lolz :) while driving = :0 — Up to 15 years jailtime

Talking on the phone and the measures people have gone to to limit it’s use are a necessity in today’s digital age. Texting has of late replaced many individual’s need to talk. If you’re the type that prefers text based comunication to actual talking, you know how much time texting can consume. While many states and even the federal government is pushing legislation that bans texting while driving and imposes minor fines, committing said act in Utah could land you in the slammer for quite some time.

A law making it’s way through Utah government would treat texting while driving the same as drunk driving. That is, if you crash or cause phsysical/bodily/property damage or harm while texting, you could be facing up to 15 years in the iron jungle. By far the most severe punishment so far. I can’t say I don’t agree as texting while trying to navigate a 4000+ lb. vehicle at any speed is like russian roulette.

Of course, some minor issues that are standing in the way include how to actually “prove” a victim was texting. While law enforcement could certainly try to seize phone records while those victims can simultaneous claim they weren’t texting means a whole can of worms is emerging. Even further still, people could claim they were simplydialing a number to call someone. (So far, no law or government has differentiated between the two activities). And the cherry on top of this moutain of red tape is that current privacy laws can hinder the seizer of the needed phone records needed to truly prove of texting at a certain time. Certainly some of these issues need to be worked out. But how quickly can the various governments involved work together to find a common solution?

Are you glad change is coming?

**Extra:In order to fully grasp the consequences of texting while driving, the NYT has posted a rather insightful mini-game that may just open your eyes to the dangers of said activity.

• Check out the Texting-while-driving game here

Source: NYT, ImageSource