Menu

Argument: Cell phone ban is unnecessary; careless driving laws are sufficient

Issue Report: Banning cell phones in cars

Support

Lee Domenik of The Campanile. “Cell phone ban an unnecessary intrusion”. Paly Voice. September 25, 2006 – Laws already in place make it illegal to not pay attention to the road or drive in an unsafe manner. Passing this law would only annoy a few unlucky drivers.

Lauren Weinstein. “Cell-Phone Ban Not a Good Call”. Wired. September 12th, 2002 – Given what we know right now, our efforts shouldn’t be toward banning particular activities, be they cell-phone use, eating, adjusting the radio, coping with the kids in the back seat or other common behaviors.

Rather, we should be enforcing laws against the real problem, distracted driving in general.

“Do We Need Laws Against Cell Phones?”. Canada Safety Council. – Enforce Existing Laws. Careless driving laws are already in place to prosecute drivers who do not make the driving task their top priority when using a wireless phone. For example, under the Ontario Highway Traffic Act, drivers guilty of driving without due care and attention pay a fine from $200 to $1,000. Offenders also receive demerit points, which can significantly affect their insurance rates. Similar penalties apply in other provinces including Quebec.

Kathy Tatone, Attorney. “OPINION: Laws Restricting Cell Phone Use While Driving Go Too Far”. The Attorney Store. Feb. 21, 2008 – Even if driving while using a cell phone was a huge problem—a fact that statistics do not support—it should be addressed by broad distracted driver statutes such as those in Utah and New Hampshire. Such reckless driving laws allow police officers to pull over cell phone users who drive dangerously. Let’s use these laws, which have worked for decades, to punish dangerous drivers.