After an adjustment to state law that took effect Monday, it is now illegal to use a mobile device while stopped in traffic, YNN reports. Earlier: The modern world: rest stops are "text stops"
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Comments
So, I understand that while you are stopped you are still in command of a 3-6000 pound death missile (Car, or SUV) but... umm... Well, I guess I have to just accept that my definition of "stopped" may vary from other peoples. Especially since I drive stick. =^.^=
... said Andy on Oct 29, 2013 at 1:47 PM | link
That is absolutely ridiculous. Stupid laws like that cause people to lose respect for the law.
... said Chris K on Oct 29, 2013 at 2:14 PM | link
Yeaaah, this is kind of ridiculous. There are lights on major intersections that have like four minute cycles. If I'm not first at the intersection, I'm prooobably going to be using that time as an (illegal) text stop. Who am I endangering in that situation?
... said Paul on Oct 29, 2013 at 4:21 PM | link
Chris K, I guess you are one of the people that often look stupid holding up a line of cars while you are looking at your phone.
... said Lauren on Oct 29, 2013 at 4:22 PM | link
What ever did we do in our cars before the invention & proliferation of the smartphone? We were such godless heathens back then. Savages! One can only imagine what life must have been like in those dark ages.
... said ethan on Oct 29, 2013 at 4:43 PM | link
the amendment to the section fails to mention what will happen if you are holding the personal electronic device in an "inconspicuous" manner.
... said colleen on Oct 30, 2013 at 8:42 AM | link
Yeah....this is a pretty transparent cash grab on the part of the state to start collecting new fines. The safety issues that make driving while texting a problem are almost nonexistent at a red light. Pointless.
... said J on Oct 30, 2013 at 3:49 PM | link
At face value, this law does seem to be a power grab, but I think it is very applicable to those car at the front of the line at an intersection. As a pedestrian who commutes by foot (and bikes occassionally), I have seen countless drivers texting at a red light, getting honked at as they hold up traffic when the light switches green (in itself a reason to ban texting while idling at a light, because you're holding up traffic) only to embarassingly react and start to speed forward without having barrierings on what is transpiring in the intersection. I have had to dodge several cars in this scenario, as the enter the intersection after lifting their heads from a mobile phone haze, driving into folks like me exercising my right of way to cross the street.
Additionally, I've been guilty of texting at a light, not aware that an ambulance needed cars to push to the side, causing them to lay on their horn at me to get me to move because I was stuck in my phone not paying attention. That was my teaching moment not to ever do it and to exercise some patience by waiting until I've parked the car.
At the end of the day, if you don't like waiting at the light passing the time away in your commute, don't drive; walk or take the bus, where you can use your phone more freely.
... said Rich on Oct 31, 2013 at 9:13 AM | link
While this doesn't necessarily relate to being ticketed while idling, it goes to show you that you need to be off your phone while driving, period!! There are too many moving factors involved with driving, whether in motion or idling that it shouldn't be mixed with your cell phone. If that is too much to handle, don't drive :)
http://alloveralbany.com/archive/2013/10/30/if-you-dont-see-50-cows-in-the
... said Bill on Oct 31, 2013 at 9:17 AM | link
Why stop an mobile phones? We need to fight all distractions! Let's ban switching radio stations, opening drink cans, talking to passengers, whatnot.
This will conveniently fill local budgets with ticket money too.
... said Lu on Oct 31, 2013 at 1:32 PM | link