When New York became the first state to ban the use of hand-held cell phones while driving, I told everyone to mark my words: they’ll try to ban Big Macs in cars next.
Sure enough, Vermont lawmakers are considering a measure that would ban eating, drinking, smoking, reading, writing, personal grooming, playing an instrument, "interacting with pets or cargo," talking on a cell phone or using any other personal communication device while driving.
There are similar bills under consideration in Maryland and Texas. Connecticut already has a loosely-defined law that bans activity that could distract a driver.
Look, I comply with the cell phone law because it makes good sense to use my headset or speaker phone. I was doing that before the state told me I had to. But I thought it was silly that we needed a law for this.
However, if Vermont’s “distracted driver” legislation comes to New York (and make no mistake, it will) I will resist it whole heartedly. There is no way lawmakers should be able to tell me that I can’t take a sip from my coffee or eat a Pop Tart in my car.
Where do we draw the line? Can I change the radio station? Can I talk to a passenger in the car? Can I pass a pair of sunglasses to one of my kids behind me?
The bottom line is, you can’t legislate against stupidity (look at how state Sen. Carl Kruger became a laughing stock when he proposed banning the use of iPods, cell phones and other digital media devices while crossing the street). No matter what law you pass, there will still be plenty of fools out there doing stupid things.
RELATED NEWS: Felix Ortiz, the assemblyman behind New York's hand-held cell phone ban, is now pushing for a total cell phone ban for drivers unless they're calling 911.
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