As noted here in January, the DC city council banned the use of a hand-held cellular telelphone while driving. Enforcement begins July 1st–this Thursday.
Reader DeltaDave e-mailed me a memo that has been circulated about some less-publicized aspect of the ban. Sure enough, the original Washington Times story head it buried several paragraphs down:
[Carol Schwartz, at-large Republican and the principal sponsor of the bill] said she broadened the scope of the bill that passed yesterday to be consistent with existing laws in Maryland and Virginia so drivers also could be fined for other distracting activities, such as putting on makeup, fumbling with music collections or interacting with children or pets.
Dave is understandably perplexed:
So don’t be caught thinking (about anything); looking at a map; turning your head to look at a passing pretty girl; sipping that morning drive time cup of jo; eyeballing a crime inprogress; talking to your passenger …. or anything else some law enforcement official arbitarily decides is “distracting behavior”. This appears to approach mind control to the extreme.
Gotta love it. Somebody probably pointed out to Schwartz that talking on a phone is no more distracting than fiddling with the radio, putting on makeup, juggling a Big Mac and Diet Coke, or dozens of other activities people do while driving. So, she banned those, too.
Only in D.C.
