Utah Law Punishes Texters As Much As Drunks In Driving Fatalities

The NY Times reports on legislation in Utah which harshly penalizes people who cause fatal car accidents while texting. Instead of merely facing a fine, offenders may now get up to 15 years in jail — the same as drunk drivers. "In effect, a crash caused by such a multitasking motorist is no longer considered an 'accident' like one caused by a driver who, say, runs into another car because he nodded off at the wheel. Instead, such a crash would now be considered inherently reckless. 'It's a willful act,' said Lyle Hillyard, a Republican state senator and a big supporter of the new measure. 'If you choose to drink and drive or if you choose to text and drive, you're assuming the same risk.' The Utah law represents a concrete new response in an evolving debate among legislators around the country about how to reduce the widespread practice of multitasking behind the wheel — a topic to be discussed at a national conference about the dangers of distracted driving that is being organized by the Transportation Department for this fall."

Comments

Another dumb law with no way to prove one was

[ancient_kings]

tesing while driving. I can already see the state troopers coming to an accident with one person killed and saying, "Look! She had an iphone in her pocket! I'm going to arrest herfor for murder while texting! HA! I caught me a killer! I'm going to get promoted and buy that extra large dilydo my wife always wanted!" At least in drunk driving the blood test proves one was above the limit (though not drunk, there is big difference). How can you prove one was texting? You can't. Another dumb law to throw more Americans in jail, raise the taxes and make policians look like they are doing something. Well, I least we beat China in having the most percent of the population in prison.