I Hate Cell Phones
You are not alone, but you would be in violation of federal law. The operation of transmitters designed to jam or block wireless communications is a violation of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended ("Act"). See 47 U.S.C. Sections 301, 302a, 333. The Act prohibits any person from willfully or maliciously interfering with the radio communications of any station licensed or authorized under the Act or operated by the U.S. government. 47 U.S.C. Section 333. The manufacture, importation, sale or offer for sale, including advertising, of devices designed to block or jam wireless transmissions is prohibited. 47 U.S.C. Section 302a(b). Parties in violation of these provisions may be subject to the penalties set out in 47 U.S.C. Sections 501 510. Fines for a first offense can range as high as $11,000 for each violation or imprisonment for up to one year, and the device used may also be seized and forfeited to the U.S. government.
Posted by ASM826
02/02/2005 at 07:59 AM
http://www.roadrage.com/ Not quite a remote control but still fun.
ASM,
Dude, you are a party pooper! But I’d have to get caught first, right?
I guess libraries, concert halls and churches, etc. get special exemptions of those little toys that block all phones in their buildings?
“But really, now, why is it that people feel so compelled to talk so much? Are they so fucking self important that they have to be in contact with the world at all times?”
In most cases, these are nothing more than overgrown children fascinated with their new toys. I too am sick of dodging collisions with dingbats who are sailing along with their cell phones stuck in their ears and their jaws popping open and shut like jaws of puppets. For three straight days, I have had to jam the brakes at intersections to avoid nitwits who sailed right through red lights, oblivious to the world, while they jabbered away on their silly toys.
To those of you who are still so amazingly immature that you think that cell phones are a pretty cool idea: HANG UP AND DRIVE. The lives you save may be your own!
I remember growing up with 3/4 of the population yakking on CB radios. What was the accident rate during that time period (’70s)?
Perhaps the problem is that people are on the roads more, the traffic is denser, there is no longer drivers ed in the schools, and younger drivers are given less instruction and then turned lose with $50,000 cars, a cell phone, and very little sense of personal responsibility.
I don’t think the cell phones are the problem, just the people using them.
Big difference, Beermeanie. In the 70s few people had CBs. Not 3/4. Sorry, big exaggeration. Today LOTS MORE people have cell phones (plus all the other stuff you said.)
Scientists have discovered no evidence that cell phone use causes brain tumors. They have, however, found that brain damage causes cell phone use.
Posted by Oink
02/02/2005 at 11:29 AM
Kingaljr: that’s a great link ( http://www.roadrage.com/ ). I’m looking for a place that sells them along with bulletproof car windows.
Allan: we could use a smiley of a pistol &/or maybe a bomb—showing extreme aggression!
Posted by Oink
02/02/2005 at 12:14 PM
/* Whips out magic wand */
Four new smileys added for you maniacs. Guns, bombs, toilets and just plain shit.
Bwah-hah-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha ....
You Da Man!
Posted by Oink
02/02/2005 at 01:08 PM
You are definitely NOT alone. I yearn for the day when it is illegal NATIONWIDE to use a cell phone at the ear while vehicles are ON THE ROAD (not merely “in motion"). Tannenberg was dead-on with the overgrown children fascinated with their new toys observation!
Cellphones—one of the very few instances where men brag about how small theirs is.
Posted by Oink
02/02/2005 at 01:40 PM
Appreciate the support, guys! And now try this:
http://www.livescience.com/technology/050201_cell_danger.html
They are just discovering in studies what those of us on the road already know too well!
Oops! Just realized I got redundant. Forgot that Vilmar led with this link. Sorry ‘bout that guys.....
Its obvious to anyone who’s paying attention while driving (which automatically excludes cell phone users) who is distracted by a cell phone. I am to the point where I can tell without even seeing the driver that they are paying more attention to their conversation than road conditions. Braking for no reason is a dead giveaway. Crawling to speed at a fresh green light. Wandering out of their lane for no reason, or a hard brake to catch a turn (sans signal) that they almost missed due the distraction.
My usual plan when I encounter this is a liberal use of my horn. Let them talk over my horn as I pull up along side. And I don’t mean a quick honk. I mean a good 30 second or longer burst, making it difficult for them to carry on with their conversation. I find this usually communicates my disgust with their actions and also embarrasses them by drawing attention to their dangerous habit.
On the down side, just last week I wore out the horn button on my car and now I need to replace it. This just proves to me how widespread the problem has become.
Many people have called for new laws to ban cell phone use while driving. Initially I was against such legislation, as there are already laws on the books that address improper operation of a motor vehicle. But as cell phone use gets more widespread I have noticed that no police enforce these laws. I see people daily who are reckless driving which should garner them a traffic citation yet their dangerous actions go unnoticed even directly in front of a police car. In fact I find the police themselves are frequent violators of this. I have a police substation a few blocks from my home and see them pulling out of the parking lot already on the phone. Sadly it looks like yet another unenforced law is needed.
Oh, and as for that road rage insult flip book, I received one as a christmas gift this year. I have used it a few times when my wife and I were together so whoever was the passenger could display the message. I find it worthless, as people laugh at it and continue their ignorant and dangerous actions. I don’t know what’s worse, watching some soccer mom with three kids in the car wandering out of her lane or the smug “I’ll do whatever I want” expression they return after you show them the “cell phone = bad driver” page.
Posted by Opinionated Vogon
02/03/2005 at 07:24 AM
1. Beware—some folks try to drive while using a cell phone and a pistol.
2. But you’re right. Just like
drinking booze: your business, until you get on the highway, then my business.
3. You’re not going to read us any of your poetry*, are you?
*(cf. “Vogons” Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Universe)
Posted by Oink
02/03/2005 at 08:31 AM
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