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April crackdown on distracted driving

Original post made on Apr 5, 2012

Law enforcement all over the state will be on high alert this month, looking for drivers using their cell phones to text or talk without a headset, officials with the Mountain View police and California Highway Patrol said.

Read the full story here Web Link posted Thursday, April 5, 2012, 12:03 PM

Comments (13)

Posted by sean
a resident of Sylvan Park
on Apr 5, 2012 at 2:16 pm

sean is a registered user.

Wow 52,000! Lets assume 20% were repeat offenders (10,400)
10,400 x $279 = $2,901,600.00
41,600 x $159 = $6,614,400.00

Almost $10,000,000.00 dollars just last April.
(four times California's monthly average.)

We may see more of this!


Posted by Russ
a resident of Shoreline West
on Apr 5, 2012 at 2:29 pm

I really wish they would do this EVERY DAY!

As a motorcycle rider I am in constant leathal danger from these people.
That's how I broke my collar bone and had a concussion from a blind lane change right into my bike. Luckily, I was only doing about 5 mph!


Posted by Dodging
a resident of Cuernavaca
on Apr 5, 2012 at 2:46 pm

speeders, red light runners, non-signal users, tailgaters, aggressive frequent lane changers, stop sign rollers....with the driver's behaviors I see daily, the police have a lot more to "crack down" than just distracted drivers.


Posted by Otto Maddox
a resident of Monta Loma
on Apr 5, 2012 at 2:54 pm

If driving while talking or texting on a cell phone is soooooo dangerous someone please tell me why the police are EXEMPT from this law?

What is so important that can't be covered by the millions of dollars in radios and computers they already have in their vehicles?

It's just another case of "Do as I say, not as I do."


Posted by Sparty
a resident of Shoreline West
on Apr 5, 2012 at 3:47 pm

This needs a anthropomorphic mascot. Like Reggie Radar Gun or maybe a cute animal.

Something to help distinguish April from the 11 months of texting/talking on phones being ignored by police.


Posted by Sparty
a resident of Shoreline West
on Apr 5, 2012 at 3:50 pm

anyone here think they can out drive a police officer or CHP?

then why are you here and not a world famous race car driver?

Amazing that so many people who read this website are able to out drive the CHP candidates who have had expert training and still find the high speed driving test to be the #1 reason for washing out of the academy.


Posted by Dr GreenThumb
a resident of The Crossings
on Apr 5, 2012 at 7:54 pm

Sparty, what are you talking about? Having a bad day brah?


Posted by The Nose
a resident of The Crossings
on Apr 5, 2012 at 8:22 pm

What is the doctor missing if he drives about oblivious to scores of fellow drivers texting and making phone calls?

Perhaps a HMO GP


Posted by Aloysious
a resident of another community
on Apr 6, 2012 at 6:31 am

The motorist who is not distracted is very rare. For confirmation one needs only to recall/note their internal monologue the last/next time they take the wheel.

"Driving" requires taking and maintaining "conscious control of the attentional spotlight", and that requires constant effort. The mind wanders, naturally, no matter how many hands may be on the wheel.


Posted by Otto Maddox
a resident of Monta Loma
on Apr 9, 2012 at 8:17 pm

Hey Sparty:

Just FYI - When this law first passed, and I kept seeing so many San Jose PD on their phones while driving.. I sent an email to the San Jose PD. I asked if they were specially trained or otherwise better qualified to operate a motor vehicle while using a cell phone.

I did the same with the CHP.

Both agencies reported they are given no special training to enable them to safely operate a motor vehicle while talking on a cell phone better than anyone else on the road.

But the San Jose PD said they had no plans to force their officers to stop. The CHP said they were considering a policy on the matter.

So the claim of being "expert" drivers means nothing when it comes to driving and talking on a cell phone. The experts admit they are doing so at their own, and our, peril.


Posted by Robbie
a resident of Whisman Station
on Apr 9, 2012 at 9:47 pm

Cops are not any better or worse drivers than anyone else. The real reason they were exempted in the law is because otherwise they would have opposed it and legislators would have voted it down even in its current wimpy version.


Posted by Donald
a resident of another community
on Apr 9, 2012 at 9:48 pm

There aren't enough cops on the road for their driving behavior to make any difference to our safety. That is both the good news and the bad news.


Posted by Wilma
a resident of Castro City
on Apr 10, 2012 at 9:34 am

How many drivers that get pulled over argue about the semantics of "hands free"? If you are holding the phone while driving it is not hands free. And really, is anyones life THAT important that you can't wait to make or return a phone call?


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