Obviously the county democrats have issues..... but what i found most disturbing was Suhrada saying on the news how he was distracted by a pretty girl etc... I just really think the repubs should think before
talking... and I like Suhrada.... you know what... screw repubs ..... screw democrats, this whole county legislature needs to be revamped...

Quoted Text

SCHENECTADY COUNTY
Law forbids texting while driving
Violators could face fine of $150
BY MICHAEL LAMENDOLA Gazette Reporter

    Beginning March 1, Schenectady will become the latest county in the state to ban texting while driving.
    The county Legislature Tuesday night approved a local law making it a violation to be sending text via a cellphone while driving. The violation comes with a $150 fine if convicted.
    Legislature Chairwoman Susan Savage, D-Niskayuna, who sponsored the legislation, said the law will make the county’s highways safer. “I think this is an important piece of legislation for Schenectady County,” she said.
    The vote was 11-2, with Republicans Jim Buhrmaster, R-Glenville, and Joseph Suhrada, R-Rotterdam, voting against. Republican Angelo Santabarbara, R-Rotterdam, supported the law.
‘OVER-REACHING’
    Suhrada criticized Savage, saying she wants to stop the people from texting, “but the reality is that the people want to stop Sue Savage from taxing.”
    Suhrada said the Legislature should focus on fixing its severe financial problems rather than embarking on a “sideshow.”
    “Let’s do what we are empow- ered to do, and stop employing stunts and PR tricks to take the focus off the fiscal train wreck we are headed for,” he said.
    Suhrada also said the state should pass legislation on text messaging, rather than leaving it up to counties to create a patchwork of laws. “We are over-reaching and should let the state handle this on a statewide basis. We need to concentrate on more important aspects of fiscal responsibility and budgeting so as not to drive our taxpayers into bankruptcy,” he said.
    Buhrmaster said he spoke with law enforcement officials about the county law before Tuesday night’s vote. He said they will support it but they also said there are many other distractions in vehicles that are just as bad.
    Majority Leader Gary Hughes, D-Schenectady, said many state laws, like the helmet law and the cellphone law, began as local measures. “We are raising awareness of a particular issue, and until the state acts, we should,” he said.
    Legislator Tony Jasenski, DRotterdam, said .............................................http://www.dailygazette.net/De.....amp;EntityId=Ar00104

Fifty percent of drivers are talking on cell phones without hands off devices and not very many of the drivers are pulled over and fined, another law that won't be enforced.

Quoted from righteous

Obviously the county democrats have issues..... but what i found most disturbing was Suhrada saying on the news how he was distracted by a pretty girl etc... I just really think the repubs should think before
talking... and I like Suhrada.... you know what... screw repubs ..... screw democrats, this whole county legislature needs to be revamped...

Yeah I heard Suhrada say on TV " Fall foliage, fancy cars and pretty women have all distracted me at one time or another, when do we make that illegal?"

MY GOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! IMPEACH HIM NOW!!!!! THAT is the most disturbing thing I ever heard rightious!!!!!!!!! What an animal Suhrada must be- he actually admitted to having been distracted by those evil and sinful things?????? He needs to be voted out as soon as possible since that is much worse than the whole thing where they came of with the half cocked idea. GET HIM OUT NOW, HE LOOKS AT PRETTY WOMEN AND THERE IS NO ROOM IN THE PUBLIC FORUM OR IN DISCOURSE FOR ANY HETEROSEXUAL MALE ADMITTING HE HAS LOOK AT PRETTY WOMEN WHILE DRIVING AND STATING SUCH ON THE FLOOR OF OUR ESTEEMED AND PURE COUNTY LEGISLATURE!!!!! Now if he were gay then I say it's OK. If he said cute boys, then you could NEVER say anything!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I bet the Dumicrats will have a great flyer that will only be distributed to little old Italian, Catholic ladies who we all know are sexless and will be totally APPALLED by such bad things being said!!!! They will probably feint when they read his comment, especially if you sit down with Brian the Quaile and write a little poison pen piece!!!

Sure happy the County has no crime nor tax concerns so they can concentrate on this. More ninny-nanny nonsense from the horrible County Crats. Shocked that Angelo voted for this manure. It's all about revenue generation. Once they pull you over for texting maybe they can find a sticker or cracked mirror issue. Bravo to Joe Suhrada (again) and Jim Buhrmaster.

     Al on WGY-810AM spoke against this for an hour. Nobody was for it except one socialist from Vermont. Next this will become a State violation with points to raise your already record car insurance costs. Another reason to move from Schenectady County.

.........or another reason NOT TO TEXT WHILE DRIVING!!!!!!!!!  I'm not saying I'm in favor of it, nor will it be enforced other then perhaps by stringent search for a couple of months to justify the laws existence.  I just think it is pathetic that people are so stupid to think they can do both at one time.

First, you shouldn't legislate to protect against irresponsibility.  If you do, there will be so many laws on the books that one will have to consider each decision and action that one makes/takes.  How far do we go in this spirit, before we lose our freedom to decide for ourselves?

Second, how can such a law be enforced?  Will law enforcement have the right to seize a motorist's cell
phone and/or review monthly billing statements?  If so, does that constitute a violation of one's privacy?

If a law cannot be enforced, it shouldn't be passed.  Passage of
unforceable legislation promotes public belief that laws can be broken without consequence.  

The cell phone while driving law is an example of one that can be, but that clearly is not being, enforced.  The enforcement is seemingly done selectively.  Further, I have witnessed some in law enforcement
driving while holding a cell phone to their ear.

It's easy to pass legislation without considering the repercussions including the constitutionality and the enforceability of the laws.  Our Schenectady County Legislature has experience doing so.  Consider the Sex Offender Relocation legislation that was deemed unenforceable by the Sheriff and that was contended to be unconstitional by some.  The value of these two laws is to the Legislators who promote an image of caring and responsibility to their constituents.

The adage that you can't cure stupid seems to apply.

How long before the Schenectady County Legislature passes a law that drivers and passengers in automobiles must wear helmets?  The existing helmet law for motorcycles could be extended to apply to automobiles with the cited aim to protect the public from injury or death in the event of an accident.

Quoted from 78

How long before the Schenectady County Legislature passes a law that drivers and passengers in automobiles must wear helmets?  The existing helmet law for motorcycles could be extended to apply to automobiles with the cited aim to protect the public from injury or death in the event of an accident.

Oh geeze Brad, don't give them MORE stupid ideas, k?

Perhaps this law should have been about safety and saving lives, which I am even in question about that,  but it WASN'T!!! It is all about collecting more revenues from the sheeple!!! It is all about meeting a 'quota'. It is all about the county/towns counting on 'irresponsible behavior' to pad their budgets.

Well, what about drinking that dunkindonuts coffee while driving? Smoking while driving? Those screaming kids in the back seat while driving? Talking on a blue tooth while driving? Opening or closing a car window while driving? Turning on or off heat/ac while driving? Driving on icy roads. I mean really.......where do they draw the line between irresponsible driving and distractive driving? It is all about REVENUES and it is all nonsense!!!!!

And who are these 'irresponsible' government officials that even know the difference?

And may I add that I'm very surprised that Angelo voted for this nonsense law!!!!

If it's illegal it gives footing to the insurance companies or vice-versa.....who's zooming whom????

BTW---COMMON SENSE IS KILLING US........

I still what shocked me most was Suhradas comment about the women. Didn't he know he was supposed to call in Gay today? It was national call in Gay day and he had nerve acting so heterosexual and insensitive. Arrest him!!!!!! NOW!  

Well, Mr. Suhrada 'could' have called in today to support the gay agenda since he is his own boss. I would have lost my job.

But to get back on topic, Mr. Suhrada may have sounded foolish to some, but I think he made the point that his foolishness regarding this stupid text messaging law is JUST AS FOOLISH!

Suzie will tax anything that moves, breathes and has an alphabetical letter in it. Then they can continue to create those patronage jobs and government programs!! Robbing the people of self reliance!

the economy is so bad that the pitance of 'tickets/fees' they collect goes,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,where????????? Does anyone really think that it is for the safety of
community.....PUUUUHHHHLLLLLEASE.......

Maybe she was riding in an SUV(her's/county/friends/whoever's) looked down into a VW and noticed a college kid texting at stop light and then Ms.Savage
saw $$$$ signs........she then called all her insurance friends and invested her $$$ into the insurance companies........

I wonder why Angelo supported this.  It's not exactly something to go along party lines, but it's another tax / fee on anybody coming through Schenectady County...one they may not even realize is an issue until they see the bubble gum machine blinking in their rear view mirror.