Ray LaHood: Obama’s Power-Mad Cell Phone Czar
He’s got hang-ups.
My column today shines light on the autocratic agenda of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. Readers of Culture of Corruption already know all about this Chicago crony porker’s ties to Rahm Emanuel, Richard Daley, Rod Blagojevich, and Tony Rezko. For a trenchant look at LaHood’s penchant for government coercion and central planning, see chapter one of Terry Jeffrey’s Control Freaks.
Ray LaHood: Obama’s Power-Mad Cell Phone Czar
By Michelle Malkin
Creators Syndicate
Copyright 2010
America is in debt past its eyeballs. Unemployment remains stuck near double digits. Small and large businesses, unions and insurers are clamoring for Obamacare waivers in droves. Jihadists are making a mockery of homeland security. And border chaos reigns. So, what’s one of the Obama administration’s top domestic policy agenda items this month? Combating distracted drivers.
What? You missed the Million Anti-Distracted Drivers Protest March on Washington and the Great Grassroots Groundswell for federal intervention on our highways and byways? Don’t worry. You weren’t the only one.
Making the cable TV rounds to unveil a public service announcement campaign against “epidemic” cell phone use and texting on the road, Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood revealed bizarre and alarming plans on Wednesday to install devices in cars that would block a driver’s ability to communicate.
“There’s a lot of technology out there now that can disable phones, and we’re looking at that,” he threatened. LaHood — a liberal Republican and pork-addicted Chicago crony who embodies Obama “bipartisanship” — envisions centralized government mechanisms to shut off commuters’ BlackBerries and iPhones.
And that’s just the start. “We need to do a lot more if we’re going to save lives,” LaHood vowed, while paying obligatory lip service to encouraging “personal responsibility.” Will the cell phone banners ban radios, GPS devices, makeup and fast food in cars next? All are also listed as causes of distracted driver-induced accidents.
Any death due to such reckless behavior is tragic. But by “saving lives,” what cell phone czar LaHood really means is “controlling lives.” There are already 30 states with laws in place regulating drivers’ cell phone and/or texting habits. The District of Columbia and Guam also passed bans. The safety benefits of such laws are in dispute.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety examined insurance claims and driving habits in Louisiana, Washington, Minnesota and California, which all passed texting bans two years ago. Its study found that when compared to neighboring states that had not yet banned texting while driving (Arkansas, Texas and Mississippi), the no-texting states actually reported higher accident rates among young drivers — while the states with no bans maintained constant accident rates. Safety officials theorized that drivers in no-texting states may have adjusted their habits to hide their cell phone use from visual detection by police — incentivizing even riskier behavior.
LaHood and his fellow social meddlers have lashed out at the study and any other evidence that state enforcement of these bans is futile. But there’s a long history of government safety regulations backfiring on central planners. Back in the 1970s, the federal drive to require child safety-caps on aspirin bottles resulted in no reduction in child poisoning deaths. In fact, renowned risk analyst Kip Viscusi at Harvard Law School found that the regulations induced many parents to leave the caps off altogether because they were inconvenient and difficult to remove.
Moreover, the push for federal policing of our driving habits comes just as the federal government itself reports that the rate of teenage-related car accidents has fallen. Yes, fallen. Despite increased cell phone use, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows that when the years 2004 through 2008 were compared, there was a 38 percent reduction in the number of car accidents involving 16 and 17 year olds.
So what’s really driving LaHood? He’s pursued an anti-car ideological zeal from Day One — from entertaining proposals to impose mileage taxes on drivers and to track drivers’ routes, to redistributing tax dollars to pie-in-the-sky high-rail projects that no private business will touch, to peddling a “livability initiative” that would discourage suburban growth and corral residents in high-density areas dependent on public transportation.
Like the rest of Obama’s radicals, the Transportation Department’s self-appointed cell phone czar is a power-hungry busybody hiding behind children to expand government’s reach. If only federal agencies came equipped with anti-big government ignition breathalyzer locks.
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So, what does Mr. Lahood propose for people who need to use their cell phones in their cars in an emergency situation? Die faster?
Ring-a-ding-ding (and yes, the nekkid scans and crotch grabs at airports also figures into this).
Someone needs to discover a photo of LaHood or a family member driving while texting or talking on a cellphone. Shut him the he** up!
If liberals had their way there would be no cars at all, except for official (i.e government) use. The rest of use would be using trains or buses with massive security shakedowns each time you need to buy groceries. Of course if you don’t like the security you would have the option of using your bicycle, as long as you use your safety helmet.
Think of it, passengers cannot make a call, interference – and that’s what this is, is not localized so now we have a traveling interference source basically jamming every cell tower within range – that’s because cell towers are designed to process traffic at low receive levels. Where does Zippy dig up these idiots?
State matter. Let the states write laws about texting or cell phoning while driving, if that is what the people want, and let the local and state police write tickets for violation.
This is not a federal matter.
I do believe in banning cell phones while driving, but not any devices that would stop them from working. In an emergency you do need them to work.
In Memphis there are too many people who can’t drive without the distraction of a cell phone. I saw a guy the other day eating a burger, fries, drinking a soda, and talking on his phone.
Makes sense. If people can talk whenever they want they might exercise free speech – and God knows we can’t have that!
Huh?
Nah. Most states already have cell phone/texting while driving laws. Enforce them. Just make it mandatory to use only hands free voice activated phones – like here. I use my cell driving and never take my eyes off the road or hands off the wheel.
#10
Like Olympia Snowe. Either secret moles like Cohen was, see also Lincoln Chaffee, or old Rockefeller Republicans, country club cons, like Kay Barely Hutchison, who like low taxes but don’t mind the state running the lives of the unwashed masses.
It’s a pattern, Obama administration officials seem to be in love with totalitarianism.
West Virgina Senator Rockefeller displayed that exact same desire to establish a totalitarian stranglehold over the media a couple of days ago.
Ray LaHood is in da hood making us all safe and s#!t. Please come scare me in the thoroughfare.
just spitballing here…
I’m not sure I have a problem with devices built into cars that disable phone use. Plenty of auto safety features are already mandated…. like, uh, brakes for instance…
LaHood sent out a spokeswoman to walk it back. This is a constant game of whack-a-mole. I need a bigger bat.
Cell phone use is risky. Cell phones have also been used to to call in drunk drivers and follow them until an officer arrives.
Just one example.
Big Nanny solutions suck. Let the states write their own laws on using cell phones in cars, as the citizens wish, and let them write tickets to violators.
Let’s try this one, Dave.
Yeah, becuase without the federal government mandating it, there would be no way to stop cars.
Lahood, a Mike Castle, John McCain, Lesley Graham, John Cornyn Republican. You know, the kind that Karl Rove loves… “electable” Republicans that are “qualified”.
Is there any way we can get Congress to pass a law that stops the appointment of “Czars”??? … especially since they are not “vetted” by Congress and seemingly are ending up with Cabinet Secretary levels of authority … ALSO … anyone know where the “$$$$$” comes from in the budget to pay these people the 6-figure incomes they are getting? …
LaHood is proof positive that RINO’s are just as power mad and dangerous as commun.., er Democrats.
And statistics show no significant difference in deaths of children who are in child seats or simply strapped in with seat belts – yet the government has to tell you what to do.
Someone take this doofus to Sprint and get him a Bluetooth device. Moron.
To be fair to McCain, no Bluetooth Telegraph Key exists yet….
Yep this plan will piss off even more voters, as well as businesses. Think of all the companies that make hands free devices. Both my vehicles have hands free blue tooth built in. My Ford F-150 has the Microsoft SYNC system that allows me to not only make calls, but to control my MP3 player via voice control.
Of course this isn’t about distracted drivers, this is about getting people out of their cars. If they implement this how long do you think it will be till they advertise that busses and rail passengers will still be able to use their cell phones.
If he had his way, LaHood would have “Big Brother” cameras installed in all our vehicles to make sure we didn’t say anything at all while we drive.
Wait – I spoke too soon…
McCain: “– .. / .- — .. –. — …”
I think LaHood’s idea is just great. Let’s disable cell phone transmissions in cars, so that even if there is an emergency you cannot use your phone.
I can just picture the ten year old girl, who is abducted and thrown in a trunk struggling free, digging out her cell phone only to find her call is jammed by Senator LaHood. BRILLIANT!
I used to like John Cornyn.
Been inside the Beltway and away from Texas a bit too long, it seems.
Looking forward to primarying Kay Barely in 2012 and Cornyn in 2014. I wish Kay had kept her promise to give up her Senate seat when she ran for TXgov.
Cities are not “livable” to me. I grew up in the Texas panhandle and I need to see some sky. Too many people, not enough space.
It’s another step towards the Ruling Class exercising absolute control over a nation of Peons. Couldn’t happen in America, you say. It is happening. Look at the total disdain Nappytano has for you, the traveling American public. Actually look at OBambi & Moochelle when they speak “at you”. Look at the scorn on their faces, and in their voices. Biden,Hillary,Pelosi,Shumer,Reid,McLame,Rove, all of them “Ruling Class Elite” as they speak to the dirty masses.
Indeed distracted drivers are a problem to be dealt with by LOCAL & STATE authorities-and by us all. As taught by my drivers ed teacher: “keep your eyes on the road and not that cute little gal “(I was falsey accused-I swear).
But this cartoon character LaHood is making one more power grab in the long and ugly march towards statism. Public service announcement? We get them all the time without the help of Federal reichsfuhrers and commissars.
These are the people who prefer us to live in government housing, taking public transportation to work at government approved jobs and associating with government approved friends. The reichsfuhrers and commissars would be the shepples herders-for our own good of course. There was a time the Federal Highway Commission served a purpose but as with every other Fedzilla project it soon turned into a club to beat us into line.
Power and Control-it is always about Power and Control. And here we thought we won the Second World War. Federal reichsfuhrers to the Left, Far Left and far Far Left of us. Oh well we made Europe safe for Stalin didn’t we? And what did we get? George Soros.
===
Let your sidearm be like American Express:
Don’t Leave home without it.
Calling for an ambulance, calling in drunk drivers, abducted children … all great examples. Here’s a less dire one. Picture yourself in Times Square at rush hour. There are several hundred cars within eyesight, all with cell-phone jammers. Now how are you — a pedestrian — going to make a phone call? Does Secretary LaHood think the jamming signals won’t extend to the sidewalks? Does he think his department has the right to interfere with pedestrians, too?
The next time LaHood is in his limo someone should follow him in a van with a parabolic antenna and jam his cell phone.
We oughta all pull our cars up in front of his house at 3 am and lean on the horns together some night.
Might pi$$ off the neighbors, but it would get a point across …
RWR
http://www.rightwingrocker.com
I look forward to all of Obama’s moonbat minions sitting in a comfy seat across from Congressman Darrell Issa.
I long for some QE of some sub-prime easy riders too. Right out of their respective houses, in full frog march.
My foolish friend from downstate Illinois thought Obama was centrist and non-partisan because he appointed the Republican LaHood. Now he understands Chicago ways.
Get some aspiring art school Film majors to make “reality” youtubes.
Your trunk kidnapping, a road rage incident, maybe even some gangbangers forcing somebody off the road and having their jammers rewired to stay on to block the victim’s attempts to call for help (the criminals turn to the Camera and thank LaHood), tweak your Times Square scene to be some Times Square tourist trying to call an ambulance when their spouse is having a heart attack (they die).
This reminded me of the Mayor of Seattle. The guy claims he bikes to work and all. Recently, someone gave a video to one of the local talk radio hosts in Seattle (to bad the station went oldies from talk recently). The tape showed that the police give him a ride in an SUV until he is about 2 blocks away from the office. He then unloads the bike to bike the last couple of blocks.
You know this government is totally out of control… Question, when are the people going to say enough is enough??? Probably never… The root cause??? How about 47% of taxpayers (???) pay no income tax!!! An old uncle’s favorite saying was, “if you got no dog in the fight, what do you care who wins… My opinion, there should be no such thing as “NO TAXES” for anybody… This is all our COUNTRY, and we all should have a stake in it, PERIOD!!!
Stupid libs and their unintended(?) consequences…
I’ve been followed before. Twice.
Not, “I think that car is following me,” but actual followed.
I’m not talking about followed by a cop, either.
Fortunately, everything turned out fine, but I’m glad I had access to a cell phone, even if I didn’t actually need it.
The OnStar safety communications system offered by Government Motors is basically a cell phone built into the car. It piggybacks on existing cell networks. How’s that going to work?
Wireless carriers pay billions of dollars to the FCC for their spectrum licenses, and their networks are designed around highways because that’s where the people are. Will they be refunded for lost revenue due to intentional government jamming of the frequencies the government sold to the cell companies? Sell someone something, and then jam it? Nice.
We will save more lives by requiring that helmets and fireproof racing suits be worn by all drivers and passengers.
Wanna save even more lives? Ban horseless carriages altogether.
It’s for the children!
This should be an issue for the states, not a federal issue. That said, penalties for texting/talking on handsets while driving need to be much tougher, in light of recent studies showing the risk of driving while engaged in such activities is actually higher than for someone with .08 blood alcohol.
Installing devices in cars preventing all cellular communications is obviously not the answer. There’s no reason a passenger shouldn’t be able to talk on a cell, for instance. But rampant cell-phone use by drivers is a serious problem.
Errah, Fast Forward to 2012
“Yes Dear, I’ll pick up a gallon of skim milk on my way home in my GM Smart car if my government appoved TSA driver will allow it. We’ve almost reached our trans fat quota for the year so I may need to pick up some tofu and a stick of celery for Thanksgiving dinner with you and the kids!”
What is worse is we already have laws on the book for reckless driving. If someone is so distracted by cell phone, food, make-up, kids in the back seat, or even conversation that they cause an accident then tehy can be given a citation for reckless driving as well as be liable for all the damages.
Laws to make the leftists feel good that they’ve done something about the problem, but otherwise either unenforced or unenforcable, or enforced after the fact, i.e. after a crash caused by someone distracted by using a cell phone.
How will people know if they’re holding their Iphone 4Gs wrong?
You forgot your sarc tag. You were joking…right??
Ding, ding, ding. The winner! Best answer to a very “stupid” comment.
I know what you mean…I just don’t know what I would do if the Feds had not madated that sterring wheels be installed…../sarc
On November 19th, 2010 at 3:41 pm, happyscrapper said:
Ding, ding, ding. The winner! Best answer to a very “stupid” comment.
You put quotes around “stupid” because you were just joking right? Because I would hate to think you were such a jackass that when a guy actually SAYS HE’S “JUST SPITBALLING” you don’t need to be an insulting SOB…
Yes, that comment was a perfect example of someone who thinks we need the Federal Government to remind us to breathe. And that no one would think to put brakes or steering wheels on cars unless told to do so by Big Brother. Geez!! What we need is for Big Brother to leave us the he## alone, and get back to the reason for their existance…defending us from enemies, foreign and domestic. Oh, wait. They ARE the domestic enemies!
Did I already mention that the real problem today is far too many dimwit citizens, ready to find a reason to “go along” with the government’s latest mandate, vote for the same clowns over and over, and never have a clear thought in their heads?
Sorry for calling you a name. But if you were serious, I really thought it was a stupid comment. I apologize if you were joking. I guess I don’t know what “spitballing” is. Never heard that before. Is that the same as “sarcasm”? I mean, you don’t really believe that we needed government to mandate brakes on cars, do you?
I am sorry for the insult. I don’t usually do that. But it just struck me as a strange comment.
Hey guys. Max here. He does NOT like big government. He is NOT a liberal. He cannot stand Jug Ears and his Bitter Half, ok?
I DON’T EVEN BELIEVE IN SEAT BELT LAWS for effin sakes, alright?
You have to get you car checked to pass inspection for brakes, etc. Max thinks that’s probably a pretty good thing, otherwise there would be lots of dangeroius cars on the road. Driving is a privilege, after all, not a right. As I said, I was just “spitballing” to see if folks around here thought the cellphone thing was in the same class …
You forgot Megan McCain – the future of the Party! Phil, you’re tending OCD on the RINO meme. Thread’s about cell phones I think.
Max…you want to know if we think brakes inspections and cutting access to our cell phones in our cars are in the same class. My answer…NO, just the opposite. Brakes inspections can save lives. Taking the ability to call for help from our cars can cost lives. Not the same thing at all. We already have plenty of laws about cell phone usage in cars. Let’s enforce them on the state level. But taking away the ability to use our cells in our own cars is dangerous, and certainly MUST be unconstitutional in some way! We need to go back to more state’s rights and less federal power! DC is WAY too big and they have all been corrupted by power.
And Max, again, I do apologize. I guess I spoke “stupidly”. Want a beer?
On November 19th, 2010 at 4:08 pm, happyscrapper said:
No problem, thanks Scrapper…
I can actually say that I agree with your reasoning….. “Spitballing” meant I was just wondering…and hadn’t thought it through past the point of how it is dangerous for these idiots to be driving around constantly talking on their phones…
mmmmmm beer does sound good, It is approaching Happy Hour too!
Max out.
Max,
I agree that some of these drivers talking on cell phones are so distracted that they are a menace, but that does not mean that all drivers who use cell phones are (I am sure you would agree with that, just pointing it out).
This sounds to me like a mass punishment. LaHood wants all drivers to pay for the idiots who are more interested in their phone conversation than they are the road. This would be like saying because some people are caught for DUI’s we should all have to have breathalizer locks installed in our cars.
Excellent point!
This would be like saying because some people are caught for DUI’s we should all have to have breathalizer locks installed in our cars.
Tru dat TruSoldier…
I totally agree …
Well played Michelle. That describes most liberals in fact.
Yup, Scrapper, I’m for heavy fines & jail time (for repeat offenders) imposed by the states for those who are playing with their cellphone, laptop, IPad, Ipod, etc while their vehicle is in motion.
But what the Cell Phone Czar wants could also outlaw things like OnStar. As you said, you don’t wanna have a disabled cellphone when there is an emergency. The ability to call 911 is one of the few pluses of the cellphone era!
The hand-wringing over cell phone usage is absurd. I keep seeing these “studies” cited that people are “8 times more likely” to have an accident while using their cell phone.
Omitted from these studies? How likely are people to have a cellphone than not? Clue: we GIVE free cellphones to the homeless now. It’s that fundamental inability to comprehend the distinction between correlation and causation.
By their logic, everyone should drive naked, since 99.99999% of accidents involve people wearing clothes. Don’t get me started on people driving with rubber tires!
Also, read the fine print… that 8x number comes from ASSUMING a significant number of cell phone owners were LYING about not using their phones. That’s right, the study’s authors MADE THAT NUMBER UP.
Here’s some numbers that weren’t fudged:
Since the hands free law was passed in CA, supposedly making us 8 times safer, the number of traffic accidents HAS NOT CHANGED. A phone is no more or less distracting than talking to a passenger or adjusting your radio.
Drive distracted, get a ticket. That law has always been on the books. Leave it to the discretion of law enforcement to cite people who end up actually violating traffic laws. This notion that we can pre-ban everything that MIGHT be misused to lead to a future crime is offensive.
Don’t kid yourself, you’re being sold the same logical fallacy used to ban guns.
Why not address the real problem and ban progressives? That’s the root of just about any problem we’ve got, no?
Amen!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Liberals remind me of overactive Kindergarten teachers. 5 students in a class of 30 will be acting up, so they punish EVERYBODY!
Curious as to how this dipsh*t will eliminate or tax a driver talking to his passengers. This guy needs a psych evaluation and summary removal from his job.
It seems the objective of Democrats and “progressives” is to cause as much social and economic turmoil as possible. Homeland Security needs to focus on targeting Democrat appointees and cabinet members.
having used several models of GPS extensively for the past few years, I can tell you that they are a LOT less distracting than using paper maps… especially when trying to figure out which exit is yours.
Bit by bit, Americans are losing the freedom to learn from their mistakes.
Oh, YEAH? People won’t learn ANYTHING when they’re DEAD!!! Neither will their VICTIMS!!11!!11
Ahem, pardon me. The other half of my schizoid self demanded to be heard.
In dumbing us down with an exploding list of regulations, Big Government politicians stagnate the evolution of our people. Survival of the fittest is now survival of the safest. The concept of personal responsibility will be unnecessary if our lives are dictated to us. What a dull, gray bunch of automatons we will be if we let rules–and rulers–keep us from being flawed individuals who strive to better ourselves through our own efforts. Perfection should be a pursuit, not a prescription.
That would be me. With two big differences. I would sit in a parking lot to do that, and I would never eat while talking on the phone. I hate people who do that!
I am opposed to anything and everything this liberal, know-it-all, ruling class, bunch of clowns mandate that we the peon masses must submit to for any reason they manage to sell the moronic amoung us. STOP looking for a reason to submit! They are not doing any of these things in your best interest.
I just posted this on another thread, but it is appropriate here too…
Government mandates will NEVER work, especially in AMERICA. We are too independent for that crap. And stubborn. If you tell us we MUST do something, we will rebel. i.e. prohibition. i.e. the obamacare mess. i.e. the Tea Party. i.e. The American Revolultion!!! DON’T TREAD ON ME!
Something — anything — must be done in this issue. I should not have to be on I-496 or I-95 and repeatedly see one hand driving while the other is punching out phone numbers. This is equivalent to drunk driving to me in terms of concentration on the road. I hope it doesn’t take some texting clown to ice a schoolbus before we put these “rights” arguments in perspective because one day that crippled/smashed child in that bus won’t just be “someone else’s kid.”
James Greenidge
Queens NY
I agree that something should be done. Just not THIS something. It is dangerous to take away the ability to use your cell phone in your car. Lives have been saved by cell phones in cars. The key is to ENFORCE the laws we have. That is not done nearly enough. If there is a law against cell phone usage while driving, then it should be enforced and there should be real consequences, not just a little fine.
People, the issue is WHO tells us “we-the-people” must submit. If some unknown government Czar can ORDER you to do anything or not do something, we are in trouble. STOP looking for justification to submit to the Ruling Class. We have laws passed by public officials that we can boot out of office if and when we disagree. Mandates from Czars are not acceptable to free citizens.
If so, should ignition interlock systems be installed in every car? What other decisions do we leave for Big Brother Knows Best?
I don’t want to sound like I’m picking on you, JG. I hate seeing inattentive cell phone yakkers operating heavy machinery, too. It’s just that you say that “something–anything–must be done.”
We don’t have an epidemic of truckers crashing their semis because they’re using CBs. A good amount of everyday drivers don’t cause problems with their cell phone usage, either. I don’t want to be penalized because some morons have their portable devices grafted to their heads and fingertips at all times. Law enforcement should go after those people and leave responsible drivers alone.
The answer to nonsense like this is really simple, but one that will of course have the “cop hater” crew screaming about their “rights.” The answer is POLICE ENFORCEMENT OF EXISTING LAWS. Simple, really. Most jurisdictions currently have laws concerning “Driver inattention” (driving distracted – like dogs on laps, eating, reading maps/papers, etc). For more serious violations, “Reckless Driving” is a traffic misdemeanor” (meaning you are arrested – not ticketed). But the key – ahh the key … most jurisdictions have also prohibited police from making stops for driver inattention unless they observe ANOTHER infraction FIRST – then they may add the inattention (cellphone, etc) charge as another ticket.
PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY! Get a speeding ticket for 20 over the limit and most insurance companies will either cancel you outright or nail you with a premium rate – no matter what the court does with you. The answer? First use of cellphone while driving – mandatory $500 surcharge on your insurance and 3 points on your license. Second time? License suspended for 3 months and your insurance is cancelled – you go to “assigned risk pool.” Pay up, nitwit.
They elites could solve the problem of controlling the stupid masses by implanting exploding chips in each of us and exploding them when we screw up. No need for all those nasty mandates.
Some limitations are not a big deal. My sister’s dog was killed because a jerky teenager was sending out IMs while driving on a suburban street and she drove on my sister’s lawn and killed the poor little dog. It made me sick. I think there should be a penalty for driving while sending out IM or text messages. Yet the teenage punk who ran over my sister’s dog could not really be prosecuted for much of anything. She was charged only with failure to drive in the proper land. She paid a $60.00 fine and had no loss of license. She was allowed to plead no contest so nothing could be used in a civil case. And to make matters worse, an obnoxious court clerk told the teenage punk to pay $50.00 in restitution to my sister for the loss of the dog. The moron at the courthouse said that was the monetary value of an eight year old beagle. My sister refused to accept this blood money and, get this, the money was instead sent to a fund to buy stuff for recovering addicts! Had there been a law on the books in my state about driving and not texting, maybe the punk could have been punished more severely. Instead she just laughed the whole thing off. My sister went to the court for the no contest plea and she said the teenage punk was yukking it up with friends and playing video games.
WE do NOT need Federal intervention on every issue!
I once saw a woman putting on nail polish with one hand on the wheel and the other hand polishing, all while driving in the fast lane on the interstate in the snow.
Can we ban that?
I have a headache from all the stupidity. I need another vacation in Rome.
Sounds like bad law or, more likely, a bad prosecutor. From the way you’ve described it, that was grossly obvious reckless driving. If it had been a four year old kid instead of an 8 year old beagle, she still would have hit it.
This goes back to the general societal rot that comes from our failure to demand enforcement of what prosecutors regard as unimportant laws. Rudy Giuliani did a great job of proving the principle in New York when he cleaned up the city primarily just by enforcing the ‘little’ laws, stopping cold the gateway lawbreaking that encourages successful young lawbreakers to go on to bigger crimes, becoming incorrigible criminals.