Fairfax County General :
Fairfax Underground
Welcome to Fairfax Underground, a project site designed to improve communication among residents of Fairfax County, VA. Feel free to post anything Northern Virginia residents would find interesting.
Welcome to Fairfax Underground, a project site designed to improve communication among residents of Fairfax County, VA. Feel free to post anything Northern Virginia residents would find interesting.
Enforcement of Laws
Posted by:
hadenuf
()
Date: October 12, 2011 09:40AM
On average, Virginia passes about 900 new laws each year. Did you ever wonder what these new laws are and how they are enforced?
Take a look at texting while driving. How can an officer know if you are texting, reading your calendar or watching a movie? None of these should be done while driving, but simply would like to know how one can be charged with texting. Maryland has a law regarding children in car seats. The law states age, weight and height regulations. How do they know? Do they pull the car over, get out the measuring stick and scale, and check kids ID? And my personal favorite. Every store has a sign in the restroom stating "Employees must wash hands, State Law" I'm all for employees washing their hands after using the facilities, but how do they enforce this state law? Cameras? Cop stationed just outside the door? Does a state employee perform a SNIFF test to determine if soap was used?
Any other examples of laws that can not be enforced?
Take a look at texting while driving. How can an officer know if you are texting, reading your calendar or watching a movie? None of these should be done while driving, but simply would like to know how one can be charged with texting. Maryland has a law regarding children in car seats. The law states age, weight and height regulations. How do they know? Do they pull the car over, get out the measuring stick and scale, and check kids ID? And my personal favorite. Every store has a sign in the restroom stating "Employees must wash hands, State Law" I'm all for employees washing their hands after using the facilities, but how do they enforce this state law? Cameras? Cop stationed just outside the door? Does a state employee perform a SNIFF test to determine if soap was used?
Any other examples of laws that can not be enforced?
Re: Enforcement of Laws
Posted by:
Chief Wiggum, Chief Springfield PD
()
Date: October 12, 2011 10:40AM
I've never understood why driver's who text, check their calendar, or otherwise fondle their phones need their own legislation? Can't they be prosecuted under "driving while impaired"?
Re: Enforcement of Laws
Posted by:
JBass
()
Date: October 12, 2011 12:19PM
Chief Wiggum, Chief Springfield PD Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I've never understood why driver's who text, check
> their calendar, or otherwise fondle their phones
> need their own legislation? Can't they be
> prosecuted under "driving while impaired"?
Good topic! I think that "Failure to pay full time and attention" would be a more adequate charge, but yes, there are already laws on the books that can handle this infraction.
-------------------------------------------------------
> I've never understood why driver's who text, check
> their calendar, or otherwise fondle their phones
> need their own legislation? Can't they be
> prosecuted under "driving while impaired"?
Good topic! I think that "Failure to pay full time and attention" would be a more adequate charge, but yes, there are already laws on the books that can handle this infraction.
Re: Enforcement of Laws
Posted by:
Bill N
()
Date: October 12, 2011 12:29PM
Chief Wiggum, Chief Springfield PD Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I've never understood why driver's who text, check
> their calendar, or otherwise fondle their phones
> need their own legislation? Can't they be
> prosecuted under "driving while impaired"?
Probably half the driving related laws on the books now plus many that will be added in the near future could be taken care of by two simple rules:
1. Don't do anything stupid while driving.
2. Treat other drivers around you courteously.
-------------------------------------------------------
> I've never understood why driver's who text, check
> their calendar, or otherwise fondle their phones
> need their own legislation? Can't they be
> prosecuted under "driving while impaired"?
Probably half the driving related laws on the books now plus many that will be added in the near future could be taken care of by two simple rules:
1. Don't do anything stupid while driving.
2. Treat other drivers around you courteously.