First Text-Driver Gets Busted « Columbus Underground Messageboard

Columbus Underground Messageboard » General Columbus Discussion

First Text-Driver Gets Busted

[80 posts] [38 contributors]

Topic Rating:

(Total Ratings: )
Rate this topic:

Started 2 years ago by Walker
Latest reply from dirtgirl

Tags:

12…4 Next »

Walker
The KLD / Downtown
Login to Send PM

The new law went into effect on May 5th (More Here: "Texting While Driving Now Illegal in Columbus")

10tv is reporting about one of the first people to get busted:

City Makes Good On Promise To Stop Texting While Driving
Monday, May 17, 2010

Erin Heiny, a University of Cincinnati student, said she did not know that was illegal to text while drive until May 5.

"I wasn't texting," Heiny said. "I was reading directions on my phone that happened to be on my phone in the form of a text."

As she found out, the new law applies to more than just sending text messages. Drivers can get ticketed for reading a message, e-mailing, looking up directions or using Internet-based programs such as Facebook or Twitter.

READ MORE: http://www.10tv.com/live/content/local/stories/2010/05/17/story-columbus-texting-ban-ticket.html?sid=102

Posted 2 years ago #
cc

Login to Send PM

Ummm...maybe this would be a too strict interpretation, but wouldn't looking at a gps also fit into this category?

Posted 2 years ago #
gramarye
In Exile
Login to Send PM

You probably shouldn't be actually typing on your GPS while driving. "Looking up directions," assuming that's really the dividing line, might mean actually punching text into your GPS while driving, not reading directions that you already had active before you got moving.

Posted 2 years ago #
StowCbusCleveland
Jackson Township, Canton, OH
Login to Send PM

If you assume the facts are that you are reading directions that are already displayed on the screen, that sounds an awful lot like making GPS illegal.

Posted 2 years ago #
10sun
Columbus, OH
Login to Send PM

It says something to the effect of "playing content" is also prohibited.

Which I think would include GPS software that even just says the directions & internet based radio.

Posted 2 years ago #
JonMyers
HCMC ✈
Login to Send PM

I'm not buying it.

So, if you don't know where you're going or where you're at then take your eyes off the road and look at GPS to figure it out while your driving? I'm glad this idiot got a ticket and I hope more people get tickets who pull that kind of stunt.

If you don't know where you're going, pull over and figure it out.

Posted 2 years ago #
misskitty
Columbus
Login to Send PM

Man it would suck to be the first person in the news to get this ticket. DonÃ¢â‚¬â„¢t fiddle with phones and drive that is a 130 dollar lesson I guess.

Posted 2 years ago #
mrsgeedeck
Castle of Lions
Login to Send PM

I'd wondered about that when the law first came out. I've used three travel methods alone in the car, printed directions, sending google directions to my phone, and my GPS, and honestly, me searching for and reading directions on paper is a lot worse (for me) than listening to and glancing at my GPS. Also, is this does mean they can start pulling people using a GPS over, what happens for drivers with GPS as a standard feature?

Posted 2 years ago #
mrsgeedeck
Castle of Lions
Login to Send PM

JonMyers wrote >>
I'm not buying it.
So, if you don't know where you're going or where you're at then take your eyes off the road and look at GPS to figure it out while your driving? I'm glad this idiot got a ticket and I hope more people get tickets who pull that kind of stunt.
If you don't know where you're going, pull over and figure it out.

Most actual GPS systems are dashboard or window mounted. Mine verbally gives directions, but at the same time sometimes listening to guy tell me to "keep right" on a 6 lane interchange can be confusing, so glancing at the location arrow on the map helps.

Posted 2 years ago #
Trixie

Login to Send PM

JonMyers wrote >>
I'm not buying it.
So, if you don't know where you're going or where you're at then take your eyes off the road and look at GPS to figure it out while your driving? I'm glad this idiot got a ticket and I hope more people get tickets who pull that kind of stunt.
If you don't know where you're going, pull over and figure it out.

Exactly! Remember the good old days when we didn't have cell phones or GPS devices and we used maps? I do. You sure as hell didn't read your freakin' map while you were driving.

Posted 2 years ago #
sixby9is42

Login to Send PM

mrsgeedeck wrote >>
I'd wondered about that when the law first came out. I've used three travel methods alone in the car, printed directions, sending google directions to my phone, and my GPS, and honestly, me searching for and reading directions on paper is a lot worse (for me) than listening to and glancing at my GPS. Also, is this does mean they can start pulling people using a GPS over, what happens for drivers with GPS as a standard feature?

Looks like the best bet is to punch in the address before you take off, and only listen to the directions. Considering that it sometimes can take a while for the GPS unit to connect to the satellites, that could be a pain.

But the thing is, the driver that got caught was using a cell phone for directions. I'm not 100% sure that use of GPS units during driving is outlawed, but I guess you could read it that way.

Here's the exact text of the law:

2131.44 Sending, reading or writing a text message or accessing the internet while driving.
(a) As used in this section:
(1) "Text message" means a message sent, stored or received via a mobile communication device. For purposes of this
section, an e-mail message shall be considered a text message.
(2) "Mobile communication device" means any portable electronic device capable of transmitting or receiving data in the
form of a text message or capable of accessing the internet, including but not limited to a wireless telephone, a
text-messaging device, a personal digital assistant, or a personal computer.
(b) No person shall operate a motor vehicle while using a mobile communication device to:
(1) Compose, send or read a text message; or
(2) Send, read, create, play or interact with internet- based content.
(c) Notwithstanding the provisions of division (b), this section shall not be construed to prohibit the use of a mobile
communication device inside a motor vehicle by:
(1) a driver using a mobile communication device to report a health or safety emergency; or
(2) a driver using a mobile communication device while the motor vehicle is parked, standing or stopped and is removed
from the flow of traffic, in accordance with applicable laws or rules, or is stopped due to the inoperability of such vehicle;
or
(3) a driver using a mobile communication device in the course of the driver's duties while operating an emergency or
public safety vehicle.
(d) Whoever violates this section is guilty of a minor misdemeanor.

http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2010/04/06/drivers-texting-text.html

Posted 2 years ago #
CaD
Dublin'ish
Login to Send PM

So I can read directions off paper while I drive, but I cant read them off my phone?

Posted 2 years ago #
Matt Shields

Login to Send PM

Law looks pretty open-ended. I am sure there will be some pretty loose interpretation by law enforcement and the courts will eventually set the precedent for intent vs. letter of the law.

I am a pretty avid user of internet radio. I normally plug my phone in, pick my station, and start driving. Guess this could put me in the cross-hairs, though I don't fiddle with it. I actually find that I spend less time changing internet radio then flipping radio stations.

Personally, I think GPS and satellite radio will not be enforceable because they do not access the internet, at least to my understanding of the devices.

Posted 2 years ago #
kit444
Elsewhere
Login to Send PM

sixby9is42 wrote >>

mrsgeedeck wrote >>
I'd wondered about that when the law first came out. I've used three travel methods alone in the car, printed directions, sending google directions to my phone, and my GPS, and honestly, me searching for and reading directions on paper is a lot worse (for me) than listening to and glancing at my GPS. Also, is this does mean they can start pulling people using a GPS over, what happens for drivers with GPS as a standard feature?

Looks like the best bet is to punch in the address before you take off, and only listen to the directions. Considering that it sometimes can take a while for the GPS unit to connect to the satellites, that could be a pain.
But the thing is, the driver that got caught was using a cell phone for directions. I'm not 100% sure that use of GPS units during driving is outlawed, but I guess you could read it that way.
Here's the exact text of the law:

2131.44 Sending, reading or writing a text message or accessing the internet while driving.
(a) As used in this section:
(1) "Text message" means a message sent, stored or received via a mobile communication device. For purposes of this
section, an e-mail message shall be considered a text message.
(2) "Mobile communication device" means any portable electronic device capable of transmitting or receiving data in the
form of a text message or capable of accessing the internet, including but not limited to a wireless telephone, a
text-messaging device, a personal digital assistant, or a personal computer.
(b) No person shall operate a motor vehicle while using a mobile communication device to:
(1) Compose, send or read a text message; or
(2) Send, read, create, play or interact with internet- based content.
(c) Notwithstanding the provisions of division (b), this section shall not be construed to prohibit the use of a mobile
communication device inside a motor vehicle by:
(1) a driver using a mobile communication device to report a health or safety emergency; or
(2) a driver using a mobile communication device while the motor vehicle is parked, standing or stopped and is removed
from the flow of traffic, in accordance with applicable laws or rules, or is stopped due to the inoperability of such vehicle;
or
(3) a driver using a mobile communication device in the course of the driver's duties while operating an emergency or
public safety vehicle.
(d) Whoever violates this section is guilty of a minor misdemeanor.

http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2010/04/06/drivers-texting-text.html

As the statute is structured, I would say that most stand-alone GPS units wouldn't fall under it because they're not "capable of accessing the internet". The maps are preloaded and the signal is transmitted via satellites. As for Google Maps on a GPS-enabled phone, it's murkier. I believe the maps are downloaded via an Internet link so technically you would be interacting with Internet-based content. And of course the phone qualifies as a "mobile communication device".

As an aside, it bugs me to see the Internet not capitalized. I still consider it a proper noun.

ETA: I whined about not capitalizing the Internet and then realized I did it myself.

Posted 2 years ago #
cc

Login to Send PM

I don't have a gps, but I am playing the devils advocate here.

As more cars have gps as standard equipment this may give police a generic reason to pull a car over - ie 'it appeared they were reading a gps.'

The lack of internet is a good point, but it does fit the spirit of the law as being a visual distraction.

Personally, I think they should ban talking on cell phones too.

Posted 2 years ago #
DCist
UA
Login to Send PM

Texting and/or talking while driving is dangerous, I agree. But is it any more dangerous than screwing with your radio/ipod/gps? I use my blackberry google maps app for directions most of the time, especially when Im lost! But Ill wait until a light, or pull over, plug it in and then use it like a GPS. I dont want to spend another $100 on a stand alone GPS unit when I spent enough on my smart phone, so why should I get punished? Also, it makes me nervous that Im going to get pull over for just changing the song on my ipod! Vague laws = suck.

Posted 2 years ago #
Roland
Clintonville
Login to Send PM

Wonder how this would apply to internet connected cars? Many car manufacturers are heading in this direction or already there overseas.

Live weather, traffic, GPS download, and internet radio are all features that aren't exactly outlandish or far off.

Cars with Microsoft Sync handle text messaging today!

Posted 2 years ago #
JonMyers
HCMC ✈
Login to Send PM

DCist wrote >>
Texting and/or talking while driving is dangerous, I agree. But is it any more dangerous than screwing with your radio/ipod/gps? I use my blackberry google maps app for directions most of the time, especially when Im lost! But Ill wait until a light, or pull over, plug it in and then use it like a GPS. I dont want to spend another $100 on a stand alone GPS unit when I spent enough on my smart phone, so why should I get punished? Also, it makes me nervous that Im going to get pull over for just changing the song on my ipod! Vague laws = suck.

Would you want your kids or the kids in your family crossing the road in front of a driver who doesn't know where they're going, who is "just glancing" at their GPS" who you hope sees the stop sign?

Posted 2 years ago #
honavery
Arizona
Login to Send PM

What if my phone rings and I look down at the screen quickly to see who is calling? Will I be pulled over? I have an iPhone, I have to look at the screen just to swipe to answer the call anyways.

Posted 2 years ago #
cc

Login to Send PM

honavery wrote >>
What if my phone rings and I look down at the screen quickly to see who is calling? Will I be pulled over? I have an iPhone, I have to look at the screen just to swipe to answer the call anyways.

You would be breaking the letter of the law.

Posted 2 years ago #