Texas City Considers Text Message Ban

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(November 4, 2008)—Austin officials are considering a ban on text messaging while driving.

Austin's public safety task force approved a resolution Monday that the City Council ask City Manager Marc Ott and his staff to develop a proposal, vet it and take it back to the council for consideration.

Under the resolution, motorists would be required to use hands-free devices.

The Austin American-Statesman reports Councilman Mike Martinez said he has received dozens of calls in recent months from motorists, pedestrians and bicyclists asking for such a law.

Debbie Russell, president of the Central Texas chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union of Texas, said she's not sure it's necessary to "to create a crime for this distraction."

Seven states including Alaska, California, Connecticut, Louisiana, Minnesota, New Jersey and West Virginia have enacted laws banning text messaging by drivers.

Text messaging while driving also is banned in Washington, D.C.

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Comments are posted from viewers like you and do not always reflect the views of this station.

Posted by: Just sayin is all Location: Ft Hood on Nov 5, 2008 at 09:24 AM
Why should they make a law against it? If a person hits someone when changing radio stations or eating isnt that already a crime? Or should the sentence be harsher because some idiot was texting? Dumb @$$ driving is dumb @$$ driving. Its already a crime.

Posted by: Mother of Three Location: Temple on Nov 5, 2008 at 08:47 AM
I admit, I use my cell phone while driving but not very often and I don't drive recklessly while using it. I am in favor of using the hands-free devices because sometimes you NEED to talk when you're driving. (If you're lost and trying to find a place due to bad directions, etc.) I don't see this as a step to take all our freedoms away. People are DYING because other dummies don't know how to talk and drive at the same time. Some think if they slow down while talking it will help. Often it does not. We've come up on a driver going 45 on I-35 while talking on the phone. That creeps up on you really quickly, and try stopping an 18 wheeler on a dime. Use a hands-free device or get off the phone if you can't drive at the same time people.

Posted by: Bob Location: Belton on Nov 4, 2008 at 03:13 PM
Its about time, its bad enough that people cant stop talking on a phone long enough to drive much less text...I'm all for not talking on cell phones while driving period.If you have to talk, pull over and stop then talk on the stupid phone or better yet, wait until you get home...

Posted by: Hey Player Location: Texas on Nov 4, 2008 at 01:50 PM
It's not just the teenagers that don't know how to act. Try going through a school zone in the morning or anywhere during the work drive home. I am a woman and I am here to tell you that women/moms on their phones are THE WORST out there. I can admit it becasue I live by a school and it's liek a flippin' war zone out there with people acting well............like they don't know how to act.

Posted by: Mother of 3 Location: Belton on Nov 4, 2008 at 01:20 PM
I agree with Heart of Tx and Player...how can you drive and text at the same time? Just an accident/death waiting to happen. If it's that important....pull over!

Posted by: Marlin Location: Texas on Nov 4, 2008 at 12:18 PM
AUSTIN, A BLUE SMUDGE IN A RED STATE.... There aren't any REAL PROBLEMS that need to be addressed in Austin????? Apparently the Austin Council is just getting a head start on creating laws to control all aspects of life, just like the liberals in Washington D.C. will want to do provided NOBAMA gets elected. He's ready to pass laws assigning the government all sorts of power over every part of our lives. This is just another example of "pass laws to mandate 'good' behaviour". Too fat, pass a law, too cheap to buy health insurance, pass a law, too stupid to get a job, pass a law, too ENVIOUS OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE WORKED HARD ALL THIER LIVES AND HAVE SOMETHING YOU WANT, pass a law, don't like smoking, pass a law, don't like drinking, pass a law, don't believe in FREEDOM, pass a law! Expect loads more laws to "protect" us despite what we want. Expect to watch your freedom get outlawed by the same liberal weenies as Austin's Council Members are. Coming to you for your own good!

Posted by: William Location: Salado on Nov 4, 2008 at 12:07 PM
A ban on all non-hands-free use of a cell phone or any other electronic device should be mandated by the state, there have been multiple times while I drive that I have come close to being involved in an accident because of someone with their phone stuck to their ear and not paying attention to the road. I don’t care what the ACLU has to say about this law because it has to do with more than the civil liberties of those using the phone, but more for those that are affected by the outcome of someone not paying attention and causing an accident.

Posted by: Heart-Of-Texas Location: Waco on Nov 4, 2008 at 11:44 AM
THIS HAS 'NOTHING TO DO WITH THE A.C.L.U. IT HAS TO DO WITH THE DEATHS OF INNOCENT PEOPLE, AND THE 'NUT/IDIOT' USING THE DEVICE Back-To-The-Future!!

Posted by: Heart-Of-Texas Location: Waco on Nov 4, 2008 at 11:30 AM
It's about time,,,, and 'Outlaw' use Cell phones while driving too!!! 'Save-A-Lot-Of-Lives!!! Back-To-The-Future!!

Posted by: Michael Location: Waco on Nov 4, 2008 at 11:29 AM
DUH!!!

Posted by: player of the year Location: Waco,Tx on Nov 4, 2008 at 11:17 AM
Do it. A lot of people are bad drivers to begin with. Put a cell phone in their hand, and that's an accident, maybe a death waiting to happen. There are a lot of teenagers driving these days, and a lot of them don't know how to act behind the wheel. It seems like they don't comprehend that they are driving a machine that can kill somebody or themselves if they are not paying attention

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