I got hit at an eastside intersection some time back by a driver talking on a cell phone. The person had kids in the back of their vehicle with no seat belts or restrainer seats on either. Needless to say my vehicle was badly damaged and they got arrested for inattenitive driving. I can say I wish the laws were stricter and fines more excessive.

Greg appears to have admitted to "inattentive driving."

Should the police just mail him a citation?

Greg, If you were watching the lady driving next to you, who was watching the road for you? For you to know that she was watching her phone more than she was watching the road, you would have had to watch her a lot. I think everyone should keep their eyes on the road at all times while driving unless they have their dog sitting on their lap or they are shaving while drinking a cup of coffee and tuning the radio or leaning over the seat to converse with the people in the back seat.

That's right, Janesvillean. This law seems to be yet another attempt to make plea bargaining easier. Now they can throw still another charge onto the pile that will never end up on anyone's conviction record. That is, of course unless the D.A's office is feeling particularly gracious (or late for a tee time), in which case this new charge may be the only one left standing after all the horse trading is said and done.

Justice by haggle. Where expediting the judicial process trumps the quest of holding the guilty accountable and vindicating the innocent. The more plentiful the charges, the easier it is to get stubborn people who won't admit (or don't accept) their guilt to minimize their potential losses should they exercise their right to a jury trial, in which case all the charges will be on the docket. And if the truly guilty get a better deal than they deserve? Oh well, cez la vie as the French say. Or as President Kennedy once said, "Life is unfair". That also applies to the innocent who are intimidated by the D.A.'s office with its description of the prospects of losing in court.

Fines have lost their merit and are much more ineffective than they once were. Why? Because taking money from someone doesnt hurt them, they can simply go to the bank and get a small loan and pay it off over time....essentially making the punishment and thought of the fine non-existent. Or like someone on my facebook that has to pay off a fine so they are selling food stamps at half off.

Law makers have determined that using a cell phone while driving is dangerous, but the police are regularly operating a laptop while driving. Whoever decided that was the best system is a moron.

frogger, the law provides for a range of fines depending on whether it is the first or second/subsequent offense within one year. This is, however, likely to always be an additional charge on top of a standard distracted driving charge; as it is difficult to prove it might end up being dismissed as part of a plea bargain.
http://handsfreeinfo.com/wisconsin-cell-...
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jocose, administrative offenses like that aren't always worth the cops' time. When they are "tailgating" you they are probably running your plates to see if there is any other good reason to pull you over. Many other traffic laws are assumed to be only enforced when their violation leads to an accident. I don't think there's much point to turning our police department into traffic wardens, shadowing everyone for the slightest violation.

ON the Madsison news last night they said fine $20-$40. In this paper's article it says $185. I hope it is $185 that seems like it could "hurt" more than $20.

mteg- well said. I see so many cars with no tags displayed on the front of their cars. The police don't seem to care. I have seen so many cars with objects hanging from their rear view mirrors. The police don't care. (One did in Madison and gave my daughter a ticket for obstructed vision a few years ago.) I saw a squad car follow a car through a red light with 2 more behind him on Centerway. The police don't care. This town is full of people who just don't care. If you do the speed limit, the police, along with everyone else, will tailgate you. What's going on???

Kids wont listen and neither will adults. It is Me me me. I saw a person taking up my side of the road because she was on the phone and couldn't turn as tightly using one hand.

Greg, I'll call you if I see any drivers on their cell phone while I'm out driving. ☺

They are thinking we the people will think they are trying to help do something to justify the cost of having them.
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But wow... I made it out to lunch today and didnt get hit by anyone, it must really work. Great job law makers!! You saved me today!!

Ho bout they pass legislation that forces the Police Department to enforce the current laws we have in place?

The current cell phone ban is a total joke. What are the lawmakers thinking? Greg, I ask the same thing that everybody else ask... how does this get enforced? Only way to ban this is to make it unlawful to have any cell phones or electronic device in drivers hand any time the motor is running if you ask me.