Lawmaker wants to penalize eating, faxing while driving

North Texans are driving extra carefully this morning but one state lawmaker wants to keep that practice going even when the roads aren't slipperier than [insert name of crooked politician here].

State Rep. "Chente" Quintanilla of El Paso has filed a bill that targets inattentive driving. It goes way farther than other bills filed that would restrict or outlaw cell phone use while behind the wheel.

Quintanilla wants to make it an offense for a driver to make drivers caught breaking a rule of the road pay a bigger fine if they broke the law while doing any of the following:
               (1)  reading;
                   (2)  writing;
                   (3)  performing personal grooming;
                   (4)  consuming food or a beverage;
                   (5)  interacting with a pet;
                   (6)  interacting with a vehicle passenger;
                   (7)  using a personal communications device; or
                   (8)  engaging in another activity that prevents the operator from safely operating the motor vehicle.
             (b)  For the purposes of this section:
                   (1)  "Personal grooming" includes:
                         (A)  applying makeup;
                         (B)  shaving;
                         (C)  combing hair; or
                         (D)  attending to another personal hygiene or appearance task.
                   (2)  "Personal communications device" includes:
                         (A)  a radio;
                         (B)  a personal stereo;
                         (C)  a compact disc player;
                         (D)  an audio or video device;
                         (E)  a personal computer;
                         (F)  a two-way radio, including a citizen's band radio;
                         (G)  a pager;
                         (H)  a telephone;
                         (I)  a wireless messaging device;
                         (J)  a facsimile machine;
                         (K)  a radar detector;
                         (L)  a personal digital assistant;
                         (M)  a geographic positioning system receiver; or
                         (N)  a similar device.

For all of you Texans operating a fax machine while driving, whether this bill goes anywhere or not, just knock it off.

-Aman Batheja

Comments

[Luggo]

Ah the nanny state in full force

[Chris Murray]

This is the most ridiculuous thing I have read recently. According to this bill, it's a violation to "interact with a vehicle passenger", which would make for some boring rides, not to mention getting lost because the 'vehicle passenger' knows the directions. Additionally, I don't think a whole lot of accidents are caused by switching the station on the radio. Simply put, people just need to use common sense when driving.

[Amerloc]

The way I read it, guys wouldn't be able to pick their noses at stoplights any longer.

I'm with Chris: it's overkill.

[Jr.]

Another example of government trying to control the lives of us feeble minded children. Seriously did this idiot put any thought into this bill? Several identical bills have already failed. This bill doubles the minimum fine for doing one of these acts while committing another driving violation. This guy must not be doing his job, he has too much time on his hands to be coming up with crap like this.

[Lizabeth]

What a total nutcase. So, to read this, you can't talk to your fellow passengers (can you tell your kids to be quiet??); you can't put on fresh lipstick or chapstick; you can't change radio stations or change the volume; you can't use your GPS which is telling you how to get to where you're going; you can't drink your coffee or Coke or water; you can't eat a cookie (can you chew gum??) or any kind of food; you can't grab your pet if something happens; and you can't even look at a map. And I'm not sure if I own any "similar devices"-- just what would that be? This guy is totally nuts.

[Lizabeth]

What a total nutcase. So, to read this, you can't talk to your fellow passengers (can you tell your kids to be quiet??); you can't put on fresh lipstick or chapstick; you can't change radio stations or change the volume; you can't use your GPS which is telling you how to get to where you're going; you can't drink your coffee or Coke or water; you can't eat a cookie (can you chew gum??) or any kind of food; you can't grab your pet if something happens; and you can't even look at a map. And I'm not sure if I own any "similar devices"-- just what would that be? This guy is totally nuts.

[gonsleenger]

I'm all for it, as long as it applies to EVERYONE.. Cops included

[Just Jude]

I wonder if Mr. "Chente" refrains from all the items listed...

[suebroux]

>> can you tell your kids to be quiet??

The bill neglected to include outlawing disruptive children in the car. They're a whole lot more distracting to a driver than eating a Big Mac or sipping of Starbucks.

[Larsen]

A very dangerous politician if you happen to enjoy freedom. Be very afraid of this person.

[Suburban Idiot]

So, you know, if you're driving down the road and, for whatever reason, your hair falls into your eyes, it would be illegal to brush it away from your eyes.

[Brandi]

I'm looking at it from my criminology studies, too. It's not like they're going to watch everything you're doing while you drive (and not be dangerous drivers themselves)...so they can't enforce it from an "safety" standpoint. But, they will USE it (if it passes) - they already pull you over if your license plate light is out (etc) and poke around looking for probable cause. i heard it on the today show, I'm trying to find a reliable online source to post a link. The only way it would make sense is if it's applied after an accident has occurred and it can be proven the inattentive behavior caused the accident.

[jim]

Jeez, can't anybody read anymore? The bill DOESN'T OUTLAW THOSE THINGS. It provides that if you get a ticket while doing any of those things, the fine is doubled. It's a shame that you report these stories with so little understanding.

[Lisa]

So,if you have an accident and there's an old McDonald's bag or wrapper in the car, you're probably doomed. Just hope you have the receipt from 2 weeks ago in there too-- it may save you big bucks by proving you weren't eating that item when the accident happened. And don't leave any old lipsticks or pencils lying around in the car-- they might incriminate you too. Sorry, but this bill is a little overkill.

[Mike]

While I don't agree with alot of the provisions, the overall premise is needed to teach some of the "children" as some people have mentioned. I myself had a female pass me the other day on the I-state @ about 80 miles an hour then whipped in front of me to exit off onto a ramp all while BOTH her hands were in full view! Since I drive a rather large pickup I was able to look into the car as I pulled up next to her @ the stop light.... she was steering with her knees while putting her "face" on!

[robert]

The bill does not ban any activity by a driver. It simply gives a judge the option of increasing the fine for a traffic violation or accident if the driver was inattentive; shaving, putting on makeup, cell pn use, smooching. Thousands of drivers do those things safely; those who dont might get a higher fine for the ticket.