Teen charged with texting while driving in fatal crash

[trickblue]

I doubt you're going to be able guarantee anything like that, because I know there are more people like myself who've never done such a thing. I don't even answer the phone while driving. I'd guarantee that I'm not a demographic of one.

I agree tossing her in with adult felons is too much and is most likely not going to end as simply a punishment for an individual, but I'm all for harsh penalties against people texting who hadn't killed anyone yet. There's no need to be doing that nonsense while driving, anymore than there would need to be playing a video game or doing a puzzle while driving.

Hell, I'd even advocate a beating for the fool caught doing such a thing.

She'll likely go to a minimum security prison to serve her time...

I really feel bad for her family... AND her... but she took risks she didn't have to take and killed someone...

Restitution is in order... bottom line...

 

[Tony33]

That kid took a life and marred a grandchild forever...

Someone has to be the example... too bad for her... but the message has to get out...

I DO agree with you about legal driving age... 16 is too young...

I disagree that you need to irreparably ruin another persons life to set an example. Bar her from driving ever again, make her do community speaking engagements of the dangers of texting and driving. I don't think it is reasonable or responsible to put her in adult jail for 5 years.

 

[trickblue]

I disagree that you need to irreparably ruin another persons life to set an example. Bar her from driving ever again, make her do community speaking engagements of the dangers of texting and driving. I don't think it is reasonable or responsible to put her in adult jail for 5 years.

Look... I can see your sentiment...

Would you have the same feelings if she was drunk? Most wouldn't... it's not so different... driving while impaired...

I certainly sympathize with her and her family... BUT... she ruined a LOT of lives with her irresponsibility... why should she skate?

It's a tragic situation brought on by a young lady that shouldn't be driving in the first place... pile on the fact that she was listening to loud music and texting... her friend riding with her confirmed this...

SOMEONE has to pay for this... and she is the only logical candidate... this texting while driving thing is WAY out of hand...

 

[notherbob]

I cannot understand why people want to text so much, it would seem to be a slow and clumsy way to communicate and you can say so much more in the same amount of time. But then I don't even own a cellphone so I guess my opinion doesn't count.

I could buy a cellphone if I wanted one but as of yet I have not had any desire to own one as I am in the house most of the time and answer the regular land line and when I am out on a walk or doing work in the garden or out on the ranch I generally prefer not to be disturbed, but that's just me. Sometimes I carry a walkie talkie in case my wife needs to contact me.

Then again, I do not understand people these days wanting to punch holes in themselves either; it seems to me that would be inconvient or even painful and I spend a lot of my time trying to reduce inconvenience and pain. The older I get the less I understand people.

Life is good, anyway.

 

[trickblue]

I cannot understand why people want to text so much, it would seem to be a slow and clumsy way to communicate and you can say so much more in the same amount of time. But then I don't even own a cellphone so I guess my opinion doesn't count.

I could buy a cellphone if I wanted one but as of yet I have not had any desire to own one as I am in the house most of the time and answer the regular land line and when I am out on a walk or doing work in the garden or out on the ranch I generally prefer not to be disturbed, but that's just me. Sometimes I carry a walkie talkie in case my wife needs to contact me.

Then again, I do not understand people these days wanting to punch holes in themselves either; it seems to me that would be inconvient or even painful and I spend a lot of my time trying to reduce inconvenience and pain. The older I get the less I understand people.

Life is good, anyway.

QFT... kids these days spend much less time talking and go for messaging instead...

It's a nightmare for us parents... my oldest has 20 minutes of talk time and 3500 text messages... it's maddening...

If I had to do it all over again... no phones...

 

[JBond]

Again, you can't put someone in jail for 5 years for killing someone while doing something that is perfectly legal almost everywhere in this country.

Hey 30yard....I wanted to be clear on something before you get fired up. She is facings 4 years for manslaughter, one year for assault on the 10 year old in the back seat of grandmas car, and a small fine for texting and driving. The distracted driving is what allowed the charge to escalate to manslaughter.

 

[vta]

I cannot understand why people want to text so much, it would seem to be a slow and clumsy way to communicate and you can say so much more in the same amount of time. But then I don't even own a cellphone so I guess my opinion doesn't count.

The power and conviction of advertising.

 

[Sarge]

I passed a young girl on the highway the other day. We were both going probably 65 MPH. Before I got up beside her, I noticed the car was swerving a bit.... when I got beside her, I looked over and saw she had her visor down and she was plucking her eyebrows!! I couldn't believe it.

People, in general, do not seem to be paying attention to the road these days......then........it's too late.

 

[JoseyWales]

5 years in an adult prison for texting is just ********. It sucks that people died, but the kid is 16. Most teens text and drive. Now he'll have to deal with being on parole, having a difficult time finding a job, etc, all because he ****ing texted. Stupid.
This is PRISON. Let's save room for the murderers, child-molesters, rapists, and people that actually do things that warrant a prison-sentence.

You'd have a point if she was being sent to prison for texting. But she isn't. She's being sent there for being the direct cause of another person losing their life, and another being seriously injured through her negligent actions.

Driving a car isn't illegal. Drinking isn't illegal if you're of age. But do the two together and it is. No matter your age. Same in this situation. Driving and texting is illegal there, as it should be EVERYWHERE. Now compound those actions with taking the life of another. Yeah. Just got a whole lot worse by a decision made freely by that person who chose to do so.

I have children, one that's driving and another that's getting ready to start. I show them articles like this to let them know what can happen. How it can ruin people's lives. Not only the victim's and their family, but their own too. Does it scare them? Sure. And I'm glad it does. Maybe they'll remember it and take that extra second to make the right decision when it arises.

 

[jimmy40]

No one's claiming it isn't serious, it's pretty obvious it's downright tragic. And spending time with people who are going to recognize the victim she'll be in prison has nothing to do with her allowances. She's going to be chewed up and spit out. Then leave prison a worse person than who went in, which will increase the chances of the people of her state paying for her in some form or another for longer than her prison term for this decision. She needs to be punished, not conditioned into a worse sort of person. We have enough of those.

that or she'll learn her lesson and be a better person for it like a lot of ex-cons.

 

[vta]

that or she'll learn her lesson and be a better person for it like a lot of ex-cons.

Maybe, but the success rate of prison is a pretty dismal rate. I wouldn't bet on it.

 

[vta]

I passed a young girl on the highway the other day. We were both going probably 65 MPH. Before I got up beside her, I noticed the car was swerving a bit.... when I got beside her, I looked over and saw she had her visor down and she was plucking her eyebrows!! I couldn't believe it.

People, in general, do not seem to be paying attention to the road these days......then........it's too late.

I've considered documenting my commute with video cameras. I drive a lot in one day and what I see is just mind boggling. People reading the paper on their steering wheel, slumped over against the door, barely awake. It's hard to ignore and just get on with the day, considering any of these clowns are most likely the reason there is what seems to be an accident a day.

 

[casmith07]

QFT... kids these days spend much less time talking and go for messaging instead...

It's a nightmare for us parents... my oldest has 20 minutes of talk time and 3500 text messages... it's maddening...

If I had to do it all over again... no phones...

I wasn't allowed to have a cell phone until I left for college.

Even when I was 17 years old I had 35 cents in my bag to call mom of I needed something.

 

[jimmy40]

Maybe, but the success rate of prison is a pretty dismal rate. I wouldn't bet on it.

well if your a scumbag when you go in you'll probably be a scumbag when you get out, if your a decent person who screwed up and had to pay the price you'll probably be a decent person when you get out. Short timers anyway. That's what I saw the few years I was a prison guard at Ferguson Unit at TDC, almost all 17-21 year olds.

 

[DallasEast]

While there are laws on the books that are solid, there are still too many that are flawed. We create the laws and we do so without considering as many of the consequences of implementing each law as humanly possible beforehand.

Even if we did take as much as possible into consideration before passing a law, it would still be imperfect. However, there would be less indignity or remorse over imposed punishment by laws if we took more foresight instead of hindsight in creating them.

Opinion will vary about the short-term fate of this particular 16-year old girl. For anyone who feels very passionate about the 'injustice' awaiting her and possibly others who put themselves in similar situations, there is a way to address it:

Work to change the law.

As far as texting in general is concerned, my opinion is based on the fact that it is based on electronic instead of mechanical technology. Smartphone technology presently exists which can determine whether a cellphone is in motion. It's called GPS.

In my opinion, cellphone manufacturers should make GPS standard on all their products (if they do not already). Cellphone GPS should be integration with texting functionality. Then, each cellphone could be 'encoded' to shut down its texting capability while its owner is driving.

It would also eliminate texting while riding as well. But, in reality, that would be a small sacrifice for cellphone owners to accept as a consequence of helping prevent needless injury or death due to texting while driving.

Of course, this is exactly the kind of idea which tests humanity's willingness to part with something which is not essential to their everyday lives. It is also one which might negatively impact corporate greed. Admittedly, those are two huge hurdles to overcome when comtemplating whether the personal safety of others warrants such minor changes.

 

[TNCowboy]

pretty stupid. Claiming this is not serious and does not deserve prison.

THAT is STUPID. SHE KILLED A PERSON.

You go to prison for that; she has it coming. It only ruins her life if she LETS it.

Punishment should be severe, but in no way should a 16 yr old be sent to an adult prison. We don't judge them adults in most any other way.

 

[daschoo]

Texting while driving should be treated the same as drink/drug driving. Being honest yeah I've done it a few times myself if I'm stopped at lights or something but if I'm controlling a ton plus moving at speed I'm able to prioritise enough to wait to check a text message. As someone has previously said years ago it wasn't illegal to drink and drive, plenty of folk still do it so does that mean it's ok? Also since when was "everyone does it" an acceptable excuse for your negligence killing someone? No sympathy for her from me.

 

[daschoo]

Punishment should be severe, but in no way should a 16 yr old be sent to an adult prison. We don't judge them adults in most any other way.

What age can they be sent to fight for their country? Over here it's 16 at which point they can be married and have kids but not have champagne on their wedding night or vote for who sends them to die in a foreign country.

edit: not trying to make a political point, just pointing out that if they can join the army then clearly they are considered to be adults

 

[tupperware]

DUIs should be a one strike thing. JMHO, no reason to take it easy on people who can take out families in the blink of an eye. Wanna drive drunk? Lose your license forever. This isn't much different in my opinion.

 

[TNCowboy]

What age can they be sent to fight for their country? Over here it's 16 at which point they can be married and have kids but not have champagne on their wedding night or vote for who sends them to die in a foreign country.

edit: not trying to make a political point, just pointing out that if they can join the army then clearly they are considered to be adults

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