Friday, September 15, 2006

Cellphone Ban To Be Signed Today

A bill outlawing talking on a cellphone without a hands- free device, while driving, is expected to be signed into law today. I believe it becomes effective in January 2008.

This is one of those weird ones where I'm strongly opposed to it in principle, but am kinda glad to see it happen.

I don't like having yet another reason for people to be pulled over for doing nothing really wrong, at least in and of itself. At the same time I've nearly been hit, at least once, by someone obsessed with talking while driving, and that was in the Eureka Mall parking lot!

I'll also admit to being annoyed by people that think they're so important they need to be talking to someone every minute of the day. I thought it was bad up here. Down in San Francisco, it seems half the people have a cell phone to their ear at one time or another.

This is one where it's easy to point fingers. I have a cellphone in my truck- one of those old analog type bag phones. I don't use it while driving. In fact, I could probably count on one hand the number of times I use it in a year.

Wish more people used them like I do.


22 Comments:

At 10:33 AM, Blogger Jeff Kelley said...

Sheesh. If we just banned cars, think of how many injuries, fatalities, and expenses we'd prevent.

 
At 11:54 AM, Blogger Eric V. Kirk said...

More in one year than died in Vietnam.

I would also oppose this law, though I wouldn't necessarily lump it with seatbelt laws. If you don't wear a seatbelt you're only endangering yourself.

I had a scary experience a few years back driving across the Bay Bridge, I looked over and saw a man reading a newspaper, which was draped over his arms in the steering wheel, while driving. Not being in a hurry, I let him move ahead of me.

 
At 11:54 AM, Blogger Eric V. Kirk said...

More in one year than died in Vietnam.

I would also oppose this law, though I wouldn't necessarily lump it with seatbelt laws. If you don't wear a seatbelt you're only endangering yourself.

I had a scary experience a few years back driving across the Bay Bridge, I looked over and saw a man reading a newspaper, which was draped over his arms in the steering wheel, while driving. Not being in a hurry, I let him move ahead of me.

 
At 1:33 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

more micromanagement of our lives, more big brother looking at our every move, keeping us "safe"

IMHO

 
At 2:20 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Not being in a hurry, I let him move ahead of me.

Not too bright of you, Eric. You'd be safer with him behind you, not ahead of you.

 
At 2:39 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

I think Eric smokes a little too much Humboldt homegrown.

 
At 3:05 PM, Blogger Eric V. Kirk said...

Diagree. First of all, I don't want to be caught speeding while on the bridge. Secondly, I'd rather be able to see him.

 
At 3:05 PM, Blogger Eric V. Kirk said...

Okay, now why are the comment instructions coming up on my screen in German?

 
At 3:16 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Time to put the joint out, Eric!

"Secondly, I'd rather be able to see him."

So see him in your rearview mirror.

If he crossed the centerline and smashed into another car -- and you were behind him going 55-60 mph -- you could very well become part of the wreckage.

And all because you were too stoned to reason, and afraid of getting a ticket.

 
At 3:59 PM, Blogger Eric V. Kirk said...

I guess I dodged a bullet because you weren't there to advise me.

 
At 4:38 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

You didn't dodge a bullet, cowboy. It's just your dumb luck the gun didn't fire.

 
At 4:51 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Eric is a bullshit artist. That's why he's a lawyer. Deception comes naturally to him. I expect him to BS about larger political issues, but it's amusing to see him bullshit even about little things.

 
At 6:38 PM, Blogger Nick Bravo said...

Hey Eric, since you're a lawyer maybe you can answer a question for me. I'm doing an online paralegal course and would like any advice you cpould give me in regards to succeeding in that field.

 
At 7:07 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Laws like this are why we have an overpopulation problem.
If we could get rid of all safety warnings on things, the world would be a less crowded place.
Instead of multiple pictures showing what you CANNOT do while using a hair dryer, we should just print WATER+ELECTRICTY=DEATH.

We are keeping too many stupid people safe, let's cut down on overpopulation!! GET RID OF THE SAFETY WARNINGS!

 
At 7:13 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

http://buhnetribune.blogspot.com/2006/09/breaking-dikeman-fired.html

BREAKING: Dikeman Fired!

District Attorney Paul Gallegos has reportedly just shown the door to long-time HumCo Deputy D.A. Worth Dikeman.

Dikeman -- an old guard, veteran D.A. desk pilot -- waged a devisive campaign to unseat his younger boss, and rival, during both the 2003 recall, and general election this June.

Dikeman's employment status has for months been the subject of intense speculation in local political circles -- a parlor game made all the more heated following revelations of his reportedly racial bias in seating the jury for a 1992 murder trial which he prosecuted.

The case -- in which Dikeman struck all three potential Native American jurors -- was recently reversed by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. The setback was apparently the final nail in Dikeman's oxygen-starved political coffin.

 
At 7:18 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

It's about time! Shoulda fired him years ago.

 
At 9:45 PM, Blogger Eric V. Kirk said...

Nick - do some volunteer paralegal work for a non-profit legal organization while you're studying, if you can find the time. On the job experience.

 
At 9:47 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

"This is one of those weird ones where I'm strongly opposed to it in principle, but am kinda glad to see it happen."

So,is it a good law or ??????

Just Curious...

Jim S

 
At 9:58 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Just as a follow-up...

this cell phone law is nothing more than (insert any state legislature here) some pols looking for a new revenue generator for the state coffers....not passing judgement on the intent,just the pols intent......And,if it so important...why wait until 2008?

Hey Arnie?

How about a law against unlicensed motorcycle riders?

Oh Yeah....we already have one.....You must be immune...

sorry for the rant...

Jim S

 
At 7:12 AM, Blogger Fred Mangels said...

Jim S. asks, "So,is it a good law or ??????"

I'd say, overall, it's a bad one.

 
At 7:15 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

 
At 3:30 PM, Blogger Eric V. Kirk said...

I just broke the law a half hour ago. Forgot. Ooops.

Guess as an officer of the court I'd better turn myself in.

 

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