HPD officer Texting while driving.........

[cbunt1]

I think they should follow the same rules as me. I'm never off duty protecting myself and my loved ones.

To get back to the OP question, everyone is subject to the law in a state that respects human rights. In a police state some animals are more equal than others. Like in Animal Farm.

And I think we should be allowed the same freedoms as they. Essentially the same thing, but from a perspective of affirmative application of rights rather than restrictions.

In all fairness, it doesn't appear that the HPD the OP refers to is breaking any law...

But this brings me to one of my favorite soapboxes...

Why don't we seriously consider getting rid of several of the "while driving" laws we have on the books...road rage enforcement, texting while driving, cell phone while driving, etc. Fact is, distracted/careless driving is just that, and the "excuse" is irrelevant. If someone smacks into the car in front of them, I really am prepared not to care whether it was because they were too drunk to walk, because they were texting, because they were too distracted by their cell phone call, because they were eating a big-mac while driving a '62 ford with a 3-on-the-tree, or because they were fiddling with the radio...root fact is that they weren't paying attention to the task at hand, and should bear the full responsibility for it, no more, and no less.

If we were to get serious about reckless/careless driving (for any reason) and forget about radios, phones, etc., we wouldn't need new laws for this stuff every couple of years, more grey areas, and more revenue-driven traffic stops. Make what matters count, and forget the rest.

Off my soapbox now...rant off, and I promise not to hijack the thread.

[speedsix]

...I agree with this one!!! I've written a lot of wrecks where they "dropped their cigarette" LOOOOOONG before there were cellphones...makes no difference why they were distracted, they weren't takin' care of business...

[chasfm11]

I think they should follow the same rules as me. I'm never off duty protecting myself and my loved ones.

To get back to the OP question, everyone is subject to the law in a state that respects human rights. In a police state some animals are more equal than others. Like in Animal Farm.

And I think we should be allowed the same freedoms as they. Essentially the same thing, but from a perspective of affirmative application of rights rather than restrictions.

In all fairness, it doesn't appear that the HPD the OP refers to is breaking any law...

But this brings me to one of my favorite soapboxes...

Why don't we seriously consider getting rid of several of the "while driving" laws we have on the books...road rage enforcement, texting while driving, cell phone while driving, etc. Fact is, distracted/careless driving is just that, and the "excuse" is irrelevant. If someone smacks into the car in front of them, I really am prepared not to care whether it was because they were too drunk to walk, because they were texting, because they were too distracted by their cell phone call, because they were eating a big-mac while driving a '62 ford with a 3-on-the-tree, or because they were fiddling with the radio...root fact is that they weren't paying attention to the task at hand, and should bear the full responsibility for it, no more, and no less.

If we were to get serious about reckless/careless driving (for any reason) and forget about radios, phones, etc., we wouldn't need new laws for this stuff every couple of years, more grey areas, and more revenue-driven traffic stops. Make what matters count, and forget the rest.

Off my soapbox now...rant off, and I promise not to hijack the thread.

This is a pet peeve of mine, too, but I suspect that there is another side to the story. How many times are citations written for simply reckless driving? Especially as a percentage of the overall citations written, I suspect that RD is hardly a blip on the radar. I further suspect that this is because it is hard to get a conviction and because there are easier, more iron clad ways of revenue. Since most of the whole citation volume is more about revenue than about safety, none of this is surprising to me. I will bow to any LEO with statistical information to the contrary.

My experience is that those involved in texting while driving are also guilty of several other driving infractions (un-signaled lane changes, tailgating, running red lights, etc.) Those, too, do not appear to be high on the citation hit parade yet I suspect that many of those actions are precursors to a majority of the accidents that occur. I want those who cause accidents, especially through stupid actions, to pay for their actions. I would prefer, however, that people not have to die or be badly injured because of those actions. The whole purpose of traffic law enforcement is supposed to be accident prevention. By identifying individuals who are exhibiting risky driving behavior, LEOs have the opportunity to save lives. I don't want every drunk on the road to have to run into someone before they are hauled off to jail for drunken driving. In the same manner, there are other behaviors that could and should be cited in advance of wrecks. It shouldn't take a book full of laws to make that happen.