Wisconsin Driving Laws: Text messaging ban

[AJE]

Text messaging ban bill passes Senate

Herald Times Reporter

MADISON — State Sen. Alan Lasee’s bill to ban text messaging while driving was approved by the State Senate Wednesday on a bi-partisan vote of 25-6.


“I urge the Assembly to act on the bill before session concludes,” Lasee said. “With all the distractions currently facing drivers, this is clearly one we can live without.”

However, the Assembly already has had its last regularly scheduled general session. Gov. Jim Doyle is considering calling for continuing legislative special sessions to deliberate budget repair bills.

Senate Bill 355 would require persons who violate the prohibition to be required to forfeit not more than $400 on first offense, and not more than $800 for a second offense. People text messaging while driving and causing accidents with injuries would face jail time.

Lasee said his bill was prompted by the death of a constituent who was struck by a motorist who had been text messaging.

Manitowoc Herald Times Reporter - Text messaging ban bill passes Senate

[pk]

We had text messages banned from our phones. One less thing to worry about and to pay for.

[CarolsCritterCare]

I can't text from my cell either.

[Latina]

I honestly dont think putting this into place will stop those who text while driving. An officer would have to prove that's what u were doing & most would just hold the phone low while doing so.

I see this was passed, but did anything become of it? i would think if it had, i would have seen it on the news or read it on channel3000 or something, by now.

[j10asen]

Text messaging ban bill passes Senate
This is an outrage!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
what other rights do they want to take from us?

Give me texting or give me death!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The next thing you know they will try to stop me from mutilti-tasking while driving to work. My part-time data entry job pays for my gas!!!!! Laptops were made to be front seat traveling companions!!! I suppose they will try to stop me from watching movies Too!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
geeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeze anyways!!!!

[CarolsCritterCare]

Coming back from Columbus I passed someone who was shaving while driving

[pk]

Can't imagine texting and driving at the same time...I have a hard enough time yelling at kids, talking on the phone, turning the radio, and reading my book...texting too?? Glad they want to stop that. lol

[pk]

Coming back from Columbus I passed someone who was shaving while driving

It's too funny how people must think while in a car they are invisible. I've seen a lot of the usual, eating, putting makeup on, putting contacts in, even brushing their teeth! lol This is all funny but it's the ones that are gross with their fingers up their noses that I can't get over...message here people...we can see you! lol

[j10asen]

Originally Posted by CarolsCritterCare

Coming back from Columbus I passed someone who was shaving while driving

when you are busy
and on the run
you need a shave
remember there is only one

BURMA SHAVE

[CarolsCritterCare]

Originally Posted by pk

...message here people...we can see you! lol

LOL You are on a roll today....

[CarolsCritterCare]

Originally Posted by j10asen

when you are busy
and on the run
you need a shave
remember there is only one

BURMA SHAVE

A jingle for a new TV comercial on Shaving while Driving ~ LOL


Internet Archive: Details: Classic Television Commercials (Part I)

[Blue Baboon]

My husband, who is a semi driver, was talking to another semi driver about talking on the cell phone while driving. The guy had a car whip across 3 lanes in front of him while the driver of the car was talking on his phone. Then the driver of the car flipped off the semi. The semi driver flipped him off in return. Then the driver of the car flips off the semi again. When the they both came to a stop, the semi driver got out and grabbed the guy's phone, throwing it on the ground. I laughed when I heard that. I wanted to smash people's phones on them so many times.

I have many pet peeves when it comes to cell phones.

[rudedog]

LoL, this is a great idea, however i think its going to be completely unenforceable.
when i was a truck driver i saw people doing all kinds of things they should not have been doing. personally i have no idea how they got to work or home alive most of the time, some didn't.
texting while operating a vehicle is just plain dangerous, and only proves how addicted to the cell phone the operator is, and that they are generally willing to commit vehicular suicide if not homicide to feed the addiction.
i have always believed there are certain places that cell phones(which i call slave modules) just dont belong. in your hand while driving is most definitly one of them.
even though i am definitly pro technology, there is a time and place for such things, and some tech just gets downright abused. cell phones is one of things that get abused regularly.
actually at one time i got so disturbed by the whole cell phone addicts thing, I threw mine away. yep life is much easier without them. oh did i mention quieter, and safer, and i can go to public places without everyone getting upset and thinking about jumping me. yep im socially acceptable again. well.....ok...kinda', sorta'.

[Blue Baboon]

I love the people that are in the restroom stall next to you and talking on a phone. That's just plain disgusting. I'm sure the person on the other end wants to hear toilets flushing in the background.

[Latina]

I dont have to look at my phone when i text, but i still dont think it's safe to be doing so while driving, though i will admit i have done it & most likely will again if need be, this is not a law likely to be followed by many.

I'm sure anyone with a cell has talked on their phone while driving at some point or another & man would i LOVE for some fool to try & walk up to take my phone (to smash it or whatever), that would NOT be a very pleasent experience for them, guaranteed.

[Twoaday]

It seems to me people surely don't need to be texting while driving but I wondering if this law will really have any impact on stopping people from doing it.

[Blue Baboon]

If anyone wants my 2 cents on cell phones and driving, I don't think people should be using them period while driving. They are a distraction and we sure don't need any more distractions. Nothing is really that important that it can't wait until you are stopped. Remember it wasn't that long ago when no one had a cell phone and yet we still managed.

My husband is a semi driver and I've heard so many stories about the stupid driving of others. Often it's people on cell phones. He won't even answer his cell phone when he's driving, even if it's his boss. He waits until he is stopped and can talk safely.

If anyone wants to say they "have to" talk on the phone while driving, then how are you going to feel when you hit someone's car? Think about that case in Juneau (I think that's where) a few years ago where the guy went through a stop sign and ended up killing a pregnant woman. He was still talking on his phone even after he stepped out of his car. If I remember right, he got charged with manslaughter.

I would hate to see anything happen to any of you because of talking on a phone while driving. Don't think it can never happen to you, because it can happen to anyone.

[j10asen]

I think it's so much fun
texting while on highyway 41
feel the wind blow through my hair
send a note to someone out there
check the weather
check the news
call the office
get the blues
check your stocks
hear the sports
surf the web
and download ofcourse
use your cell while on the road
multi-task and overload
mp3's,tv shows
newspaper headlines
video's to go
my cell is with me all the time
so driving with one is just fine
with my bluetooth
I'm just like Spock
ported to my laptop with a dock
blackberry,email,tech delight
sync my car,sync my life
so don't tell me to put them down
I need them to help me get around

stoney rohde

[rudedog]

yeah, but did ol'stoney text that to you or did he figure it all out after he was out of the car?

[j10asen]

Originally Posted by rudedog

yeah, but did ol'stoney text that to you or did he figure it all out after he was out of the car?

he sent it to me via carfax.com

[kmfarm]

Law enforcement didn't need another law to stop folks from texting or using cell phones while driving. "Inattentive driving" would cover all of that. Been on the books for years. Politicians just need some feel good publicity again. The fact that it's not comman to get a ticket for inattentive driving doesn't mean it can't be done. It should be. I've got very strong feelings on cell phones and peoples "right" to drive while gabbing or texting.

Texting is silly anyway. It was developed so school kids could run up the bills while in class or for people to "converse" while they're supposed to be working.

Gotta hand it to the cell phone companies, very good marketing. Huge revenues.

[kookookachoo]

Ouch! Anyone who thinks texting and driving is a good idea should be a passenger, not a driver, lol! Shame we have to feel the need to enact laws that should be just plain common sense, eh? Hard to enforce tho... but if you cause an accident while texting, it gives law enforcement one more thing to charge you with!

[Kens Digital Media]

I've been at a stop sign/lights many times waiting for cars to pass and noticed many people looking at their laps all the way through the intersection.

It makes me think, how many words do people text before they look up. Do they look up every few feet traveled, half a block or more? Can they text fast or are they slow at entering the letters. I'm guessing each time someone looks down to text going 25mph a half block passes them by, am I right?

If that's true that's scary. Think of all the people that open their car doors right when your almost on them and you have to swerve quick or pop the guys door off or that ball rolling out in the street, yeah a kid follows the ball.

Texting and driving don't mix!

As for the people driving saying I wasn't texting, it's simple, have it set up where the police can contact the phone company and ask, in a 2 minute period around say 3.55 p.m. has there been any text messages from said user ( only a yes or no answer to preserve privacy issues ). If yes then they're busted. If the driver wants to challenge it they can get their detailed records and prove otherwise.

[pk]

Remember the olden days when we had phones with cords that was connected to the wall in our homes where they belonged and not in our hands while driving??

[kookookachoo]

I was just talking about that yesterday.. saw several people talking on their cell phone in a parking lot and commented to my friend that I wonder how people survived before cell phones? Of course, being older than the hills, I knew the answer already.. no one ever dreamed we'd have the capability of a cell phone when I was young and we could wait til we got home to call someone.

Of course, try and find a pay phone these days.. if you're stuck on the side of a road, a cell phone is certainly handy then! (I can recall being on the road with a CB for just such a reason tho)

Originally Posted by pk

Remember the olden days when we had phones with cords that was connected to the wall in our homes where they belonged and not in our hands while driving??