Washington State's E-DUI Law
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   16 years
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A new law in Washington state takes affect tomorrow called E-DUI (Electronic - Driving Under the Influence). Not sure if any other states have come up this particular designation before.
Much like distracted driving laws in other state, the E-DUI law prohibits hand-held phone or other electronic device use while driving. This includes when stopped in traffic or at a traffic light. Prohibited activity includes typing messages or accessing information and watching videos or using cameras.
Drivers can still use devices that are engaged with a single touch or swipe without holding the device. Drivers parked or out-of-the-flow of traffic or who are contacting emergency services are exempt from the law. Two-way radio, citizens band radio and amateur radio equipment are not included in the law.
The first primary E-DUI offense will cost $136, a second E-DUI within five years is $234 and the dangerously distracted (secondary offenses such as eating, smoking and other distractions) will cost $99. Primary offenses will be reported to drivers’ insurance companies.
Hmmmm.....
Most of these electronics in cars aren't "single Swipe"
I wonder if these devices are excluded too
Never argue with a pig. It makes you look foolish and it anoys the hell out of the pig!
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The fines are way too low. Here in BC, it's a $368 dollar fine and four demerit points of $175, meaning a total of $543.
nüvi 3790T | Those who make peaceful revolution impossible, will make violent revolution inevitable ~ JFK
Agree
The fines are way too low. Here in BC, it's a $368 dollar fine and four demerit points of $175, meaning a total of $543.
Agree, here in BC you don't want to get stopped.
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Yep
And, that's only the first offence... it gets much worse the 2nd, and subsequent offences.
nüvi 3790T | Those who make peaceful revolution impossible, will make violent revolution inevitable ~ JFK
In
Most of these electronics in cars aren't "single Swipe"
I wonder if these devices are excluded too
In what world are any of those items illegal to use at any time? No need to exclude them.
Nuvi 350, 760, 1695LM, 3790LMT, 2460LMT, 3597LMTHD, DriveLuxe 50LMTHD, DriveSmart 61, Garmin Drive 52, Garmin Backup Camera 40 and TomTom XXL540s.
It's all about
Most of these electronics in cars aren't "single Swipe"
I wonder if these devices are excluded too
In what world are any of those items illegal to use at any time? No need to exclude them.
Unintended inclusion of devices in a law... they specifically excluded amateur and CB radio... there are other "Electronic Devices" in cars that need to be considered too... that was my only point...
Never argue with a pig. It makes you look foolish and it anoys the hell out of the pig!
Nanny Laws
Yet another Nanny State Law.
If one cannot control ones car, one is responsible.
No need for a new law.
Phoebe Figalilly weeps.
So now...
So now driving and chewing gum at the same time is literally illegal (at least the taking the gum out of the pack part).
and....
So now driving and chewing gum at the same time is literally illegal (at least the taking the gum out of the pack part).
Doing anything other than driving is considered some form of "Distracted" driving...
Pardon me officer... I was breathing... (as you get one of these citations)....
Never argue with a pig. It makes you look foolish and it anoys the hell out of the pig!
distractions
ive seen people putting on makeup using the rear view mirror !
a person texting and clipping the curb !
people reaching into the back seat for some thing !
people sitting next to each other talking not watching the road !
people driving with their knees unwrapping a hamburger !
at 60 miles an hour how far do you go in 2 or 3 seconds with out watching the road ?
driving means you have to be alert every second, I know ive gone down a road on a warm summer day and was daydreaming and almost hit a deer!
so will a fine help, only if it keeps you alert and to do that it has to be big enough to force you to pay attention !
I guess the premis is ANYTHING...
that distracts driving. As I drive for a living I see this kind of stuff all the time but some of parts of the law are ridiculous...
If you are stopped at a draw bridge or train crossing that is up or gates are down and you are stopped, no where to go, boxed in by cars for say 15 minutes legally you still can't use your phone or do anything that distracts you since you are on an active roadway. Supposedly if you are on private property, such as a parking lot or pull to the side of the road you get a pass.
The main intent of the bill I agree with because of what I see everyday but some cities will see this as a money grab and some reports say this will count the same as a DUI. If so, some are going to lose their jobs and insurance will skyrocket.
This will be interesting to see how it plays out over the next 4-5 months and if modifications are made in the 2018 legislative session.
Here's a local story on the new law....
http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/transportation/fine...
And Just Think...
It's likely a law similar to this may soon be coming to a jurisdiction near you.
While I tend to agree with the premise.... it doesn't seem like the charges are going to what I'd consider reasonable places.. A lot of the fees go to the "general fund" which can be allocated for literally anything...
In my eyes, it's just another scam the government perpetrates on the population...
Never argue with a pig. It makes you look foolish and it anoys the hell out of the pig!
Interesting.
I wonder if this will apply to law enforcement officers while they are on the job. I see police officers talking on cellphones all of the time in my state. Being a retired LEO, I fell to see whereby a police officer talking on a device while driving is anymore safe than a private citizen talking on the same device. I may get some blow-back on this from current LEO's, but can a drunk police officer in a cruiser drive a vehicle any better than a drunk citizen in their POV? I think not!
With God, all things are possible. ——State motto of the Great State of Ohio
You can't park onthe side of the road either.
It is considered a hazard. I tried that one day and got rousted by the police.
that distracts driving. As I drive for a living
I see this kind of stuff all the time but some of parts of the law are ridiculous...
If you are stopped at a draw bridge or train crossing that is up or gates are down and you are stopped, no where to go, boxed in by cars for say 15 minutes legally you still can't use your phone or do anything that distracts you since you are on an active roadway. Supposedly if you are on private property, such as a parking lot or pull to the side of the road you get a pass.
The main intent of the bill I agree with because of what I see everyday but some cities will see this as a money grab and some reports say this will count the same as a DUI. If so, some are going to lose their jobs and insurance will skyrocket.
This will be interesting to see how it plays out over the next 4-5 months and if modifications are made in the 2018 legislative session.
Nuvi 2460LMT.
You
You can in Washington however if it's "out of the flow of traffic".
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Distraction Runs The Gamut!
I have seen an entire gamut of distracted drivers, affected by anything and everything you can imagine.
For me the prize example was about forty years ago as I was heading home after work on a freeway in Los Angeles. The traffic was almost bumper to bumper, but not quite heavy enough to drop the speed down from about 65 miles an hour.
I was in car pool ride with friends and was a passenger in the front seat, with an opportunity to look around. I looked at the VW Beetle to my right, only about 6 feet away, and did a cliche double-take. The driver - alone in the car - had a book open on the steering wheel and was reading it!
Because I was so close, I could see what he was reading. It was a large and ornate version of the Bible!
I assumed then - and now - that he was urgently preparing to meet his maker.
I told the driver of the car I was in what was right next to us, and asked him to slow down and change lanes to get us away from this accident waiting to happen. He did so, and two other colleagues in the back seat confirmed that I had not been imagining things.
Nothing I have seen before or since has compared with that event as an example of distracted driving.
- Tom -
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