Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood wants you to think the government is getting tough on distracted driving:
Government Steps Up Effort To Combat Distracted Driving
WASHINGTON — Calling texting and cellphone use “a national epidemic,” Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood laid out a blueprint Thursday for stepped-up federal efforts and pressure on states to crack down on distracted driving.
However, the truth is that this is all rhetoric and these efforts lack any real legal backing. For example, driving while texting in Pennsylvania will result in a $50 ticket. No points. No license suspension. On one hand you have the government calling distracted driving “a national epidemic” and on the other hand there is no real punishment to stop people. When you compare these punishments to those of DUI, this hypocrisy becomes more apparent.
I highlighted this hypocrisy in a previous post: Is it Legal to Play Angry Birds while Driving?
So why is the government playing these games with the public and exposing people to this “national epidemic?” It is actually very simple. Very powerful lobbies like MADD work to get stricter laws for DUI. Very powerful (and deep-pocketed) cell phone lobbies work to get looser laws against cell phone use while driving. The laws in this country are dictated by money not by public safety.
While the government plays its shell game, the risk to the public is increasing.
As long as our politicians keep bowing to special interests, we will never have fair laws.
Justin McShane
PA DUI attorney Justin J. McShane is the President/CEO of The McShane Firm, LLC - Pennsylvania's top criminal law and DUI law firm. He is the highest rated DUI attorney in PA as rated by Avvo.com. Justin McShane is a double Board certified attorney. He is the first and so far the only Pennsylvania attorney to achieve American Bar Association recognized board certification in DUI defense from the National College for DUI Defense, Inc. He is also a Board Certified Criminal Trial Advocate by the National Board of Trial Advocacy, a Pennsylvania Supreme Court Approved Agency.