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Happy Text-Free Day

Yes, the ban on driver texting dawned today. But be alert (you know the country needs more): The law also prohibits you from using a mobile phone or laptop to read anything - even while you're at a stop light. Also, kids? You are so hosed if you get caught even talking on a cell phone - the law is tougher on junior operators.

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So, I pay hundreds if my inspection sticker is a day late, but some jerk engaging in reckless behavior that may kill someone get’s a $35 ticket and that’s it?

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.

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... having had that as my only violation in 33 years of driving :(

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I got that ticket, too, and was pretty outraged. It has nothing to do with how I operate the vehicle, and yet my insurance went up because I hadn't realized the sticker expired.

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I swear, MA is the only state I know of that screws excellent but non-perfect drivers for six years at a stretch in order to subsidize jerks like State Senator Sorbitol or the guy who got smashed by the Bradytank.

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What do you do for a living again?

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what's your point?

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Now people get to try to hide what they're doing making them drive even worse.

http://technolog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2010/09/28/51...

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... is that, as the law was explained to me anyway, you can be lawfully ticketed if you're using a smartphone's navigation/GPS feature, whether or not it's mounted at eye level, but it's perfectly fine to use a dedicated GPS navigation device, whether installed or temporarily mounted. However, reading the detailed link makes it less clear-cut now. Does anyone know for sure if having a phone performing navigation functions is actually illegal? Because if what I originally heard is correct, come on, what's the difference between that and using a Garmin?

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I use google maps on my phone a lot - and while I always enter the addresses before I start my trip, I need to hold my phone up to check out where I'm going. It doesn't seem like that is specifically illegal, as it's not a message or an email, but it makes me nervous. It would also be nice to be able to check a message at a stoplight, like some of the other states permit.

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if it is mounted, you can use it. If it is in your hands, you cannot use it.

Of course doing anything that might hinder your driving (coming your hair, biting your fingernails, drinking coffee with two hands, etc) can be a violation of 'impeded operation', Ch.90 s.13.

But think about it. You shouldn't be driving while looking at your smartphone features. Pull over, find out where you are going, and then mount the phone somewhere that you can hear/see the thing without having your eyes leave the road.

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You shouldn't be driving while looking at your smartphone features. Pull over, find out where you are going, and then mount the phone somewhere that you can hear/see the thing without having your eyes leave the road.

Oh, I agree with that. But I was under the impression that, even if mounted at eye level like a dedicated GPS device, it was still citable. That makes more sense that it wouldn't be. It really shouldn't distract a competent driver to have a GPS navigating at eye level, because a split-second glance at that is really no different than a split-second glance at your side or rear-view mirror.

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I think that's a huge issue. So I can't use my ipod plugged into the stereo for music if mounted at the same level as the stereo? On the flip side, I think they should go all the way and ban cell phone use for talking while driving as well. It's not an easy issue to legislate.

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You just can't drive around while you look down at it figuring out which song you want to hear next.

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... in a Q & A in the Boston Globe, they reported this:

Q. Can I still enter addresses into my GPS while driving, whether it’s a dedicated unit or a navigation app on my smartphone?

A. The new law appears to create an exemption for that behavior. However, police officers may stop motorists if the typing looks like texting, and the officers may issue $100 citations. They have been instructed to use discretion and to make decisions based on their experience and training, said David Procopio, a spokesman for the State Police.

Also, if officers do not wish to cite GPS users under the texting law, they could choose to write $35 citations using an existing law that covers a wide range of “unsafe operation,’’ a blanket provision that can be applied to anything from wearing headphones while driving to operating a truck with an unsecured child in the truck bed.

The Registry of Motor Vehicles said the use of GPS applications on smartphones is not a violation of the law.

the state trooper i asked basically answered the same. the law appears to make an exception for mounted-GPS, thereby implying that that was the only device allowed for navigation. but the law doesn't actually state it anywhere. they have been told to use their best judgement. basically, the problem is, if they pull you over for tapping away on your phone, you're gonna have some explaining to do.

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Number of accidents caused by texting: zero. Number caused by drivers over 65? Hundreds.

I'm texting at a stoplight right now!

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At the next light, try a search on something like "texting crash massachusetts," which'll bring up stuff like:

Three Strikes & This Texting Driver Was Out - Fatal Crash In Mass.

Witnesses say the driver of an early morning crash on Saturday was on her cell phone texting and not paying attention to the road.

Strike One: The driver's eyes were off the road so long while texting she lost control of her car, striking the median guardrail of Rt. 495 northbound in Haverhill.

and

Speed & texting blamed for deadly crash

Driver sent text just a minute before fatal wreck

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"In 2008 there were more than 6,000 deaths across the United States caused by texting drivers, and these numbers only grew to almost double in 2009. Hands-free laws have been passing in several states, but still drivers ignore the laws, and ignore the facts and consequences of texting while driving."

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There are some people who say (and there are stats which will back it up), that these laws just cause people to hide their texting more and that makes it more dangerous.

But I also just thought about the fact that each year, there are x amount of new 17 year olds who get a license and text, and y amount of 80-85 year old drivers who die that would never text while driving. So the stats are going to go up for a while.

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...is trollish.

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I wonder when they are going to pass a law against running red lights.

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A better law would be to ban the use of cell phones while driving. Yesterday a yammering driver almost plowed into me as I crossed a street when the walking sign was lit. She was not paying attention to anyone crossing the street because she was yammering on her cell phone.

For that matter banning cell phones, and bleeding MP3 players on subways and busses would stop what have becomes mobile Towers of Babel.

A young lady was yelling into her cell phone on the train this morning. When did subways become places for folks to yell at others via cell phones?

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At least they're not making junior operators display a big red R on the outside of their cars, like in New Jersey.

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