On October 1, 2009 it will be against the law to do so in Maryland. 
DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
48 comments:
Never. I don't even answer my phone while driving unless it is my childrens school.
Absolutely not!
yes. every day. and ive become quite good at it. i try to do it only on straight roads, or stop lights.
yes
NO!!! It should be against the law now,but I dont think it will ever stop
Only as needed. I've gotten pretty good at driving with the knee so I can type on my qwetry keyboard. As we all know, it becomes against the law Oct 1 but I doubt we will see people stop texting. Watch a cop as he drives around. They are the worst offenders.
Used to, but I turn my phone off now when I drive. :)
Only at stop lights, and if the light turns green, I put it down until the next time I stop.
never
I drive a truck, those of you who think your good at it , god bless you.
I have to admit I am guilty but i just hate to talk on a phone.
All the time. I can do it one handed and blindfolded. I think it should also be illegal to fix your hair, put makeup on, talk to your passengers, scratch your ear, roll down your window, change the radio station and sing. ANYTHING that takes your complete undivided attention from the road should be banned.
Yes, but I'm not as good as the police are. They can text going 80 and I still need to drive 65. I will get there I've been practicing at 68 / 70, but ran off the road a few times.
Yup. So if we see a police officer typing on the in car computer, can we file a complaint? How can the officer proove that he observed someone on the cell texting? All someone has to do is delete the out box.
OK, I'm stepping in here for a minute because it's clear that ONE of you keep repeating comments ragging on the Police.
First of all, Officers are trained extensively for multi tasking while behind the wheel. If you don't believe me, contact the Sheriff or even Mike Levy at the OCPD. Let them explain to you just how much training they get in this exact situation.
Officers have been multi tasking for many years now as they would drive and talk on the radio, calling in their locations while chasing a vehicle and so forth.
It's a part of their job. While you may not like it, TOUGH! I'll bet you have some perks on your job they'd love to have as well but you don't hear them crying the blues.
Only at red lights. I don't even dial to talk unless I'm at a red light. I do answer while driving, but how hard is it to flip open a phone?
No. and thank heavens for the new law. I hope it is vigorously inforced.
WATCH OUT! Joe is stepping in. So police are trained to text message while driving? Okay I believe that one.
I only text while driving when I'm driving over 90 drinking a beer, it of course is the only way to stay focused and alert.
I do only when stopped at a light though. Something tells me I will get a fine for this one. Grr...
Ive never texed in my life.
I have a hard enough time banging my head to Metallica, let alone doing something as stupid as texting while driving.
Yes, I text while driving. Shouldn't eating while driving and smoking while driving also be outlawed? Heck, I've even seen someone reading the paper while driving down Rt. 50. The newspaper was draped right over the steering wheel.
Joe don't be so defensive. Driving 80 and texting was meant to be a compliment. Boy did someone get up on the wrong side of bed.
10:18 if he observes it even if you think you are slick by deleting the inbox or outbox messages, they can subpoena the phone records which will show the time and date of incoming or outgoing messages...duh!!!
Not to mention, if you are so quick to break the law at least man up and take responsibility for your actions!
only at red lights....
I don't feel comforable doing it. If needed I wait for a stop light. My wife does it with even looking at the phone.
I do not have texting on my phone, don't know how to do it and don't want to know.
If you people need to be in contact with someone that bad, then just stay home! You are putting MY life in danger texting while driving.
I wish someone would invent a device to where when you put the vehicle in gear the cell phone becomes useless.
Make it mandatory on all new vehicles and make it so it cannot be disabled without disabling the entire car.
You people talking on your phones and texting while driving are just plain STUPID!
Only when I'm drinking
what a waste of legislation! there is no discernable way to judge whether im texting, looking at a contact, or calling someone... what a joke.
I certainly do not text message while driving; however, I bet that the majority of the public does not know about the executive order banning the use of hand-held cell phones by Maryland employees driving state-owned vehicles.
I have seen SHA drivers, State Police officers, State Fire Marshalls and MVA vehicle drivers all breaking this law nurmerous times since it was enacted. Now I think that these bans are a critical step towards safety on our roadways, but if the State's employees can't follow it's own rules and lead by example then how are they going to legitimately enforce it?
I love these poles that you have been doing lately Joe and I would like to see another one regarding this matter as well (if you wouldn't mind). How many people know about the executive order banning the use of hand-held cell phones by Maryland employees driving state-owned vehicles and how many times have you seen them breaking their own rule?
Actually Joe I said a comment about the police which wasn't approved and I had nothing to do with the others. I guess we all just feel the same way. Anon 11:00 am, I feel the same way.
yes everyday and i dont think it should be against the law
yup. sure do.....unfortunately.
I did...but I won't starting tommorrow...it's a good law in my opinion.It really is dangerous to text while you are driving.
Now...if they will only pass a law that prohibits driving 30 in a 55 mph zone while talking on your cellphone...and tailgating at 70 in a 55 MPH zone while talking on your cellphone. I see both practices repeatedly everyday on Rt 50...It's maddening
yep, all the time... bad habbit! Actually, if you can multi task, it possible!
I do text and drive. I probably won't as much now. Do I think it's a distraction? Absolutely. I try not to do it when I'm around others. I have gone in the other lane before and that was a wake up call. I think this law is going to be hard to enforce. I think $500 fine is excessive. People are still going to text and drive.
I would like to see if we can get another law passed. No texting or talking on the phone if you are in a grocery store. Let me set the scene. It's Sat. afternoon and Walmart is packed. Kept getting trapped by this one lady ahead of me. She was pushed the cart with one hand and and her elbow cuz she couldn't get off the phone. OMG, it was so freaking rude. She kept causing problems in every aisle that she was in. A bunch of us finally told her to either get out of the way or hang up the phone. She hung up and walked off in a huff. Too bad. If you are in a grocery store pushing a cart, GET OFF THE PHONE!! It would actually take you half the time if you paid attention to what you were doing.
no can barely text when i am sitting in a room by myself
10:21
Albero, it is no more safe to text while driving just because you are a cop.
I have been to the top driving school there is and taking your eyes off the road to text is not safe.
For example : how far do you travel in i second at 60 miles per hour.
Ask a lawyer in court after he says , did you take your eyes off the road for one second and you answer yes.
I dont care if people do text, but as i said earlier, god bless you when you run under a 40 ton truck.
I have almost had serveral people run under my truck, is it really that much to risk your life or mine to send a text message saying , honey ill be late for dinner. Or maybe ill never be home again.
Would the bill have been passed if the fine money had to be donated to a charity instead of going into the State coffers,, I think not.. Been around a while and know my government. But it is stupid to take your eyes off the road while driving a motor vehicle..
Not taught at ESCJA. Unless Moses has a separate class lol.
I text while I drive, and have only been in two accidents. But no one was hurt, except the ditch and the telephone pole. I don't think it should be agianst the law an drinking and driving should be ok to! Come on people, it is a distraction, and driving a motor vehicle should be taken very serious. Pilots, fire fighters, Nasa and Cops do multi task in there job (to get the job done). Cops listen and answer a radio, listen and observe while driving, monitor a radar, respond to a computer and yes:drive upto and beyond a ten hour work day while both in stressful and non-stressfull conditions. I'm sure they will stop texting while driving when the law is in effect.
JOe,
It is not gonna be a law on 10-1. I am a cop and have thoroughly reviewed my tans article that just came out, can't find it anywhere. If you know so much, what is the ta article.
http://www.hometownannapolis.com/news/top/2009/09/27-22/Texting-while-driving-ban-begins-Thursday.html
Here is a news article that also states it goes into effect on 10-01-09 anon 6:28.... I dont go to the "local" news stations, they either get the story backwards or don't get it posted until after the fact!
I am guilty of texting while driving. I know this is hypocritical, but I think there should be a fine if you are caught texting and driving. It's really scary if you take notice of how many people are using their phones while driving. It's probably more than half. Unfortunately, I think it's going to be pretty hard to enforce that law. As far as texting while I am in Wal-Mart, yes I do that too. I make sure to keep to the side of the aisle so I'm not holding people up behind me and they still have room to go around me. Is it annoying? Probably to some but at least I'm not at risk for hurting anybody. If it takes me longer to shop, that's my business. Maybe I don't have a lot to do that day. It's no more annoying than people stopping to talk to others and blocking up the whole aisle and then not moving when they see you trying to get by. And I don't think I agree that because you are trained to multi task that makes it ok to text while driving or to type on a computer or whatever our officers do. Umm, I've had two children and have had about 15 years of training in multi-tasking!! LOL, so I don't think that should matter. Let's face it, cell phones are here to stay and you will have people talking and texting on them everywhere, they shouldn't be used while driving. If you don't care about causing an accident that's going to harm you or your loved ones riding with you, at least think of the innocent people driving all around you. People just don't think it will happen to them. Now.........I need to take my own advice!
like 2:40 pm, it's a challenge for me to text at all.
I personally know a few cops myself that text and drive, I'm pretty sure that it has nothing to do with their police work, unless 911 texts alerts instead of calling their radios. It doesn't make much sense to me that you can view the text message but you can't reply back. Isn't checking the text just as distracting? I'm not sure how the state of Maryland can tell me what I can and cannot do in my vehicle. If that's the case I'm just as distracted changed CD's, rolling down the window, or eating in my car. What's next, car's with no windows, radio's, or sunroof's?
If you can believe it I do not have one-I am always either at home or work,so I cannot justify the added expense of a cell phone.
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