Published: August 01, 2007 11:14 am      

Cell phone bill goes too far

Oklahoma State Rep. Paul Wesselhoft is at it again, this time taking aim at Oklahoma’s thousands of “celluar drivers,” with a new law that would punish talkers with hefty fines and mandatory jail time.

Wesselhoft last week proposed a measure that would institute felony charges for first offense dog bites of a serious nature, drawing ire from dog owners across the state. This week’s bill is also likely to draw its share, all of it directed at the Moore Republican.

Wessellhoft’s newest bill would impose $1,000 fines and mandatory 20-day jail sentences for anyone who causes an accident because of cell phone use while driving.

Wesselhoft referenced a New York incident where five recent high school graduates were killed in an accident that occurred because the driver of the teens’ vehicle was distracted by her cell phone.

There’s no argument that cell phone use on Oklahoma roadways has become a tremendous problem. Oklahoma Highway Safety Office records show there were 802 cell phone-related accidents on state roads in 2006, up from 98 incidents just four years ago.

But is a $1,000 fine and mandatory jail time the answer? What about the hundreds of Oklahoma motorists every day whose attention is distracted from driving for any of a dozen other reasons?

Can lawmakers ban children from automobiles to keep parents from being distracted? Can we eliminate compact discs from Oklahoma vehicles in an effort to keep drivers from browsing through the CD case while driving?

Are we going to outlaw fast food restaurants so drivers aren’t too busy chomping a cheeseburger to pay attention on the freeway?

Where will it stop?