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I sympathize, but disagree. In CA, distracted driving is a moving violation, but does not have points on the license as a penalty. Going nuclear as a 1st respon

I sympathize, but disagree. In CA, distracted driving is a moving violation, but does not have points on the license as a penalty. Going nuclear as a 1st response does not help. Increasing fines, mandatory driver education classes for violations, points on a license, and perhaps a lock box (akin to the ignition lock we install for DUI offenders) are, IMO, better measures to take. Repeated offenders should have their vehicle impounded and license suspended for increasing amounts of time per violation e.g. 1st offense - $250 fine + class, 2nd - $500 fine, 3rd - $1500 fine + impound + 1 month suspension, 4th - $2.5k fine + impound + 1yr suspension. 5th time should be 60 day jail sentence, car impounded, license permanently revoked, $5k fine

ericd 8y ago
Is typing on your phone while moving at highway speeds much less dangerous than a DUI? A first DUI conviction in CA involves large fines, generally a 6 month license suspension, is a misdemeanor, and potentially up to 6 months in jail. A $250 fine plus class is a joke. The fine for accidentally running a red light in SV is double that. Driving and looking at your phone is not a joke, a car traveling at 70 mph is a lethal weapon that can easily kill entire families in an instant, and it should be treated with commensurate seriousness. I know a couple families that have almost been entirely wiped out due to other drivers, with the survivors left as paraplegics. I think serious penalties for what is seemingly very common might be a shock initially, but once people realize how serious it is, I imagine the infraction rate will drop rather rapidly. Drinking and driving used to be much more common than it is now.
- wcarron 8y ago
  Listen, I agree on most counts. I commute 50 miles every day (even when it rains) in LA on a motorcycle and every day I am put in a dangerous position by idiot distracted drivers. Or people jumping into the HOV lanes. It makes me furious. I've talked with my partner and now she never uses her phone will driving, but did before. I, of course, want distracted driving treated with the same seriousness. It's why every few months I write to my state reps about this issue. It disproportionately affects me as a rider. Ask any motorcycle rider if they know someone injured, maimed, or killed by a car. I've been hit by a distracted driver. Btw, it hurts quite a lot. It is indeed more dangerous than DUIs, statistically speaking, but a shock and awe playbook will never work. We need to boil the frog, so to speak. DUI activity became something that's shameful, over time. So too, can we employ the same tactics against Distracted driving. Another example would be cigarettes. They went from cool to gross. This is why I'm in favor of incremental increases in fines and penalties, instead of a big bang approach. We need to reach out to drivers and educate them instead of making them feel persecuted for what they consider to be "harmless behavior".
  - ericd 8y ago
    Fair enough, I suppose DUI penalties were phased in over time as you say. I used to ride too, sorry you got hit, but I'm glad you're still with us.

ericd 8y ago

Is typing on your phone while moving at highway speeds much less dangerous than a DUI? A first DUI conviction in CA involves large fines, generally a 6 month license suspension, is a misdemeanor, and potentially up to 6 months in jail. A $250 fine plus class is a joke. The fine for accidentally running a red light in SV is double that. Driving and looking at your phone is not a joke, a car traveling at 70 mph is a lethal weapon that can easily kill entire families in an instant, and it should be treated with commensurate seriousness. I know a couple families that have almost been entirely wiped out due to other drivers, with the survivors left as paraplegics. I think serious penalties for what is seemingly very common might be a shock initially, but once people realize how serious it is, I imagine the infraction rate will drop rather rapidly. Drinking and driving used to be much more common than it is now.

wcarron 8y ago
Listen, I agree on most counts. I commute 50 miles every day (even when it rains) in LA on a motorcycle and every day I am put in a dangerous position by idiot distracted drivers. Or people jumping into the HOV lanes. It makes me furious. I've talked with my partner and now she never uses her phone will driving, but did before. I, of course, want distracted driving treated with the same seriousness. It's why every few months I write to my state reps about this issue. It disproportionately affects me as a rider. Ask any motorcycle rider if they know someone injured, maimed, or killed by a car. I've been hit by a distracted driver. Btw, it hurts quite a lot. It is indeed more dangerous than DUIs, statistically speaking, but a shock and awe playbook will never work. We need to boil the frog, so to speak. DUI activity became something that's shameful, over time. So too, can we employ the same tactics against Distracted driving. Another example would be cigarettes. They went from cool to gross. This is why I'm in favor of incremental increases in fines and penalties, instead of a big bang approach. We need to reach out to drivers and educate them instead of making them feel persecuted for what they consider to be "harmless behavior".
- ericd 8y ago
  Fair enough, I suppose DUI penalties were phased in over time as you say. I used to ride too, sorry you got hit, but I'm glad you're still with us.