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Opposing view: ‘Impossible to enforce’
Posted on January 28th, 2010 No commentsKeep government out of cars; let authorities focus on current laws.
By George Runner
Everyone knows that driving while texting is dangerous — as are many other activities that some drivers undertake while sitting behind a steering wheel, such as lighting a cigarette, following a GPS device or applying mascara.
The difference between the aforementioned activities and texting is they have not been outlawed by state legislatures. That’s because it’s next to impossible for law enforcement officers to prove a wreck was caused by a driver paying more attention to his hamburger than the road ahead.
But it’s just as difficult for law enforcement officers to know whether a driver is tapping out a text while behind the wheel. So why have states like California passed laws to prohibit driving while texting?
It’s partly because such laws generate great publicity, but mostly because some legislators believe they know what’s best for the general public. Like it or not, they are on a crusade to save you from yourself.
What these lawmakers don’t realize is this kind of legislation is nearly impossible to enforce. A driver texting in his car would be doing so outside the view of an officer, making the action difficult to prove unless, of course, the driver’s phone records were subpoenaed. But don’t our law enforcement officials have better things do with their time?
Instead of prohibiting driving while texting, state laws tend to focus on punishing drivers for reckless driving. Here in California, the law calls for punishment of any driver exhibiting “willful or wanton disregard for the safety of person or property.”
Make no mistake; there should be consequences for reckless driving. But, rather than micromanaging citizens by outlawing every possible form of distraction, lawmakers should look at things from a broader point of view.
Drivers who cause accidents need to be held accountable, plain and simple. Instead of giving out $20 tickets for texting, we should focus on current laws that already impose penalties for reckless driving. Let’s keep the government out of people’s cars and allow the appropriate officials, such as law enforcement officers, to focus on keeping drivers safe.
George Runner, a Republican, represents communities in the high desert of Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties in the California Senate.
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Runner Earns Endorsement from California’s Number One Taxpayer Watchdog Organization
Posted on January 26th, 2010 No commentsHoward Jarvis Taxpayer Association calls George Runner a ‘great
advocate for taxpayers’SACRAMENTO – Taxpayer advocate and Senator George Runner (RAntelope
Valley) today announced he has earned the enviable endorsement of
the Howard Jarvis Taxpayer Association for his Board of Equalization bid.“For well over a decade, George Runner has been a great advocate for taxpayers
in both the Assembly and State Senate,” said Howard Jarvis Taxpayer
Association President Jon Coupal.“Not only has he received the highest marks on our report card, his knowledge of
the state budget and tax policy makes him the ideal candidate for a seat on the
California Board of Equalization.”Senator Runner is running for BOE District 2, the largest of four districts that
comprise Californiaʼs statewide tax board. The district encompasses all or
portions of 34 counties that span from the California-Oregon border to San
Bernardino County.“I am honored to have earned the support and confidence of Howard Jarvis
Taxpayersʼ Association, Californiaʼs pre-eminent taxpayersʼ watchdog
organization,” Runner said.George Runner currently represents a large southern portion of BOE District 2 in
the State Senate. He authored the successful Amber Alert system and Jessicaʼs
Law in 2006. He resides in Lancaster with his wife, former Assemblywoman
Sharon Runner.
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