Police Could Soon Have Radar Gun for Texting and Driving

[Misfit]

http://mashable.com/2014/09/25/radar-gun-texting-and-driving/?utm_cid=mash-com-Tw-main-link

You're not supposed to drive faster than the speed limit. You're not supposed to text while driving, either.

Police already have equipment that detects how fast you're going, of course, but a Virginia company is now developing technology to monitor texting and driving from a distance.

Following the radar-gun model, a Virginia company is working on a similar device that can pick up the specific radio frequencies emitted by text messages, according to The Virginian Pilot.

So if you're guilty of texting and driving, you'll have more to worry about from parked cops than a speeding ticket.

 

[merc669]

I have an ATT Smartphone which has an app that is installed on the phone which the user can enable that uses the GPS to engage a lock to not allow texting while the car is moving. To me this works like a charm and even though there are times I need to send something I find its not that important and forget about it. It does not prevent incoming texts but does auto reply that you are driving and as a responsible driver cannot text at this time but will when I can. I can live with that and it should be on all phones. Again its a matter of choice. I chose to enable this function. I can still make calls using my hands-free blue-tooth in car and dial 911 so I can keep both hands on the wheel and eyes on the road more... I for one would love to see the device mentioned above put in use. Would save a few lives I am sure..

 

[b23hqb]

I'm also for cops coming up with a reliable device to ticket offenders as well.

 

[punjabigyrl]

I agree. In the last 3 weeks, I was almost in a fender bender from idiots in the car behind me texting not looking and almost hit me.

 

[jayel]

This is a good idea, but how will it be able to tell who's texting? I drive my texting teenagers a lot of places and wonder if that means I will have to worry about dealing with the police?

 

[RPMDAD]

IMHO, good law if they only pull over vehicles with a driver in the vehicle with no passengers. Bad law if they are pulling cars over with passengers in it. To the best of my knowledge, it is not against the law to be a passenger in a car and text, it is only illegal if you are driving. Or as the article stated what if you are using hands free voice to text technology. Think this will open up a large can of worms.

 

[GWguy]

I use an app on my smartphone to auto-reply while I'm driving. So even if I don't physically pick up the phone to text, a text is still happening.

 

[GURPS]

I use an app on my smartphone to auto-reply while I'm driving. So even if I don't physically pick up the phone to text, a text is still happening.

simple, you be stopped and accused of texting while driving,

you then challenge the ticket in court ... where you get a judge that has not clue what you are talking about and fines you anyway

 

[glhs837]

simple, you be stopped and accused of texting while driving,

you then challenge the ticket in court ... where you get a judge that has not clue what you are talking about and fines you anyway

 

[LibertyBeacon]

IMHO, good law if they only pull over vehicles with a driver in the vehicle with no passengers. Bad law if they are pulling cars over with passengers in it. To the best of my knowledge, it is not against the law to be a passenger in a car and text, it is only illegal if you are driving. Or as the article stated what if you are using hands free voice to text technology. Think this will open up a large can of worms.

You're aware that modern smart phones can send text messages autonomously, yes? So a lone driver and a text message being sent means absolutely squat.

This is a terrible idea, but I'm not surprised to see you authoritarians are slobbering over this.