On 13 Jan 2005 14:01:01 -0800, jim rozen wrote:
In article , Dave Hinz says...

Great. If my boss required me to do something illegal, it'd be a
problem then, wouldn't it. Plenty of stupid laws on the books Jim,
wouldn't you agree? Doesn't mean there's logic behind them.

You don't get it. I *don't* think it's a stupid law.

I _do_ get it, and I disagree with you, Jim.

What I think is stupid is this: folks driving around
and talking on the phone, endangering other road users.
Does your personal use do that?

Yes to the first, no to the second.

I can't say one way or
the other, and for the purposes of usenet I'm perfectly
willing to admit that you are one of the concientious
ones who takes great pains to not become distracted
and cause accidents.

I'd like to think so, and historical evidence (lack of
problems) seems to support that theory.

However that does put you in a one-percenter catagory,
because all the other folks who I see weaving around
on the road and being total jerks invariably have a
phone glued to their ear.

But again, are you noticing _me_ when you're driving next
to me, and I'm on the phone? I give you no reason to
notice me, so you don't see me. What is the number of folks
you notice vs. don't notice?

So I think the law is a
great idea. I just wish they'd start enforcing the darn
thing.

I'd prefer punishing actions rather than possessions.
Drive unsafely, for whichever reason, get a ticket. Doesn't
matter if it's because they're a bad driver on the phone, or
a bad driver changing CDs, or a bad driver dropping a cigarette
into their lap, or a bad driver just being a bad driver, the
end effect is the same. Likewise, if you can change a CD
or talk on the phone and not be a problem, why should you be
punished for the bad drivers?

This is dangerously close to the eternal gun-control argument.

I think that cell phone use has actually reduced the number
of cases of DWI because most drunks cannot manage to talk
on their phone and start their car at the same time. And
if they do they usually crash in the parking lot before
they make it to a public street.

I think your opinions are based on something other than logic
and facts.