Snozberry

Let me just say that I sincerely hope that this bill does not pass -- and that you lobby against this bill.

I am a firm supporter of safe driving practices, but I can not condone a bill that places a blanket prohibition on the use of hand-held cell phones while driving. Such a prohibition is unnecessary and places an unnecessary burden on those who place calls in a responsible fashion while driving.

Sometimes my hands-free device has lost its charge and I need to complete a call holding the phone. When on the highway, there is no reason that I can't hold the phone and drive safely at the same time. Does this bill also prevent truckers from using their hand-held radios? How is that any different? After all, cell phones are just fancy, digital radios.

To punish those who talk on the phone responsibly while driving with an over-simplified blanket policy is not helpful to the citizens of Pennsylvania. Current laws are more than sufficient in giving police the legal right to issue erratic and unsafe drivers with a ticket. What is not needed is more legislation -- it's more personal responsibility. To outlaw talking on a hand-held phone while driving is merely a cheap, over-the-top political stunt.