does the punishment fit the crime(used for lack of a better

Marla64

Jail Time.

Tired of all the idiots that think they are capable of driving while distracted.

Okay, and what if she was eating a Whopper, instead of talking on the phone. Would it still be jail time? Or looking back at a screaming child? Or spilling coffee on herself? Or arguing with a spouse? Or dropping a cigarette?

And do we now legislate that there will be no eating or crying or arguing or drinking, et cetera?

There are a multitude of distractions when we're driving. How do we determine which distraction should be punishable by jail time? All of them? None of them?

Yes, accidents are quite often caused by someone's carelessness. Granted. But how/why is cell phone use more punishable than any of the above mentioned? And by allowing the legislators to have banned cell phones while driving, we have opened the door to them banning everything I just mentioned above.

lexximan

It's hard to say, jail time might be too harsh, depending on age and driving record. BUT, at the very least I would say suspension of license, not just a d@mn point on her record. AND community service. And take her cell phone away. Ok, that would probably be more than the law would allow, but just sayin'

suspension and community service....absolutely!

I agree with suspension for sure, if not a bigger fine as well!!!!! But cell phone laws, are silly.(DONT YELL AT ME YET)

If you shouldn't drive while on your phone, you shouldnt be able to have an iPod or be able to put makeup on or shouldnt be able to eat while driving. ALL these things can cause accidents as well. What I am trying to get at is if they have to make on thing illegal shouldn't all those things be illegal??

Not that I think they should be because I do all those things. Its called smart driving, a smart driver isn't going to stop being a smart driver while on a phone. Obviously someone who is on a phone and CANT pay attention while on it, is already a bad driver....

Just my opinion.

comming from someone who is not willing to put her phone down and drive. *Shaking head*

I did not say I am on my phone all the time? No, it's called life. EVERYONE talks on their phone lets be real.

lexximan

Jail Time.

Tired of all the idiots that think they are capable of driving while distracted.

Okay, and what if she was eating a Whopper, instead of talking on the phone. Would it still be jail time? Or looking back at a screaming child? Or spilling coffee on herself? Or arguing with their spouse? Or dropped a cigarette?

And do we now legislate that there will be no eating or crying or arguing or drinking, et cetera?

There are a multitude of distractions when we're driving. How do we determine which distraction should be punishable by jail time? All of them? None of them?

Yes, accidents are quite often caused by someone's carelessness. Granted. But how/why is cell phone use more punishable than any of the above mentioned?

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! That was the point I was trying to get across.

LauraMacNCheese

It's hard to say, jail time might be too harsh, depending on age and driving record. BUT, at the very least I would say suspension of license, not just a d@mn point on her record. AND community service. And take her cell phone away. Ok, that would probably be more than the law would allow, but just sayin'

suspension and community service....absolutely!

I agree with suspension for sure, if not a bigger fine as well!!!!! But cell phone laws, are silly.(DONT YELL AT ME YET)

If you shouldn't drive while on your phone, you shouldnt be able to have an iPod or be able to put makeup on or shouldnt be able to eat while driving. ALL these things can cause accidents as well. What I am trying to get at is if they have to make on thing illegal shouldn't all those things be illegal??

Not that I think they should be because I do all those things. Its called smart driving, a smart driver isn't going to stop being a smart driver while on a phone. Obviously someone who is on a phone and CANT pay attention while on it, is already a bad driver....

Just my opinion.

comming from someone who is not willing to put her phone down and drive. *Shaking head*

I did not say I am on my phone all the time? No, it's called life. EVERYONE talks on their phone lets be real.

That's why many states have instituted the hands-free laws.

Marla64

It's hard to say, jail time might be too harsh, depending on age and driving record. BUT, at the very least I would say suspension of license, not just a d@mn point on her record. AND community service. And take her cell phone away. Ok, that would probably be more than the law would allow, but just sayin'

suspension and community service....absolutely!

I agree with suspension for sure, if not a bigger fine as well!!!!! But cell phone laws, are silly.(DONT YELL AT ME YET)

If you shouldn't drive while on your phone, you shouldnt be able to have an iPod or be able to put makeup on or shouldnt be able to eat while driving. ALL these things can cause accidents as well. What I am trying to get at is if they have to make on thing illegal shouldn't all those things be illegal??

Not that I think they should be because I do all those things. Its called smart driving, a smart driver isn't going to stop being a smart driver while on a phone. Obviously someone who is on a phone and CANT pay attention while on it, is already a bad driver....

Just my opinion.

comming from someone who is not willing to put her phone down and drive. *Shaking head*

I did not say I am on my phone all the time? No, it's called life. EVERYONE talks on their phone lets be real.

That's why many states have instituted the hands-free laws.

Now all we need is a hands-free Burger King law-- not possible. Should we ban eating burgers while driving? Should we punish drive-thru personnel who sold the Whopper who caused the accident?

Marla64

And next, we can ticket every woman who puts her makeup on in the car on the way to work-- hands-free mascara law.

BeeElMarvin

Jail Time.

Tired of all the idiots that think they are capable of driving while distracted.

Okay, and what if she was eating a Whopper, instead of talking on the phone. Would it still be jail time? Or looking back at a screaming child? Or spilling coffee on herself? Or arguing with their spouse? Or dropped a cigarette?

And do we now legislate that there will be no eating or crying or arguing or drinking, et cetera?

There are a multitude of distractions when we're driving. How do we determine which distraction should be punishable by jail time? All of them? None of them?

Yes, accidents are quite often caused by someone's carelessness. Granted. But how/why is cell phone use more punishable than any of the above mentioned?

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! That was the point I was trying to get across.

But she wasn't, she was talking on the cell phone while driving - a punishable crime in that state. If she was in my state and killed someone while doing any of the other things, she could be arrested for "distracted driving".

Marla64

Jail Time.

Tired of all the idiots that think they are capable of driving while distracted.

Okay, and what if she was eating a Whopper, instead of talking on the phone. Would it still be jail time? Or looking back at a screaming child? Or spilling coffee on herself? Or arguing with their spouse? Or dropped a cigarette?

And do we now legislate that there will be no eating or crying or arguing or drinking, et cetera?

There are a multitude of distractions when we're driving. How do we determine which distraction should be punishable by jail time? All of them? None of them?

Yes, accidents are quite often caused by someone's carelessness. Granted. But how/why is cell phone use more punishable than any of the above mentioned?

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! That was the point I was trying to get across.

But she wasn't, she was talking on the cell phone while driving - a punishable crime in that state. If she was in my state and killed someone while doing any of the other things, she could be arrested for "distracted driving".

Well, actually I'm somewhat glad to hear that. We SHOULD have the freedom to do whatever we want in OUR vehicles, but if our activity causes a distraction that causes an accident, then absolutely we must be held accountable.

LauraMacNCheese

Now all we need is a hands-free Burger King law-- not possible. Should we ban eating burgers while driving? Should we punish drive-thru personnel who sold the Whopper who caused the accident?

Not at all...that would be ludicrous. In the instance the OP was describing however, the punishment is just too stupid for words. She killed someone and her punishment can't even be described as a slap on the wrist it was so light. I think jail time would've been much too extreme in this case as it would if the person were chowing down on a Big Mac. But as I said earlier, some form of extended community service or something other than just a small fine is warranted.

macpatti

Now all we need is a hands-free Burger King law-- not possible. Should we ban eating burgers while driving? Should we punish drive-thru personnel who sold the Whopper who caused the accident?

Not at all...that would be ludicrous. In the instance the OP was describing however, the punishment is just too stupid for words. She killed someone and her punishment can't even be described as a slap on the wrist it was so light. I think jail time would've been much too extreme in this case as it would if the person were chowing down on a Big Mac. But as I said earlier, some form of extended community service or something other than just a small fine is warranted.

^^^Exactly.

Marla64

Now all we need is a hands-free Burger King law-- not possible. Should we ban eating burgers while driving? Should we punish drive-thru personnel who sold the Whopper who caused the accident?

Not at all...that would be ludicrous. In the instance the OP was describing however, the punishment is just too stupid for words. She killed someone and her punishment can't even be described as a slap on the wrist it was so light. I think jail time would've been much too extreme in this case as it would if the person were chowing down on a Big Mac. But as I said earlier, some form of extended community service or something other than just a small fine is warranted.

Totally agreed.

pain_is_weakness

I am probobly the only one who believes she is guilty of manslaughter/negligent homicide

accident or not, if you being careless kills someone, you should do some time in prison

lexximan

I am probobly the only one who believes she is guilty of manslaughter/negligent homicide

accident or not, if you being careless kills someone, you should do some time in prison

So if that happened to you, you wouldn't take that back?

Just curious, not judging at all. Promise.

I just like to put myself in someones shoes. =]

Marla64

I am probobly the only one who believes she is guilty of manslaughter/negligent homicide

accident or not, if you being careless kills someone, you should do some time in prison

I'm not necessarily arguing that point-- mistakes carry consequences-- sometimes grave consequences. I'm just curious where do we draw the line? Is it only cell phone use? Or burger eating? Or makeup applying? Is it first offense? Second? Third?

Taking a life is serious, for sure-- if everyone knew that if you caused someone's death behind the wheel if you were on the phone, you'd go to jail, would it make everyone put away their phone?

I'm just throwing out food for thought--

Romans624

Ouch. I hope that girl puts in perspective what the judge failed to do....


A life is worth so much and it wouldn't appear that way by the "sentencing".

Edit: I would add that community service (tons), license suspension, and perhaps some jail time ...


But it is crazy that so many people have run a stoplight and nothing happened. This time it did. Yet they are treated very differently because one had a horrible consequence and the other time nothing happened.


The sad thing is that no matter what punishment... that man is gone, and the woman without the man she loves, his family and friends are deprived of him too. All because of this mistake that, had it happened another day, he might still be here.

PlanetVelma

I am probobly the only one who believes she is guilty of manslaughter/negligent homicide

accident or not, if you being careless kills someone, you should do some time in prison

I'm not necessarily arguing that point-- mistakes carry consequences-- sometimes grave consequences. I'm just curious where do we draw the line? Is it only cell phone use? Or burger eating? Or makeup applying? Is it first offense? Second? Third?

Taking a life is serious, for sure-- if everyone knew that if you caused someone's death behind the wheel if you were on the phone, you'd go to jail, would it make everyone put away their phone?

I'm just throwing out food for thought--

Honestly, I don't care for the cell phone laws since they don't address the real issue which is distracted driving.

It shouldn't matter if you are on the phone or eating a burger while driving - if you cause an accident because you are distracted you should be punished. Period.

Although, maybe there isn't a need for a law for distracted driving - most states have a "Reckless Driving" law on the books. Isn't being distracted, being reckless?

I'm not for sending a young person to prison for this offense, I'm thinking community service @ the morgue or emergency room.

Articeluvsmemphis

That's terrible. That should have been a felony charge hands down. No justice. IDK if we're talking about jail time, but a better punishment for that was warranted.

Marla64

I am probobly the only one who believes she is guilty of manslaughter/negligent homicide

accident or not, if you being careless kills someone, you should do some time in prison

I'm not necessarily arguing that point-- mistakes carry consequences-- sometimes grave consequences. I'm just curious where do we draw the line? Is it only cell phone use? Or burger eating? Or makeup applying? Is it first offense? Second? Third?

Taking a life is serious, for sure-- if everyone knew that if you caused someone's death behind the wheel if you were on the phone, you'd go to jail, would it make everyone put away their phone?

I'm just throwing out food for thought--

Honestly, I don't care for the cell phone laws since they don't address the real issue which is distracted driving.

It shouldn't matter if you are on the phone or eating a burger while driving - if you cause an accident because you are distracted you should be punished. Period.

Although, maybe there isn't a need for a law for distracted driving - most states have a "Reckless Driving" law on the books. Isn't being distracted, being reckless?

I'm not for sending a young person to prison for this offense, I'm thinking community service @ the morgue or emergency room.

Indeed-- great response.

pain_is_weakness

I am probobly the only one who believes she is guilty of manslaughter/negligent homicide

accident or not, if you being careless kills someone, you should do some time in prison

I'm not necessarily arguing that point-- mistakes carry consequences-- sometimes grave consequences. I'm just curious where do we draw the line? Is it only cell phone use? Or burger eating? Or makeup applying? Is it first offense? Second? Third?

Taking a life is serious, for sure-- if everyone knew that if you caused someone's death behind the wheel if you were on the phone, you'd go to jail, would it make everyone put away their phone?

I'm just throwing out food for thought--

Honestly, I don't care for the cell phone laws since they don't address the real issue which is distracted driving.

It shouldn't matter if you are on the phone or eating a burger while driving - if you cause an accident because you are distracted you should be punished. Period.

Although, maybe there isn't a need for a law for distracted driving - most states have a "Reckless Driving" law on the books. Isn't being distracted, being reckless?

I'm not for sending a young person to prison for this offense, I'm thinking community service @ the morgue or emergency room.

I believe it is carelessness in general, this can mean a miltitude of things depending on the person, some are just more careless than others. I personally don't like even listening to the radio while driving but that is just me, I put it on low to keep my kids entertained but I just feel driving or operating things that can harm others carries a huge responcibility, people take it too lightly

LaDiablesse

Way too lenient! People get angry with me because I won't answer the phone or text them back while I'm driving.

Artemis_Acorn

I rarely talk on my cell phone while driving, but I'd be lying if I said I never do. I never text though. Honestly, if something like this happened to me, there is nothing society could serve up to me that would come close to what it would do to me emotionally. To have this happen to one so young has the potential to traumatize and devistate this person for the rest of her life. News stories rarely delve into the degree of remorse the guilty party is showing (unless it is none). If you've ever read about Laura Bush's accident at age 17 that resulted in the death of a classmate, you know what a life-changing event this was for her. She was shattered - she had been a pretty wild driver up to that point, and a party girl, but the accident changed her perspective and ensuing behavior dramatically.

I do believe that extended community service would have been an appropriate part of the sentence. It can never make up for the life that was lost, but at least it could help the girl regain some sense of herself through a positive contribution to society. In my opinion, serving jail time would be inappropriate unless there were extenuating circumstances like it being a repeat offense.

HOSED49

the family will sue her in civil court for their loss, happens all the time. Doesnt make up for her poor judgement. Having investigated incidents like this, one thing we overlook is that she has to live with what she did the rest of her life. She will always have that visual in her head, it wont go away. She is being punished alright, but sometimes the system makes no sense.

kristydi

While they were college students, two of my little brother friends were driving somewhere. The guy driving turned left in front of another car, the other car struck the car with the guys in it, killing the guy in the passenger seat. It was a straight up accident, no cell phone involved. The driver of the car in which the guy was killed was at fault and lost his licence for (I think) a year and had to do quite a bit of community service. I believe he had to go speak to high school students about the dangers of reckless driving. I felt really bad for the guy, but didn't feel the sentence was unfair.

In the case the OP mentioned I agree that it's doesn't warrant jail time, but at the very least she should have lost her licence for quite a while. $500 and a point is barely inconvenient.

VeganInTraining

the family will sue her in civil court for their loss, happens all the time. Doesnt make up for her poor judgement. Having investigated incidents like this, one thing we overlook is that she has to live with what she did the rest of her life. She will always have that visual in her head, it wont go away. She is being punished alright, but sometimes the system makes no sense.

Thats one thing I always think about. I still think she should have her license revoked but like you said, she's already being punished and will be for the rest of her life