From: John_H on
George W Frost wrote:
>
>It is illegal to use a mobile phone while driving and also while stopped on
>the side of the road,
>to use the phone legally, you have to be parked with the engine off
>preferably, of coarse, that all depends on the copper who books you

They should book them for using a mobile phone anywhere within 300m of
other traffic! :)

On country roads in particular, it's now common to have the car in
front suddenly pull off the bitumen and stop without the driver
looking behind or indicating. When the conversation ends it's the
exact opposite... back onto the bitumen without looking or indicating.

Recently happened upon a scene where a semi had just cleaned up a milk
truck when the driver did exactly that. Very spectacular it was too.
I've got no idea whether the cops booked the milko for using his phone
or not, though they probably had far more serious offences to hit him
with (like driving without due care).

--
John H
From: hippo on
John_H wrote:
>
> George W Frost wrote:
> >
> >It is illegal to use a mobile phone while driving and also while stopped on
> >the side of the road,
> >to use the phone legally, you have to be parked with the engine off
> >preferably, of coarse, that all depends on the copper who books you
>
> They should book them for using a mobile phone anywhere within 300m of
> other traffic! :)
>
> On country roads in particular, it's now common to have the car in
> front suddenly pull off the bitumen and stop without the driver
> looking behind or indicating. When the conversation ends it's the
> exact opposite... back onto the bitumen without looking or indicating.
>
> Recently happened upon a scene where a semi had just cleaned up a milk
> truck when the driver did exactly that. Very spectacular it was too.
> I've got no idea whether the cops booked the milko for using his phone
> or not, though they probably had far more serious offences to hit him
> with (like driving without due care).
>

Might give high churn costs a whole new meaning hey?

--
Posted at www.usenet.com.au
From: Sylvia Else on
On 17/07/2010 7:32 AM, George W Frost wrote:
> "Sylvia Else"<sylvia(a)not.here.invalid> wrote in message
> news:8ab596Fvi3U2(a)mid.individual.net...
>> On 16/07/2010 1:29 PM, George W Frost wrote:
>>> "^Tems^"<stevebrooks13(a)live.com> wrote in message
>>> news:4c3fc9f7$0$10174$c30e37c6(a)pit-reader.telstra.net...
>>>> Sylvia Else wrote:
>>>>> This message in the subject line appears on RTA electronic signs from
>>>>> time to time.
>>>>>
>>>>> I've had a recent discussion with the RTA over whether that message
>>>>> would encourage drivers caught in traffic jams to call to report an
>>>>> incident even though doing so is unlawful when it involves the use of a
>>>>> hand-held mobile phone.
>>>>>
>>>>> The RTA's response has been that passengers might make the call, or
>>>>> that
>>>>> drivers sometimes pull-over and make a call.
>>>>>
>>>>> Which is true, but to my mind rather misses the point.
>>>>>
>>>>> Sylvia.
>>>>
>>>> So it is legal to use a phone while stopped on the side of the road but
>>>> not while stopped in a lane?
>>>>
>>>> They should put up an email address as it isn't illegal to send an email
>>>> from your phone while driving
>>>
>>> It is illegal to use a mobile phone while driving and also while stopped
>>> on
>>> the side of the road,
>>> to use the phone legally, you have to be parked with the engine off
>>> preferably, of coarse, that all depends on the copper who books you
>>>
>>>
>>
>> Whether the engine has to be off seems highly debatable. You have to be
>> parked, but I can't see that anything stops you being parked with the
>> engine on.
>>
>> Sylvia.
>
> As I said, it all depends on the frame of mind of the copper who may or may
> not book you
> it is to his discretion

Whether or not the engine has to be off is a question of law. The Police
officer may issue a penalty notice, but if it's challenged in court, the
outcome will turn on whether the courts view the engine being off as an
essential element of being parked.

Sylvia.

>

From: Sylvia Else on
On 17/07/2010 7:57 AM, Epsilon wrote:

> I agree. The legislation applies to a mobile phone, not this device. In
> cases of uncertainty about the scope of the law in a criminal offence,
> the law is given a narrow construction, not a wide one. Legislative
> amendment seems necessary.

Yes, with the obvious amendment being to ban mobile phone use outright
while driving. All the evidence is that it's the use that is dangerous,
not the holding in the hand.

Sylvia.
From: Albm&ctd on
In article <8a9su0FusmU1(a)mid.individual.net>, sylvia(a)not.here.invalid says...
> This message in the subject line appears on RTA electronic signs from
> time to time.
>
> I've had a recent discussion with the RTA over whether that message
> would encourage drivers caught in traffic jams to call to report an
> incident even though doing so is unlawful when it involves the use of a
> hand-held mobile phone.
>
> The RTA's response has been that passengers might make the call, or that
> drivers sometimes pull-over and make a call.
>
> Which is true, but to my mind rather misses the point.
>
> Sylvia.
>
I take it you could report an ugly rear end of a new Mondeo for stinging ones
eyes in public as an incident. Lucky I don't have a mobile phone.. and live in
Qld.

Al
--
I don't take sides.
It's more fun to insult everyone.
http://kwakakid.cjb.net/insult.html