Yet another reason to avoid that town like the plague
HIPPIES!!!!!!!!!

http://gizmodo.com/5896729/us-city-completely-bans-all-cell-phone-use-while-driving-yes-that-includes-bluetooth

Quote :

"Though banning cell phone usage while driving isn't new, Chapel Hill, North Carolina is taking it a step further than everyone else: the city is banning people from even using Bluetooth or any hands-free device while driving too. Basically, the city doesn't want you talking on the phone at all, while driving..."

3/27/2012 10:11:34 AM

tarholes

3/27/2012 10:12:50 AM

Quote :

"Drivers can still make calls to their spouse, parent or child and of course, make emergency calls too."

... this is gay

3/27/2012 10:16:47 AM

Effective June 1.

3/27/2012 10:17:57 AM

Ridiculous. Let's go ahead and ban GPS devices, radios, eating while driving, talking to passengers, etc. while we're at it.

3/27/2012 10:19:42 AM

^^^What a waste of a law.

[Edited on March 27, 2012 at 10:20 AM. Reason : ;]

3/27/2012 10:20:24 AM

So, how is a cop going to know who you are talking to on the phone? Or do they pull over everyone talking on the phone, and then seize the phone to see if you're talking to a contact saved as "Mom, Dad" etc.? This is a ridiculous bullshit law that's just going to cause people a lot of headache, and have absolutely no enforcement power whatsoever.

3/27/2012 10:21:24 AM

another unenforceable law with minimal penalty over this

3/27/2012 10:22:35 AM

Quote :

"The new ordinance makes cellphone use behind the wheel a secondary offense, meaning an officer must first stop a vehicle for another reason before issuing a citation for violating the ban. "This isn't really banning talking on a cellphone. It's banning talking on a cellphone if you've done something noticeably bad when you're driving," said council member Ed Harrison. Violators of the ban will face a $25 fine. The town plans to educate drivers about the law, including posting signs at the town limits."

http://www.wral.com/news/local/story/10908596/

[Edited on March 27, 2012 at 10:23 AM. Reason : completely pointless]

3/27/2012 10:22:54 AM

Quote :

"Questions have also been raised about whether a municipality has the authority to enact such a ban. A state assistant attorney general sent a letter in February saying that towns don't have the authority to pass a cellphone ban."

3/27/2012 10:23:21 AM

The fact that it's a secondary offense makes it somewhat better, but I still disagree with the ordinance. If a cop wants to pull you over for talking on your phone, then they'll find or make up a reason to pull you over anyways. And if you're using a BT connection (such as through the vehicle) how can a cop tell if you're talking on the phone, or just singing, talking to yourself, or maybe recording some notes, etc.? I'm not saying any are safer than the other (you're still "distracted" but one action is illegal, the others are not). And how are they going to know who you're talking to anyways? Unenforceable and still not a way to truly make roads safer. Bad drivers are bad drivers.

Building on what adultswim said, should we ban passengers, radios, GPS, billboards, etc.?


I also have problems with city/county ordinances that are far reaching and can can create accidental criminals. If you're not from around here, you won't know the ordinances, and no one ever looks that shit up. While ignorance of the law is no excuse (except for cops apparently), it's still not right to make laws that create criminals for otherwise harmless actions. This applies to this cell phone ban, local firearm ordinances, etc.

[Edited on March 27, 2012 at 10:30 AM. Reason : .]

3/27/2012 10:27:27 AM

Only a $25 fine? Is this an extreme case of "spanking with a wet noodle" or a greedy case "we gotta figure out a way to increase our tax revenue"?

3/27/2012 10:28:48 AM

If it's a moving violation, isn't it fine + court costs? I got a $15 ticket once, but they wanted over $100 in court costs.

3/27/2012 10:46:43 AM

^I think that's correct. Not to mention, if you've got to subpoena your cell records, and somehow prove you were talking to one of the exceptions to the law. That's a huge hassle, and most people would just pay the fine to keep from jumping through the ridiculous hoops.

And how can you expect people driving through town on 40/85 to know of this rule?

3/27/2012 10:51:12 AM

i think chapel hill just wanted to put itself on the map for this

someone (hell maybe even the AG) is bound to sue, and the courts will deal with it. it's a state matter IMO, you shouldn't have to worry about the rules of the road changing per what city/town you're in.

plus, talking hands free is roughly the equivalent to talking to a passenger in your car. so we gonna make all cars 1-seaters?

[Edited on March 27, 2012 at 11:00 AM. Reason : .]

3/27/2012 10:57:10 AM

Surely, they'll have to do something to the "Move Over" law campaign before they begin enforcing.

My phone connects to my head unit, and I answer calls through it. No flashy ear piece to the tip them off.

3/27/2012 10:58:00 AM

^^AG has already sent a letter saying they're out of bounds. I don't think this one will go far.

3/27/2012 10:59:36 AM

this is all because someone with a bit of leverage on the powers that be, got mad because their kid was killed in a wreck because of a cell phone.

3/27/2012 10:59:55 AM

you can not talk on the phone while driving in New York.

this isnt new.

3/27/2012 11:26:20 AM

^handheld.

3/27/2012 11:27:20 AM

yes

3/27/2012 11:30:00 AM

This includes bluetooth, and all other forms of hands free talking... so yes, it is new.

[Edited on March 27, 2012 at 11:30 AM. Reason : ]

3/27/2012 11:30:30 AM

i didnt read it

3/27/2012 11:34:33 AM

Yet you replied as if you had. What a catastrophic fuck up on your part.

3/27/2012 11:42:58 AM

they can still use them in their ass though

3/27/2012 11:47:06 AM

Only on vibrate

3/27/2012 11:49:04 AM

I really have a problem with local ordinances impacting intra-state travelers. If a local government wants to have ordinances that apply to residents, fine. If they want to have stricter penalties for state laws (e.g. litering, speeding, etc.) then fine. But the word and intent of the law needs to be consistent within a state. These ordinances create accidental criminals and sometimes felons for no good reason at all. Inter-state travel is often bad enough when states have such varied laws (speaking in general terms of being in other states; not just the actual transportation) that we don't need to create the same problem within a state.

3/27/2012 11:55:14 AM

No truth to the rumor that Chapel Hill residents have devised a plan to skirt this rule by placing the phone in the rectums and texting vibrating messages in Morse Code.

3/27/2012 11:56:35 AM

Quote :

"they can still use them in their ass though"

Quote :

"Only on vibrate"

thread won

3/27/2012 11:57:39 AM

put a statement of the ordinance on every welcome to chapel hill sign and a warning on every orange county sign

3/27/2012 11:57:59 AM

Someone should draw a picture of "FREEDOM" on a stick, roasting over a campfire.

3/27/2012 1:43:44 PM

Quote :

"they can still use them in their ass though"

Quote :

"Only on vibrate"

thread won

3/27/2012 4:48:50 PM

My CHPD friend said that it is only banned on city streets so everything except for 15-501/Fordham Blvd is fair game-- also said that it was basically unenforceable and most of the officers hate it.

3/27/2012 9:42:50 PM

^Excellent use of town time and resources.

3/27/2012 9:43:36 PM

I am listening to Beethoven's violin concerto right now



your name made me think of that

cool story bro

3/27/2012 9:49:21 PM

Sweet. Your name makes me think of the Nintendo song. Both great masterpieces.

3/27/2012 9:51:23 PM

inoriteeeee

3/27/2012 9:53:49 PM

I can see some big fat Porky Pig cop pulling me you over on your to rape a Chapel Hill coed. He waddles up to the side of your car and he asks to see your phone. Your brand new phone that you just got because you're always like two years behind on technology and its still fucking awesome to you. He run his greasy dirt laden sausage fingers all over the screen, and you know he just scratched his balls; probably picked his butt too. You sit there, with a look of pure contempt on your face, and you want nothing more than to just punch him in the face and take off. But you can't, because he's a cop, and it's the law. The stupidest law to pass since the Nineteenth Amendment.

3/27/2012 9:59:45 PM

Quote :

"I can see some big fat Porky Pig cop pulling me you over on your to rape a Chapel Hill coed."

wat

3/27/2012 10:01:19 PM

I was going to write it about myself, but then I figured BubbleBobble was probably much more likely to be a rapist than me, so I audibled, but didn't delete that first pronoun.

3/27/2012 10:02:49 PM

coming to a city near you: http://textface.com/

3/27/2012 11:58:36 PM

Not reading all this shit, but this is only enforced if you are caught using a phone during an additional offense. I totally support this. I can't count the number of times some stupid soccer mom has been swerving and shit on her god damn iphone

I'm Krallum and I approved this message.

[Edited on March 28, 2012 at 12:54 AM. Reason : fuck you steve joooobbbbsss]

3/28/2012 12:54:21 AM

Now pour it mane

3/28/2012 1:23:34 AM

At any rate, it is just another damn good reason to stay the hell out of Chapel Hill.

3/28/2012 8:22:48 AM

Look, I hate Chapel Hill as much as the next guy, however this ban I agree with and here's why:

1) If you're driving in Chapel Hill then you're not driving very far. Any phone call can wait.
2) Every day I see more and more clueless fuckers behind the wheel doing just about everything they can EXCEPT pay fucking attention to the road and actually drive like a decent fucking person.

I don't agree with government intervention but since it's the government's fault that they practically give driver's licenses away to any idiot with half a brain & require no training behind the wheel whatsoever I don't see a better option. Would I prefer that the government make it much harder to get a driver's license instead? Yes.

[Edited on March 28, 2012 at 8:51 AM. Reason : and it's not enforced on I-40, which isn't part of Chapel Hill.]

[Edited on March 28, 2012 at 8:52 AM. Reason : k]

3/28/2012 8:47:04 AM

^

I say if the government wants to do something, then quit giving clueless fuckers drivers licence's to begin with.

3/28/2012 10:27:50 AM

http://www.newsobserver.com/2012/04/01/1970433/police-challenged-by-cell-phone.html

Why this law is an epic fuck up.

4/1/2012 1:25:50 PM

That's the reason a law is an epic fuck up? Because they're not profiting from it?

[Edited on April 1, 2012 at 1:28 PM. Reason : .]

4/1/2012 1:27:47 PM

note to self:

go on crime spree in chapel hill, keep out of sight of pedestrians, remain visible to motorists who are lawfully unable to call the cops

4/1/2012 1:33:23 PM

set em up

4/1/2012 1:46:11 PM