Did You Miss This New Law, Too?

In today’s Roadshow column in the Merc, this question came up:

Q Did I miss a new law that bans smoking in cars when kids are inside?

Stephen Reynolds

Santa Cruz

A You sure did. This law took effect in 2008, banning smoking in vehicles when a child is along in a car seat. Drivers get a warning on the first offense, and a $100 fine the next time they're pulled over. A smoker can be found guilty even if the car is parked. This law does not apply if the child is at least 6 years old and not required to be in a safety seat.


Not a clue; neither Bob nor I had heard of this one, either. You learn something new every day.

This Has Got to Be the Most Ridiculous Thing…

…I’ve seen in a while:

> Q I feel the new law banning texting in the car is discriminatory to deaf people,
> who use text pagers to communicate with others. We do realize that this is a
> dangerous practice, and therefore understand that the ban is for safety reasons.
> However, hearing people are still allowed to use Bluetooth sets while driving,
> even though you have cited research showing that using a cell phone, whether
> hands-free or not, is still dangerous due to the mental distraction caused by
> the act of talking, instead of paying attention to your driving. So, our right
> to keep in communication in the car has been taken away from us, while hearing
> people retain that right for themselves. If all telecommunications, hands-free
> or not, were banned, I would have no problem with the ban on texting. But, in
> effect, deaf people are once again relegated to second-class citizen status.

I kid you not.

This appeared in New Year’s Eve’s Roadshow in the Merc. Hearing people get to use Bluetooth headsets to communicate, so this guy (I doubt he speaks for all deaf folk) demands his “right” to be allowed to do something he admits is dangerous?? Uh huh.

I must admit, however, that his blog, Dr. DonG.’s Deafhood Discourses, is quite interesting, and he does makes some good points, this one example notwithstanding.