Will we see cameras that ticket for cell phone use while driving?

Ditto

Nuvi1300WTGPS

I live close to an intersection with heavy vehicular and pedestrian traffic. Twice in the the last year, I've made contact with vehicles while legally crossing. Sometimes it seems as if people do a rolling right turn on red seeing how close they can come to crossing pedestrians. So yes, put in the cameras.

I guess determining if it government intrusion depends if you are the one benefiting from it.

I couldnt have said it any better myself...

Wouldn't be a shocker if this does occur...that's the directions we're heading.

So if there's money to be made, it will happen. I'm against cell phone or texting while driving, but it should be a live officer who writes the ticket after hearing your reason. With the cams they have you because it will cost a day or more to have your "Day in Court", so they win by default in most cases!

The issue is driving while distracted. Most states have a generic law prohibiting this, yet it is rarely enforced here in Florida. The make-up thing is a huge pet peeve of mine. Second is texting....I've been rear ended by a texter.

Texting is the worst.

I can literally tell on the road who is texting and driving. Swerving all over the road like a drunk driver almost. Not hard to catch.

I Chicago the fine for even holding the cell phone in hand while driving is $150.00 without any warnings.

I knew I could check email and drive at the same time, even do a quick reply. Just for safety, I wouldn't do it in a congested area. I was on the seven-mile bridge in the Florida keys with very light traffic. What I didn't notice was that my speed had creeped up to 17mph over the limit of 55 and that in the middle of the pack of oncoming cars was the highway patrol.

Something I have always wondered is how a police officer would be able to properly distinguish between holding a cell phone and actually using it. As far as I am aware, the laws do not forbid holding a handheld device. A camera would inherit the same issue.

I have seen so many unsafe, distracted drivers using cell phones for texting, etc. It would be really nice to get people to actually pay attention to the road rather than use their phone, but like many things, is hard to legislate.

So much money would be made if they had cameras ticketing for cell phone usage while driving.

I will give a LEO credit. If your lips are moving you are using it. If the phone is at your ear, you are receiving a call.
I doubt that you could convince a judge to rule against the cop.

in reality some people cant pay attention and chat at the same time, paying attention to tuning a radio can be dangerous. so what is best,
1. tune in your radio before you start your journey .
2. turn off the cell phone when you drive.
3. put both hands on the wheel and drive .
now that's how it should work but how many people do things the right way, I cant text well and I know it so I don't going down the road. and the last thing you want to here is I only looked down a second to text before I hit that person it isn't my fault they should have been paying attention !!

I hope.

It isn't illegal everywhere yet to talk on a cell phone and drive. Hopefully, it will not become that way. Furthermore, using cameras to enforce any traffic laws is highly undesirable.

"Spoky Bob" said in part...

Actually... The above are statements that (depending upon the situation and circumstances), may (or may NOT!) be true.

Just because someones lips are moving doesn't necessarily mean they're using the phone... nor does the fact they've got the phone next to their ear indicate the previous either, ie: talking or listening to someone on the other end.

Looks can be deceiving when you have no idea what's really going on.

Nuvi1300WTGPS

The fine in Chicago is only if a cop isn't too lazy to write a ticket. I was waiting for the bus a few weeks ago after the new state law prohibiting cell phone use had kicked in. There was a guy in the turn lane to get on the highway at a red light, and a cop pulls up next to him. The driver has his cell in his hand, which is an automatic ticket. The cop looks over at him, the light turns green, and they both drive off.

I personally would not take the chance of getting a ticket for making it look like I'm on the phone. I'm sure the police can pull cell phone records if they need to, but what would be the point of holding a phone to your ear if you're not on a call?

Those who think we have too many laws and cameras violate rights. How about headlights on when wipers on, and tractor trailers using left lanes when prohibited? Those two laws have to do with common sense but routinely violated. I say automated enforcement is the only way behavior will come into compliance.

Automated enforcement is always a bad idea and is worse than the infraction they seek to enforce. As for wipers and headlights, not a big deal, but mostly from people forgetting to do it. Easily solved by manufacturers putting a switch to turn the headlights on when the wipers are turned on. Tractor trailers using the wrong lane can be enforced by police officers easily enough. If they use their discretion and don't do it, so be it.

A trend I've noticed as of late is that more hit and run drivers are being caught due to being captured on a cam. By your logic, that drivers are being apprehended in this fashion is "a bad idea and worse than the" hit and run itself.

Do they just send the owner of the car a ticket for hit and run and assume he or she is guilty? I'm thinking that while there may be some video evidence, there is an actual police officer who has to investigate something like that and actually talk to the parties involved before any citations are issued.