DISQUS

Nashvillest: Bright & Early: To Rezone Or Not To Rezone Edition

  • David Cintron · 10 months ago
    I don't usually send text messages while I'm driving, but if they pass that bill I sure will be. Suck it TN.
  • Paul Nicholson · 10 months ago
    I find it odd that the bill will make it illegal to READ text messages too. I'd like to actually read the bill. Does it make it illegal to read any content on my phone while driving (email? web?) or just SMS text messages. By further extension: does it make it illegal to also read anything else (newspaper, books, mail, etc). I've seen many people reading other things in traffic (though fewer newspapers these days...)

    Not that i think it's a good idea to do any of those things. Just curious what the bill specifies.
  • morganlevy · 10 months ago
    I had the same questions... would love to read the bill.
  • Josh · 10 months ago
    http://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/billinfo/BillSu...

    There's the summary. Doesn't look like they're going after anything other than SMS messages as far as I can tell.

    "AMENDMENT #1 clarifies that this offense only applies to a person driving a motor vehicle that is in motion at the time a written message from a mobile telephone or hand held personal digital assistant (PDA) is transmitted or read by the person."
  • Paul Nicholson · 10 months ago
    So if i'm reading an email or text message, it's illegal. If i'm reading a webpage, magazine, or the newspaper: it isn't. Brilliant.

    In other words: as typically idiotic as most civic legislation.
  • Paul Nicholson · 10 months ago
    Also glad to know i can at least still text at stoplights. I can always rely on the person behind me to honk when the light turns green. :-)

    (I honestly do think that should still be allowed)
  • Christy Frink · 10 months ago
    Yeah, it's pretty lame. Opponents have also pointed out that it's already covered under another bill. From NJ.com:

    "Opponents argue that law enforcement may not be able to tell whether drivers are texting or dialing and that texting is already covered under the state's distracted driving law.

    'It's redundant,' said Democratic Senate Minority Leader Jim Kyle of Memphis, who voted against the proposal. 'It's already against the law.'

    As for enforcing the measure, Tracy said he's talked to law enforcement officials who say they're able to determine that someone is texting because of the lengthy amount of time a person spends looking down in his or her vehicle while driving, Tracy said.'
  • morganlevy · 10 months ago
    And that judgment call clearly eliminates the possibility that they are doing some other stupid thing on their phone, like playing tetris or scrolling through their contact book or checking their schedule! Or beyond phones, scrolling through an iPod!

    I actually know several people who have totaled their cars because they were texting and driving. The world would probably be safer if we didn't text while we were driving (or have any other distractions). But I really don't see how it's legitimately possible to enforce this.