Comments on: Emergency Texters, A National Issue

By: Angryman

Angryman — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 05:55:52 +0000

There is a simple fix to this. Pressure your local governement to hire more Police Officers. The Police will need two officers in every car so that one can drive while the other receives the rapidly evolving dispatches and updates. The public will be safer and happy, the Police will be safer and happy and the Guardian readers will be happy. Problem solved, at least until everyone wants to go back the way it was because of the higher taxes.

The other fix would be to take away the technology advancement and go back to emergency responders receiving their information via radio and using a pen and paper while driving. Might still be safer with a passenger side cohort to jot everything down since driving with a pen in your hand is like running with scissors.

EDITOR NOTE–We just got word that SB 1352 has an amendment inserted that gives coppers and firefighters an exemption. Expect to hear, “Sir, I can do this safely but you are as bad as a DUI. This is a texting citation.”

By: Lisa

Lisa — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 22:23:30 +0000

We have laptops in all of our fire apparatus, rescue and command vehicles. The crews use them to gather gis data,gps data, weather data, incident information ect, vital info while responding to an incident. The Engine Captains or backseaters use the laptops, the driver never does unless while the vehicle is stopped. Besides the laptops the Engine Captain also have multi-channel radios, blackberries, pda’s, cell phones, satelite phones that keep them occupied.

By: dog

dog — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 21:29:07 +0000

I think the ban should also include bicycle riders. I almost wrecked trying use my cell phone and riding. I sure felt like a moron. Never again while driving anything. Nothing is that important.

By: Kappa TA

Kappa TA — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 20:39:32 +0000

Acquaintances of mine who consistently use cell phones or text while driving are combattive about the texting ban law instead of using commen sense on the roads. You simply cannot concentrate on the roads, signs, traffic, turn offs, etc., while engaging in long-winded conversations or texting. I have ridden along with paramedics and they always have a driver and another paramedic on board to monitor screens and write reports and are generally followed by at least one commander. Most law enforcement officers I’ve observed do pull off the road to write reports. There should not be any exceptions to this law. Safety is paramount…just ask the parents of the young man and young woman who recently died tragically in vehicular accidents in the Treasure Valley due to texting. Will this law be easy to enforce? Probably not, but a stiff fine might make some think twice about putting gadgets we’ve done without for eons above human life.

By: brat1

brat1 — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 17:27:56 +0000

All I know is that you can always tell if you are driving behind someone texting or talking on a hand held cell phone! They are erratic!

By: Brianthedog

Brianthedog — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 16:27:57 +0000

Good luck on enforcing this new law. My defense will be I was making a phone call, not texting. Yes, people lie all the time to cops. Prove I was texting. Oh, and another thing. Get a warrant to see my phone.

By: bikeboy

bikeboy — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 16:24:34 +0000

Steve Lewis: … the next time you want the emergency responder responding to your emergency to have all the info in front of him so he knows what he is going to or getting into, or what you need, you will be probably be happy for it.

This argument is used a lot; that the police should get a dispensation because they are on their way to rescue your loved ones.

The notion of a police officer speeding down the street, running lights, weaving in and out of traffic, siren blaring… and simultaneously staring at his computer screen? That’s some SCARY stuff!! If some poor bystander gets creamed by the guy, would his survivors also acknowledge that it was a small price to pay, for the emergency-responder “to have all the info”?

Just because you wear a badge and have maybe completed the emergency-maneuvering course, doesn’t turn you into Mario Andretti, or Michael Schumacher, or even Dale Junior. (They could probably complete the task at hand… most of us mere mortals can’t.)

EDITOR NOTE– Dick Chaney would call that “collateral damage.”

By: LJ

LJ — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 05:26:16 +0000

I think you are missing some important issues with this bill. I am a Police Officer, but not a traffic cop. I believe the traffic laws all have their place, but are sometimes used more than needed, simply for a fund generating tool (not to be blamed on the cops, but the politicians who push the enforcement). This bill will greatly add to this problem. The bill text prohibits:

“engaging in the review of, or preparation and transmission of typed messages via wireless devices.”

Think about how vague this is, and what it extends to. Not only does this prohibit people from texting on a phone, it also includes ‘reviewing’ any transmission on a wireless device. Anyone use a GPS system? You can’t anymore if this bill passes. Does your phone ring and you want to look screen to see who is calling? You just violated this law, and if an Officer sees you look at your phone he/she can legally stop you. Have a TOM TOM or a GARMIN on your dash? Seems pretty easy that an Officer can now stop you for that. How about satellite radio? Seems like a wireless device to me!

My point is this: This law is very vague, and simply over extends the reach of law enforcement.

By: steve lewis

steve lewis — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 04:48:28 +0000

In response to Lawman, I would take a guess that you were probably a “command officer” for many years. I applaud that. However, by you taking from my writings on this freedom of speech blog that I have a “combative attitude” and am “trying to pick fights”, you take my comments all wrong. The majority of the time I am trying to get the point(s) across that emergency responders deserve a little more respect for the job they do, and that people that continually bash them in here would not want to do. If you have seen any of my previous responses you would see that line of speech in every one I have written. And just so you know sir, I know that the majority of people in Boise do support their police department, but it is the 1%-2% that write here that don’t, and though I will never change their minds, I will not stop expressing my beliefs as I am entitled to.

By: Matt

Matt — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 01:15:21 +0000

The Boise fire department does not allow the drivers of a fire apparatus to work on the computer, text or talk on the phone while driving. How do I know this for sure? I’m a Boise firefighter. The Captain works the computer. the Driver doesn’t have access to it. I can’t even see the screen from the driver’s seat. And personal phone use is out while on a truck or engine.

Zippo, BFD has a policy that the fire apparatus will come to a full stop at all red lights or stop signs. There is good and bad with every policy, but this one is on the books and is expected to be followed.

EDITOR NOTE–Matt, thanks for the info. Good policy , especially with my expensive rig! Policy on computer is probably the same for ACEMS too. Nemo will probably let us know on that. ISP has privately said they avoid reading and driving too.