Denton City Council bans texting while driving

Harry · May 9, 2014

The Denton City Council voted to ban texting while driving despite a last-minute push by residents urging the council to go further in prohibiting the use of cellphones behind the wheel.

And just hours before a standstill agreement was set to expire with a local energy company, the council voted to approve a moratorium on all new oil and gas drilling in the city until Sept. 9 or until city ordinances could be revised.

Council member Dalton Gregory sought assurance from the city attorney that the moratorium would be extended if the ordinance revisions were not complete.

“This is to protect our citizens,” he said.

read more: http://www.dallasnews.com/news/metro/20140507-denton-city-council-bans-texting-while-driving-approves-gas-drilling-moratorium.ece

UNT90 · May 9, 2014

Lol. Maybe they could also ban talking to your passenger while driving, eating while driving, changing the radio while driving, readjusting your nuts while driving, breast feeding while driving, and anything else that distracts a driver.

And yes, I posted this while driving. Fight the power!!!

UNTFan23 · May 9, 2014

Arlington has a similar ban. I've never really heard how enforcement (both by police and in the courtroom) has gone with the law. I'd be interested to find out.

Sound_Man · May 9, 2014

While most bans are truly texting. Which would be hard to enforce. Denton goes further and essentially says anything except talking on the phone is banned.

UNTFan23 · May 9, 2014

While most bans are truly texting. Which would be hard to enforce. Denton goes further and essentially says anything except talking on the phone is banned.

Unless you use some sort of voice recognition that is hands free. I can do all sorts of stuff through my truck's Nav system when paired via Bluetooth to my cell phone.

UNT90 · May 9, 2014

Unless you use some sort of voice recognition that is hands free. I can do all sorts of stuff through my truck's Nav system when paired via Bluetooth to my cell phone.

So stupid is this law. The distraction is in your head, not in your hands.

Just a feel good law to hopefully influence young people not to do it. Enforcement is practically non-existent in Arlington.

Ironically, the police who would enforce this law have a huge texting machine in their patrol car called an MDC. They use it while driving constantly. Police administrations make a wink and nod policy saying you can't use it, but at the same time tell you response times must come down. Basically, the policy is there only to shield the city from liability and police supervision from responsibility. It is practiced by no one in the department, including Sgts. and Lts. And EVERYONE knows it.

So, it would be the height of hypocrisy for officers to enforce these terrible laws, and most realize it. I wouldn't trust the ones that don't.

LongJim · May 9, 2014

Please Mr. Government! Save us from ourselves!

greenminer · May 9, 2014

So stupid is this law. The distraction is in your head, not in your hands.

There are many distractions, texting is one of them. I'm glad they're taking it away.

UNT90 · May 9, 2014

There are many distractions, texting is one of them. I'm glad they're taking it away.

So what about the others and why don't you want them banned?

This is a perfect example. You feel good about it because it gives you the warm and fuzzies, regardless of the fact that there will be practically no enforcement.

Edited May 9, 2014 by UNT90

greenminer · May 9, 2014

So what about the others and why don't you want them banned?
This is a perfect example. You feel good about it because it gives you the warm and fuzzies, regardless of the fact that there will be practically no enforcement.

If we're going to figure out how to make the roads safer, isn't "trying" a good first step? Or shall we just stand back and do absolutely nothing until we have a single, blanket answer that makes UNT90 warm and fuzzy?

UNT90 · May 9, 2014

If we're going to figure out how to make the roads safer, isn't "trying" a good first step? Or shall we just stand back and do absolutely nothing until we have a single, blanket answer that makes UNT90 warm and fuzzy?

Trying things that make sense, yes.

Creating laws the the law enforcers violate every hour of every day and are unenforceable?

No.

Army of Dad · May 9, 2014

If we're going to figure out how to make the roads safer, isn't "trying" a good first step? Or shall we just stand back and do absolutely nothing until we have a single, blanket answer that makes UNT90 warm and fuzzy?

How about doing something intelligent instead of just trying? For the most part, the less government involvement the better. Get them involved in all sorts of things in peoples everyday lives and the less likely an intelligent and effective solution will occur.

forevereagle · May 9, 2014

How about doing something intelligent instead of just trying? For the most part, the less government involvement the better. Get them involved in all sorts of things in peoples everyday lives and the less likely an intelligent and effective solution will occur.

Out of curiosity, how would less government involvement make our roads safer to drive?

UNT Five&Dime · May 9, 2014

Out of curiosity, how would less government involvement make our roads safer to drive?

'Murica!

LongJim · May 9, 2014

Out of curiosity, how would less government involvement make our roads safer to drive?

One way it might be approached is to enforce what's already on the books. That is, if it can be proved a person was "impaired" and causes death or destruction of property, you seek redress with laws that already exist? Rather than create *another* law that is impossible to enforce?

forevereagle · May 9, 2014

One way it might be approached is to enforce what's already on the books. That is, if it can be proved a person was "impaired" and causes death or destruction of property, you seek redress with laws that already exist? Rather than create *another* law that is impossible to enforce?

That doesn't sound like less government involvement, just not new laws.

GreenMachine · May 9, 2014

Lol. Maybe they could also ban talking to your passenger while driving, eating while driving, changing the radio while driving, readjusting your nuts while driving, breast feeding while driving, and anything else that distracts a driver.
And yes, I posted this while driving. Fight the power!!!

I don't care about any restrictions but please don't mess with my nut adjustments while driving.

Mean Green 93-98 · May 9, 2014

I don't have any problem with banning texting while driving. While there are a number of distractions one can face when driving, texting completely swallows one's mind from the primary task at hand. It has been shown to be more dangerous than driving drunk. Unless we are going to say that driving drunk should be legal, we ought to be okay with having legal restrictions on texting while driving.

My problem with this law is that it is a local ordinance. Are people driving through towns expected to know that they can no longer text when they enter the Denton city limits? Or are they honestly going to post signs on every road that enters Denton? It just seems like something that ought to be regulated at the state level rather than local.

UNT90 · May 9, 2014

I don't have any problem with banning texting while driving. While there are a number of distractions one can face when driving, texting completely swallows one's mind from the primary task at hand. It has been shown to be more dangerous than driving drunk. Unless we are going to say that driving drunk should be legal, we ought to be okay with having legal restrictions on texting while driving.

My problem with this law is that it is a local ordinance. Are people driving through towns expected to know that they can no longer text when they enter the Denton city limits? Or are they honestly going to post signs on every road that enters Denton? It just seems like something that ought to be regulated at the state level rather than local.

Any of the serious things I listed would cause TD same amount of distraction, especially having a conversation with someone in the passenger seat.

.

Really stupid law

Mean Green 93-98 · May 9, 2014

Any of the serious things I listed would cause TD same amount of distraction, especially having a conversation with someone in the passenger seat.
.
Really stupid law

Why do we keep having to bring up Todd Dodge on this board?

:rolleyes:

UNT Five&Dime · May 9, 2014

Any of the serious things I listed would cause TD same amount of distraction, especially having a conversation with someone in the passenger seat.
.
Really stupid law

Usually I don't look directly at the my passengers and finger them with one or both hands while driving. If I plan on doing that I park somewhere quiet.

greenminer · May 9, 2014

My problem with this law is that it is a local ordinance. Are people driving through towns expected to know that they can no longer text when they enter the Denton city limits? Or are they honestly going to post signs on every road that enters Denton? It just seems like something that ought to be regulated at the state level rather than local.

I think that is why it is not applicable on 35.

Censored by Laurie · May 9, 2014

Pretty much every driving law is enforced liberally and subjectively, save for times of crack-downs like DWI checkpoints and speed-traps...and are meant to promote awareness and serve as a deterrent for dangerous driving practice.

Texting while driving is dangerous. It baffles me why anyone would be against what will effectively serve as a deterrent for a dangerous practice. Stating that there are other dangerous activities that take place in a car isn't a logical argument against a law that discourages another dangerous activity. More than likely, Denton will be keen to enforce this for a month or so...issue a few dozen tickets in a brief period of time then scale back...again...creating common sense awareness and deterrent.

Most states up here in the Northeast have no hand-held cell use laws...no texting and calls from hands-free devices only. Sure...I still pass plenty of people on their phones (though, I doubt many so douche-y as to be driving and posting paragraphs to a message board), but I promise people for the most part are more conscious of the act because of the laws.

UNT90 · May 9, 2014

Pretty much every driving law is enforced liberally and subjectively, save for times of crack-downs like DWI checkpoints and speed-traps...and are meant to promote awareness and serve as a deterrent for dangerous driving practice.
Texting while driving is dangerous. It baffles me why anyone would be against what will effectively serve as a deterrent for a dangerous practice. Stating that there are other dangerous activities that take place in a car isn't a logical argument against a law that discourages another dangerous activity. More than likely, Denton will be keen to enforce this for a month or so...issue a few dozen tickets in a brief period of time then scale back...again...creating common sense awareness and deterrent.
Most states up here in the Northeast have no hand-held cell use laws...no texting and calls from hands-free devices only. Sure...I still pass plenty of people on their phones (though, I doubt many so douche-y as to be driving and posting paragraphs to a message board), but I promise people for the most part are more conscious of the act because of the laws.

And it makes people feel great.

It's all about how people FEEL and nothing about solving an actual problem.

Hands free does nothing to eliminate a mental distraction, it simply assures you will have both hands on the wheel when you crash into a ditch.

Victory!

greenminer · May 9, 2014

Hands free does nothing to eliminate a mental distraction, it simply assures you will have both hands on the wheel when you crash into a ditch.
Victory!

When people - by law or their own will - feel obligated to ignore their texts and thus keep hands and eyes on the road, the roads are safer.

Am I alone here, or does UNT90 have some magical texting powers that do not take away from his driving focus at all? I must learn this power.