New CA cell phn lw ds nt prohibit txt msging. Ur bff Jill apprvs.

I'm a bit of a libertarian at heart. I think the seatbelt laws are unconstitutional. But even I was glad to see an attempt made at curbing cell phone use while driving. It is estimated that between 300-600 lives will be saved each year from this law - I assume they base this estimate on traffic related deaths involving cell phones and that it's not just some number pulled out of their collective asses.

I really want to believe that rational thought went into the making of this law. And yet when I find out that with all the big show about the big crackdown and 'no grace period' for people caught talking on their cell phones while driving, it turns out there is a glaring hole in the law. It doesn't prohibit text messaging.

How in the hell can text messaging not be considered infinitely more distracting?!

From the official California DMV web page.

Q: Does the new “hands-free” law allow drivers 18 and over to text message while driving?
A: The law does not specifically prohibit that, but an officer can pull over and issue a citation to a driver of any age if, in the officer’s opinion, the driver was distracted and not operating the vehicle safely. Sending text messages while driving is unsafe at any speed and is strongly discouraged.

Wait, Are We Talking About 'Murder'?!

Ex-professor pleads guilty to killing wife
Rafael Robb, once a tenured economics professor at the University of Pennsylvania, faces a likely prison sentence of 4 1/2 to seven years for bludgeoning his wife, Ellen, on Dec. 22.
4½ years for Murder?! Good thing it wasn't a hate crime.