Assemblyman Chuck DeVore on the Dr. Phil Show

The Dr. Phil Show invited Assemblyman Chuck DeVore to debate California's ban on driver text messaging with the liberal author of the ban (he also wrote the law banning hand-held cell phone use by drivers). DeVore argued that the ban was unneeded since there is already a tough law in place against reckless driving and furthermore, that it is nearly impossible for police to tell the difference between punching in a phone number, which is legal, and texting, which is illegal.

Category:

News & Politics

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• Assemblyman
• Chuck
• DeVore
• text
• message
• ban
• cell
• phone
• law
• liberty
• nanny
• state

[azbusybee]

As a former So. Californian who drove freeways everyday to and from work, what about those women who finish putting their makeup while going 70 mph on the freeways?

Are we going to have a law for that too?

[LIBERTYORDEATH2008]

Dr. Phil = Anti-Gun liberal.... Chuck DeVore = Common-Sense Public Servant!

[wainber1]

@wachman: Well-written traffic laws are necessary to deter motorists from all sorts of avoidable driving behaviours, among them: speeding; aggressive driving; dangerous driving; distracted driving; and impaired driving. It so happens one trucker in England, when stopped by police for using a handheld cellphone while driving, was convicted of a DUI and had his licence suspended for 18 months from the date of his conviction (from "Motor Cops in Truck get Drunk trucker").

[wainber1]

@napapjd: I don't agree that people should be allowed to drive hammered. It has resulted in too many deaths on our roads. The House of Commons of my home country, Canada, passed legislation awhile ago that allows judges to sentence drivers convicted of impaired driving causing death to a maximum term of life imprisonment. Tough penalties against impaired driving are commonplace in other countries because it is a very serious offence, and should be treated that way.

[wainber1]

Poorly written laws on handheld cellphones and driving aren't good. A lot of foreign countries ban, nationwide, the use of handheld cellphones while driving. There's a good reason for this, and also why, for instance, the British Crown Prosecution Service has manuals to assist it in prosecuting cases of bad driving, and that using handheld cellphones while driving can be used as an aggravating factor against defendants accused of using handheld cellphones while driving.

[msqared80]

The cop can ask the driver for the phone get an okay to search it and look for the corresponding time stamp if it was a call or a text. If it was a call then Let Bygones be Bygones,and let the driver be if it WAS a TEXT then ticket the driver remind them of WHY it is IMPORTANT not to Text while driving (the amount of attention diverted from basic operation of the vehicle) Wish them well and go about serving the publics good interest. Agree that this is a function of an Officers duty to Protect.

[madeinamerica650]

Devore's stances on issues are always based on common sense and not political feel good bullshit. And that is why I voted for him!

[MCKrusty]

@andrewrosso what are you talking about?  Chuck's against raising taxes.

[Ma3lst0rm]

It is refreshing to hear a common sense voice in Chuck DeVore in a political world filled with "well intentioned" idiots.

[andrewrosso]

Chuck DeVore thats the fucker that that passed the biggest tax increase in the history of man kind wow.

[wachman]

No one seems to want to address the real issue here. Its not about 'should we have a law for this' or 'we need a law for that' just cause it makes sense on the surface. we have to address the underlying problem. Personal responsibility is the key issue here. Sure everyone has rights, but exercising them any way you want doesn't come without consequence. It's YOUR responsibility to exercise your rights in a manner that doesn't pose a danger to others. too many people take that for granted.

[wachman]

@nurseypie

from a practical and unbiased point of view, you have a very sound and sensible mindset of the role of laws in this country.