There was once a time before we knew texting while driving was a danger
I came out against texting while driving in 2007. Brilliant, right? I also thought texting was just for kids back then. A lot can change in a short time.
Normally, when legislators stick their nose into my private business, I recoil. Without question, I am a Libertarian with a capital L.
But a new piece of legislation has caught my eye, and despite my distaste for all Big Brother-type activity, I can’t help but think it’s a good idea. Or maybe I’m just old.
The proposed law would ban driving while texting. For those of you who don’t know, texting is what the kids are doing when they’re hunched over their cell phone. Your telephone keypad is magically turned into a keyboard, and you can type things like LOL.
(The above means “laughing out loud, and very honestly, is the only bit of texting shorthand I’m familiar with.)
I am not a texter. I’ve received text messages from two people in my life: My wife and my friend. Both of them are younger than I am, and both of them never received a fluent response in return. I started pecking away at the numbers, watched them kinda-sorta turn into letters. I then pressed some other buttons on my cell phone, got aggravated, and then I put the phone back in my pocket and felt like one of those people that say things like, “Things were better back in my day.”
I mean, texting? What about dialing the phone and talking to me? Is that so hard?
I just got used to the idea of the cell phone a few years ago. I was a holdout, refusing to purchase one. In fact, up until a short time ago, I still had one of those onepound blocks of plastic that not only made and received phone calls, but could be used in a pinch as a doorstop, bookend, or as a piece of deadly Ninja-type weaponry.
Now all of a sudden, I’m supposed to use my phone and my thumbs to write — and understand — things like, “hi m8 u k?sry i 4gt 2 cal u lst nyt-y dnt we go c film 2moz”
The above was stolen from a Wikipedia article on texting, and it’s supposed to mean, “Hi mate. Are you okay? I am sorry that I forgot to call you last night. Why don’t we go and see a film tomorrow?”
I have to believe Nazi war secrets were decoded in less time than it would take me to type out, understand, and reply to the above message.
ANYWAY, driving while texting.
Assemblymen Paul Moriarty and David Mayer are proposing legislation that would fine drivers $250 if they’re nailed sending text messages while driving. Bravo, I say.
Whereas the cell phone ban is idiotic, the texting ban seems to make perfect sense to me.
In order to text, far as I can tell, you need to put your eyes on your cell phone. This is not a good thing to do while cruising down Route 1.
Of course, there are limits to this legislation. For starters, how is a police officer going to see someone texting? I’d have to assume any texting while driving is being done in the general vicinity of one’s lap.
COP: I’m pulling you over for texting while driving.
TEXTER: But I was just checking my zipper. There’s no law against that, right?
COP: Um...
Seems impossible to enforce, in other words. But still, it’s a good idea. If we can get one texter off the road, then the law would be a good thing. I’m telling you — those darned kids and their texting. Harumph.