The simple reason for MDT’s is to preserve radio “airtime” for emergency traffic. Simple question, “How many more radio channels would be required if each officer was required to get all of their information over the radio?” Or, “How much more money is the public willing to spend on communications?”

Are MDT’s a distraction to driving?…absolutely. Is it the same as someone texting?…of course not. The discussion is just another feeble attempt at questioning one; “Boise City” and two; public servants. 🙁

And cops can listen to a dispatcher on the radio without taking their eyes off the road. They cannot read without taking their eyes off the road.

EDITOR NOTE–Ladies, please ignore the comment.

EDITOR NOTE–They DO have mishaps. Dept. policy is to report any damage to cars in excess of $25. We don’t need to saddle them with a records request, but suffice it to say, #$$%& happens. Most often it is bumping a curb-type thing or other minor incident. Sometimes they cross the center line… There isn’t often a conflict with other vehicles because as mentioned in comments here, others see the big white stallion and avoid it (marked patrol car).

I for one am in support of the ban. There has been limited research that has foused on components of driving (braking, steering, etc) and attention span times while texting and experiancing other distractions, and they are all pretty clear. Texting, carrying on a conversation, all are bad while driving.

HOWEVER, I did run accross this interesting article….

http://www.freep.com/article/20100129/BUSINESS01/1290322/1002/Business/Barring-handheld-cell-phones-doesnt-cut-crashes-study-says

I still believe that distracted driving is bad…unfortunately some of it is unavoidable in todays world.

Most cops I’ve seen do park on side streets to write their reports, although I’ve seen exceptions of turning on flashing lights in the middle of traffic for no known reason, confusing other motorists. In the case of paramedics, there are always two, one drives and the other writes the report. I don’t think anyone, including public safety officers or politicians, should be exempted from inattentive driving laws any more than they should be exempted from drunk driving, murder,false arrest, harassment, fraud, or any other crime. NO ONE should be immune from the laws. NO ONE is any more important than anyone else. A uniform or title isn’t a license to harm others. Again, as I’ve written before, we need to stop engaging in “hero worship” and hold everyone who breaks laws accountable.