Maine Biker Network
" Maine Bikers Helping Maine Bikers "
ACTION ALERT!! Texting While Driving
I just got word from the clerk of the Transportation Committee that there will be a public hearing on LD 1808, An Act To Exempt from the Prohibition against Text Messaging While Driving Emergency Personnel Who Are Acting in the Course of Their Duties. The hearing is scheduled for Tuesday, February 21, in room 126 of the State House.
I think this bill could have a direct impact on the motorcyclists, in fact all motorists, of this state resulting in the reduction of highway safety that the law prohibiting texting while driving provides. In light of my concerns with this bill I have sent a letter to all the members of the Transportation Committee expressing my concerns and asking that they not passs this bill from committee.
My letter is below. Feel free to use it as is (just change my name to yours) or use it as a guide to write your own thoughts. Please contact the committee and let them know your thoughts on this bill before Tuesday the 21st.
The addresses for the committee members is on the first page of the Maine Rights Page under Contact Information for 125th Legislature.
Dear Chairman Collins, Representative Cebra and the members of the Transportation Committee,
I regret that I am unable to attend the public hearing for LD 1808, An Act To Exempt from the Prohibition against Text Messaging While Driving Emergency Personnel Who Are Acting in the Course of Their Duties, scheduled for Tuesday, February 21.
I would like to enter remarks pertaining to this bill into the public record. I am against the passage of this bill from committee. My reasons for my opposition are:
(1) Texting while driving is a very serious distraction and I feel that no one should be exempt from this prohibition. Emergency Responders, Law Enforcement personnel nor anyone else should be exempted from a law designed to protect the general public while driving on our highway system.
(2) Emergency personnel that are responding to an emergency situation are put in an even more dangerous position due to the rapidity of their response. So therefore the distraction of texting while engaged in an emergency response is compounded and the result of that distraction could compromise the safety of the emergency responder and the general public as well.
Thank you for considering my thoughts on this legislation.
Joshua Herndon
39 Main Street Hill
Dexter, ME 04930
Views: 38
Replies to This Discussion
-
Permalink Reply by Butch Knowles on -
Medics, LEO's, FF's...all operating lights, siren, talking on the radio, trying to deduce what they're getting into and what they need to do when they get there are all busy enough as it is....and now we have a legislator who introduces a bill like this? "I don't care who y'are...that there's dumb".
-
Permalink Reply by Joshua Herndon on -
After listening to the public hearing testimony for the bill I have an update on LD 1808.
It seems that this bill orginated with some of the law enforcement agencies around the state because the way existing law is written. The wording in the existing law defines 'while driving' as being behind the wheel of a vehicle with the intent of operating the vehicle. As current law is written it prohibits law enforcement from using their Mobil Data Terminal during a traffic stop or getting an update while responding to a call. The intent of the bill sponsor nor law enforcement was not to exempt the use of cell phones or other devices, but to address the MDT issue.
LD 1808 was badly written because it is so broad in scope so the Transportation committee will work to narrow the scope to MDTs during the work session for the bill. From testimony presented and remarks made by committee members at the public hearing I feel an amendment will be offered to change the wording of the bill to address this.
-
Permalink Reply by Butch Knowles on
-
Ahhh....and now we know!! Thanks Josh!
© 2012 Created by Jeff Neil MBN Founder.
