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Campus Question – February 8, 2013

February 8, 2013

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Campus Question – February 8, 2013

Tonight’s question, greetings, and banter here. (More)

Today a Florida Democratic Party leaders’ email announced that state senator Darren Soto (D-Orlando) and state representative Irv Slosberg (D-Boca Raton) proposed a bill to make texting while driving punishable as vehicular homicide if the texting driver causes a death. Texting while driving does not violate current Florida law, although it may be the basis for a traffic infraction after an accident, even if the accident killed someone. So far, 39 states have banned texting while driving. Should texting while driving that causes death be vehicular homicide?

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9 Responses to “Campus Question – February 8, 2013”

  1. NCrissieB Says:
    February 8, 2013 at 6:01 pm

    Today on Campus

    Morning Feature – Planning for 2014, Part II: Where Is “There?”
    Midday Matinee – triciawyse with Frieday Critters
    Our Earth – Magnetism Takes Salmon Home

  2. addisnana Says:
    February 8, 2013 at 6:04 pm

    I think no one who is driving should be texting. Period. Florida’s proposed law seems rather stupid.

    In the category of chatter, this video really touched me.

  3. Norbrook Says:
    February 8, 2013 at 6:06 pm

    I don’t see why it shouldn’t have more stringent penalties in that case. It’s the same as “driving while ability impaired” (or intoxicated). I don’t know about “vehicular homicide,” in terms of what Florida’s penalty for that is.

    Seriously, people need to have some sense. Texting while driving? You’re just asking to get yourself, or someone else, killed.

    • Norbrook Says:
      February 8, 2013 at 6:13 pm

      Social Chatter: I could say how horrible the weather is here, but really? Meh. We’ve had about 4 or 5″ so far, and it looks like we might get another couple of inches. Nothing like the southern part of the state or Massachusetts is getting, and our roads should be cleared off and fine by tomorrow. One bad thing about school cancellations (ours was) is that the road crews don’t feel any need to plow more regularly. :cry:

  4. NCrissieB Says:
    February 8, 2013 at 6:09 pm

    The full email press release:

    Tallahassee – State Senator Darren Soto (D-Orlando) and State Representative Irv Slosberg (D-Boca Raton) are proposing a bill that would make vehicular homicide the standard penalty for causing a death due to texting while driving. Currently, the State of Florida does not have a law against texting while driving – even when death occurs as a result. Since there is no statewide standard, offenders who have caused a death may get away with as little as a traffic citation.

    According to a recent article in the Daytona Beach News-Journal, Florida Highway Patrol Sergeant Richard Davis commented about the penalties for causing a death while texting and driving: “The hard ones are when all they are getting is a ticket, because it’s just an accident. It’s tough to tell a family member that’s all they are going to get.”

    Senator Soto filed Senate Bill 708 to be introduced during this year’s legislative session. “While the debate may wage on regarding a ban on texting while driving, there should be no debate that if you kill someone due to texting while driving you should go to jail. Period,” Senator Soto said.

    This seems like common sense. So of course it will be a heavy lift in Florida’s Republican-led state legislature. Look at the states without texting-while-driving laws. You won’t be shocked…. :roll:

  5. Jim W Says:
    February 8, 2013 at 6:37 pm

    The Fix has speculative rankings for Republican presidential candidates for 2016.

    1. Marco Rubio: The Florida senator
    2. Chris Christie: The New Jersey governor
    3. Bobby Jindal: The Louisiana governor

    And seven more. VA Gov Bob McDonnell was not included.

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