[SOC] Texas legislation rumors

[W1EOF]

I think this is another case of the government trying to help the idiots
from themselves. I use the radio sometimes while I'm driving, and I use the
cellphone at times while I'm driving. The key? I use *JUDGEMENT* as to when
I use it.

If I'm driving in traffic, or in bad weather, I just ignore the phone
ringing or I pull-over. If there is no traffic and I'm tooling along on an
empty highway, then I don't see anything wrong with it. It is actually much
less dangerous than many other activites that are perfectly legal.

If some moron is using his cellphone, drinking a coffee, and reading the
paper during a hailstorm then he should be charged with reckless driving
(criminal penalty) and if an accident occurs sued (cival penalty). Morons
and irrespnsible people should pay. Responsible people should not have to be
unduly restricted because of the lowest-common-denominator in society.

If you want to remove all responsibilty from drivers,
then please remove the following fro all automobiles in America:
Coffee cups (empty or full)
Magazines/newspapers/printed-matter
AM/FM radios, tape/CD players (only purpose is entertainment)
Certainly those TVs in the mini-vans
Small children... no... any passenger than can distract the driver
People who dress provocatively as to distract a driver
People who dress really, really badly as to distract a driver
All billboards and advertisements

Did I forget anything? Are we all safe now? Do we all feel better now?

73,

Mark W1EOF

PS: Want to do something to REALLY help save lifes? Do something serious
about people that drink and drive. Some 25,000 people per year lose their
life because of DWI.


> -----Original Message-----
> From: soc-admin@mailman.qth.net [mailto:soc-admin@mailman.qth.net]On
> Behalf Of Wayne Rogers
> Sent: Friday, August 01, 2003 3:02 PM
> To: nars@mailman.qth.net; qrp-l@lehigh.EDU; soc@mailman.qth.net
> Subject: [SOC] Texas legislation rumors
>
>
> FYI
>
>
> Wayne_W5KDJ
> ex:  SV0WWW_TF2WJN      *e-QSL*
> ARS_1392   ARCI_11325  FP-626
> FISTS_10060   SOC_538   ARRL
>
> Subject:        FW: Texas legislation rumors
> For the past week and a half, persistent rumors have claimed that
> effective September 1, 2003, Texas will begin restricting wireless phone
> use while driving.  This rumor is completely false and unfounded.  In
> particular, House Bill 281, introduced by Paul Moreno-El Paso, did not
> pass during this legislative session.  Nor did three other bills that
> would have restricted the use of wireless phones while driving.  In
> essence, we shouldn't see this emerge as a statewide issue again until
> the 2005 legislative session
> In the meantime, here are a couple of talking points and a quick
> legislative synopsis:
> There are dual responsibilities to ensure safe driving.  Sprint and the
> wireless industry need to do their part to educate customers and to offer
> innovative products and services to address the responsible use of
> wireless phones.  Drivers also need to do their part to make good
> decisions behind the wheel - no matter what else is going on around them.
>
> Sprint has always supported the use of hands-free devices as a tool to
> use when appropriate to help drive responsibly.  We offer hands-free car
> kits, universal ear buds and headsets that will work with almost every
> wireless phone available.
>
> Legislative Synopsis
> House Bill 624 - Jose Menendez, San Antonio
> Drivers must use hands free devices except when making emergency calls.
> -Sprint witness testified against bill.
> -Result: Bill was not voted out of committee.
> House Bill 281 - Paul Moreno, El Paso
> Blanket ban except when using hands-free device
> -Sprint witness testified against bill.
> -Result: Bill was not voted out of committee.
> House Bill 771 - Helen Giddings, Dallas
> Restriced cell phone use while driving for school bus drivers.
> -Sprint did not testify.
> -Was voted out of committee (passed).
> -Was on the intent calendar but was caught up in the closing days of
> session.
> Senate Bill 390 - Rodney Ellis, Dallas
> Prohibit use of cell phones unless using hands-free or driver is making
> an emergency call.
> -Never gained enough momentum.
> -Did not get a hearing.
>
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