising you don't see through it, especially since the county probably won't take it up until early to mid November, well AFTER the tax increases floats through. But of course the "focus" of the media and public will be the new law to ban texting which is much more glamorous than the budget dealings. It caught your attention, didn't it?
But did you think about the budget with it's unneeded PR man, it's raises for management, it's raiding of the fund balance, and it's overestimation of revenues, thus putting the county into shaky financial territory? No, this new "glamorous" bill caught your attention, thereby showing that political stunts work! Even with educated voters!!!
"While Foreign Terrorists were plotting to murder and maim using homemade bombs in Boston, Democrap officials in Washington DC, Albany and here were busy watching ME and other law abiding American Citizens who are gun owners and taxpayers, in an effort to blame the nation's lack of security on US so that they could have a political scapegoat."
Cicero, I won't even try to simmer you down, you seem to be enjoying yourself too much.
Many tests have shown phoning while driving (hand-held or hands-free) reduces reaction times as much as being DUI, and as much as being over 70 years old. Texting is even more distracting than mere telephoning. Our brains can deal with holding a cigarette while driving, but not with holding a long-distance conversation. Society and its lawmakers can distinguish between those sorts of added, unnecessary dangers and Cicero's list of horrors. Passenger cars will always have passengers in them (especially one's small children), but they do not have to offices, living and entertainment centers, or telecommunication portals.
Rene, you're right that we have a society that is either incapable of understanding the dangers or so self-centered it is indifferent to them. The answer can't be to just let them go ahead as if they have a right to put everyone else at risk.
As far as enforcement goes, most texting is noticeable. And, should there be an accident or a dispute over whether texting took place, records will be available from the service-provider to show the exact timing of all messages. There are few crimes or traffic violations that have such built-in, accurate records.
SCHENECTADY COUNTY New law to ban texting while driving BY MICHAEL LAMENDOLA Gazette Reporter
Come January, texting on a cell phone while driving in Schenectady County could cost you. Majority Democrats in the Schenectady County Legislature will introduce a local law that makes texting while driving a violation. If convicted of the violation, the fine would be $150. They will introduce the local law at their November meeting. A public hearing will follow a month later and the law is expected to take effect in January, said County Attorney Chris Gardner. A Republican legislator called the plan a sideshow to deflect attention from a pending tax increase. Schenectady would become the fourth county in the state to ban texting or to introduce the ban. Chairwoman Susan Savage, DNiskayuna, who will introduce the local law, called texting on a cellphone while driving an important public safety issue. “Research has shown the dangers of driver distractions, so it is important that we propose legislation that will prevent a deadly accident before it happens,” she said in a news release. Sheriff Harry Buffardi said his deputies would enforce the local law throughout the county, as they do other traffic laws. He expects some difficulty spotting people who text while driving, but suspects many do. He is unaware of anyone crashing while texting in the county in recent times. Gardner said the local law would allow other law enforcement authorities in the county to write tickets as well. The $150 fine would go to the municipalities where the ticket is written, even if by a deputy, he said. Gardner said research by the Nationwide Mutual Insurance Co. shows 20 percent of drivers between 18 and 60 are sending text messages while driving and that Zogby found 66 percent of 18- 24-year-olds text while driving. At least one legislator thinks the proposed local law is a sideshow to the county’s fiscal problems. The Legislature is reviewing a $279 million budget that carries at 13 percent increase in the tax levy. Legislators have to adopt a budget by Nov. 1. “Sue Savage needs a message: one to remind her people don’t like her record tax and spend budget she is trying to distract attention from,” said Legislator Joe Suhrada, R-Rotterdam. “With just a week before she institutes her wallet-busting budget, the timing of this hype is politically convenient. We need to work on the record tax increase she is about to impose and get down to the business of cutting, rather than putting on a sideshow.”
As others have so adeptly argued, there are many activities that are dangerous to perform while driving. The passage of unenforceable legislation to change undesirable behavior is an exercise in futility. The NYS law prohibiting the use of a cell phone without a hands-free device while driving has done little to reduce this behavior. It has, however, generated revenues in the form of traffic fines and increased profits of insurance companies that raise premimums for those convicted of such traffic offenses; money that has then been spent by government. This is yet another revenue source. As others have stated in this forum, "you can't cure stupid".
I agree that the County Legislature has more important business at hand. I also suspect, as others have opined, that this is a deliberate diversionary tactic; a distraction of the public interest from the excessive 13% property tax increase.
Well stated Liberty! And very well said Mr. Suhrada for this.....
Quoted Text
At least one legislator thinks the proposed local law is a sideshow to the county’s fiscal problems. The Legislature is reviewing a $279 million budget that carries at 13 percent increase in the tax levy. Legislators have to adopt a budget by Nov. 1. “Sue Savage needs a message: one to remind her people don’t like her record tax and spend budget she is trying to distract attention from,” said Legislator Joe Suhrada, R-Rotterdam. “With just a week before she institutes her wallet-busting budget, the timing of this hype is politically convenient. We need to work on the record tax increase she is about to impose and get down to the business of cutting, rather than putting on a sideshow.”
At least one legislature speaks for us. Unfortunately it just isn't enough!!
I would also like to add, that since there already is a statewide ban for cell phone use while driving, why didn't they, our county legislatures, approach the state for expanding/amending the law to include texting or for that matter any activity with cell phones? I'm not a governmental lawyer, or any lawyer for that matter, so I don't know if this could have been done.
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
Bumble, how does opposing a good law banning an unnecessary and dangerous activity constitute "standing up for us"?
Yes, a statewide ban is preferable. But, local governments do not have to wait for the State to act to protect their people. Also, when the State acted over cellphones in cars, it did so to pre-empt local bans, and put in a phony safety law that made the cellphone companies and irresponsible drivers happy, but simply encouraged more driving while phoning, while permitting hands-free phones, which are just as distracting and dangerous as the hand-held. If enough counties pass bans on DWT, it should help nudge the State to pass a universal ban.
Bravo to Joe Suhrada. This is an idiotic distraction, nothing more. Anyone who supports this nanny nonsense and not cutting the bloated County budget by at least 15% is finished in politics. They cannot even run for Dog Catcher. Mark my words.
In doing this, Susan Savage has successfully diminished a potentially good policy. I did a public policy research study on such a program, banning texting while driving.
However, by introducing it now, she is giving the impression that she is diminishing the economic issues of the county. Because of this, due credence will not be afforded to the DWT bill.
Perhaps Suhrada IS for the legislation, done appropriately, and perhaps more enforceably statewide. However by springing this onto us days from adoption of the largest spending scheme in county history (200 years) she shows political gamesmanship to the tenth power. Someone should ask Suhrada if he is FOR it and why he is pointing out that this is political nonsense at this TIME.
"While Foreign Terrorists were plotting to murder and maim using homemade bombs in Boston, Democrap officials in Washington DC, Albany and here were busy watching ME and other law abiding American Citizens who are gun owners and taxpayers, in an effort to blame the nation's lack of security on US so that they could have a political scapegoat."
As far as not having a budget yet, I've always figured Democrats could walk and chew gum at the same time, even if the other parties can't.
Oh I have no problem with them walking and chewing gum at the same time. I'd figure that even the dems can do that too. They just can't legislate, govern the people, listen to their constituants, balance a budget, stop creating patronage jobs, creating more government programs or stop spending and over taxing the taxpayer! And those are just to name a few.
Walking and chewing gum? No problem!
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
Democrats need to focus on County budget cutting not enacting legislation that should be done at the STATE LEVEL. When you say Democrats can do two things are once you are severely mistaken. They haven't announced ANY cuts only a pay raise to every management employee, many of who make more than their State counterparts.
They also have wasted weeks begging the State, while every other County has announced major cuts and lay offs. We also hear about Metrograft paying Bethesda House a profit for yet another parking lot! Sell the County Home, close every City library branch, lay off 10% of County employees, lead or get out of the way. The sheeple have had enough.
now I know you all have been critical of me Sal for making Surhada as one of the wrong ones with Burhmaster and Farlye but I will say that he is wrong again and I will try to be nice about it since you here have been angry at my beliefs. He can save lots of lives and Savage needs the credit and passing this now shows the demos can do the differnt things at once and not just handle 1 job per time. I am glad Ang backs this and it was only Joe S who was against since no one really listens to him and his hot air really any way. So it is election time and he is making waves but it is Savage who wants to save the kids. They need to ban all of this stuff now for the safetey of the roads. Capice? Mr S please quiet down since you are propabbly mad you didnt think of this first
Logged
Bravo to Joe Suhrada. This is an idiotic distraction, nothing more. Anyone who supports this nanny nonsense and not cutting the bloated County budget by at least 15% is finished in politics. They cannot even run for Dog Catcher. Mark my words.
