Talking on the Cell Phone While Driving in Dublin Around Town, posted by franco, a resident of the Vineyard Hills neighborhood, on Mar 14, 2012 at 9:39 pm franco is a member (registered user) of PleasantonWeekly.com
Here's a topic that I would like to hear from you about. Anybody get stopped by Dublin police and ticketed for driving while using the cell phone? Most likely stopped by the motorcycle cops?
The cops, motorcycle or squad car, sit out of sight on major thoroughfares like Dublin Blvd. and Dougherty Rd. and watch the cars going by. You can't see them first. They see you first. Usually they are hidden next to a building or other obstruction and watch you go by from a perpendicular angle off to your right. It is like shooting fish in a barrel. No chance to avoid if you are on the phone.
I work in Dublin and have been witnessing this going on for quite awhile now. Lot's of cars pulled over and ticketed. Probably not too many Pleasantonians have been victims, but I think Dubliners along with the commuter traffic coming from Windemere/San Ramon driving to access I580 are the central victims.
When and if the Pleasanton cops catch on how easy this is to enforce, watch out!
Posted by franco, a resident of the Vineyard Hills neighborhood, on Mar 14, 2012 at 10:15 pm franco is a member (registered user) of PleasantonWeekly.com
One checked off the list, and ~100,000+ or so to go.
Posted by Bret, a resident of the Birdland neighborhood, on Mar 15, 2012 at 5:16 am
If you don't talk on the phone while driving you would not need to worry about getting stopped by the police. The question here is, should we be able to violate the law until we see the police?
Posted by Jim, a resident of the Another Pleasanton neighborhood neighborhood, on Mar 15, 2012 at 6:58 am
That is great! Not only it is a good source of revenue for the city, but it also makes the streets safer. I hope they continue and catch many more of these people that cannot live without a cell phone glued to their ears.
I hope Pleasanton starts doing the same. We need to put a stop to this madness. It endagers other people. Ticket cell phone users while driving, and quadruple the fine for the ones texting!
Posted by Sam, a resident of the Oak Hill neighborhood, on Mar 15, 2012 at 9:20 am
"You can't see them first. They see you first. Usually they are hidden next to a building or other obstruction and watch you go by from a perpendicular angle off to your right. It is like shooting fish in a barrel. No chance to avoid if you are on the phone."
Hey, Franco! I've got a simple solution for you: DON'T TALK ON YOUR CELL PHONE WHILE YOU'RE DRIVING!
Posted by Stacey, a resident of the Amberwood/Wood Meadows neighborhood, on Mar 15, 2012 at 12:34 pm Stacey is a member (registered user) of PleasantonWeekly.com
How about the drivers that stop far short of the line at a red light because they're jonesing to text while waiting? They keep lifting their head periodically to see if the light turned green yet. Or sometimes they don't see the green light and continue to text while traffic in another lane is already moving.
Posted by What?, a resident of the Another Pleasanton neighborhood neighborhood, on Mar 15, 2012 at 1:34 pm
I am having a really hard time understanding why someone would complain that the police is trying to stop one of the most dangerous behaviors out there. Franco, please, oh please tell me your reasoning for finding this so offensive. I am trying very hard to understand you son.
Posted by Logical, a resident of the Siena neighborhood, on Mar 15, 2012 at 2:50 pm
As far as I am concerned, they aren't catching enough of them.
Why do people have such a problem with enforcement of a law? Maybe the offenders need to have their own loved ones hit/injured by a distracted driver talking on a cell phone. Make it hit home, then maybe they will learn.
Posted by lazzboy, a resident of the Another Pleasanton neighborhood neighborhood, on Mar 16, 2012 at 7:26 pm
it does seem scary that the person posting seemingly believes this is some kind of intrusive tactic by the Dublin police to actually stop people for doing something illegal (and by all reserach just as dangerous as drunk driving).
Posted by franco, a resident of the Vineyard Hills neighborhood, on Mar 16, 2012 at 11:22 pm franco is a member (registered user) of PleasantonWeekly.com
I have a solution for Sam and other idiots in this thread who somehow read into my post that I talk on my cellphone and was stopped by the Dublin cops.
My solution is very simple. LEARN TO READ WITH COMPREHENSION SO YOU CAN SET A GOOD EXAMPLE FOR YOUR KIDS SO THEY CAN COMPETE FOR JOBS THAT HAVE GONE TO OTHER COUNTRIES!!!
You are poster children of my ongoing complaint that America is in trouble because even the adults can't read with any reasonable comprehension. Geesssh!!
Posted by Sam, a resident of the Oak Hill neighborhood, on Mar 17, 2012 at 12:13 am
Hey, Franco! Maybe you're the one who needs to learn how to properly express your thoughts in written English. How else are we supposed to interpret your initial post where you give away the tactics of the Dublin police who are trying to get dangerous drivers off the road? Are you sympathizing with the poor drivers who are getting caught breaking the law by talking on their cell phones? That's sure the way your post sounded to me. If this is incorrect, then you need to learn how to write for better clarity. You also need to shut up about the tactics the police use to catch law-breakers. You're not helping me or my family or the families of any other law-abiding citizens here by openly giving tips to law-breakers on the tactics police use to catch them and other dangerous drivers.
Posted by Stacey, a resident of the Amberwood/Wood Meadows neighborhood, on Mar 17, 2012 at 12:51 am Stacey is a member (registered user) of PleasantonWeekly.com
Sam's right. If people knew about radar tactics or other cop speed traps, they might stop speeding so as not to get caught. Let's remain hush-hush about Dublin police tactics to catch those cellphone lawbreakers like Franco. We wouldn't want drivers to know that they should put down their cellphones while they are driving down Dougherty. They should continue yacking away distracted, as if no one noticed.
Posted by Sam, a resident of the Oak Hill neighborhood, on Mar 17, 2012 at 1:35 am
Don't get silly and stupid with me, Stacey. If Franco had restricted his comments to just saying that Dublin police were cracking down on people talking on their cell phones while driving, then that would have been fine. He went beyond that.
Posted by Stacey, a resident of the Amberwood/Wood Meadows neighborhood, on Mar 17, 2012 at 10:16 am Stacey is a member (registered user) of PleasantonWeekly.com
You're right Sam. Don't get silly and stupid. Franco's comments were restricted to just saying that Dublin police were cracking down on people talking on their cellphones while driving and to watch out when Pleasanton police catch on to how easy enforcement is. You went beyond that and jumped to the conclusion that Franco talks on his cellphone while driving. Restrict your comprehension to what is written next time and you'll do fine.
Posted by Stacey, a resident of the Amberwood/Wood Meadows neighborhood, on Mar 17, 2012 at 10:35 am Stacey is a member (registered user) of PleasantonWeekly.com
Hoops,
I agree that use of the word "victim" for those who were pulled over sounds like Franco is sympathizing with them and perhaps he is. I just don't read into it that Franco himself is talking on the cellphone while driving. If someone is driving distracted on a cellphone, they certainly aren't witnessing all the Dublin cops.
And I disagree with Sam that people should "shut-up" about police tactics. If others knew how easy this is to enforce, how much less opportunity they have to get away with it, they'll be less inclined to break the law.
Posted by Sam, a resident of the Oak Hill neighborhood, on Mar 17, 2012 at 11:16 am
Stacey said: "You're right Sam. Don't get silly and stupid. Franco's comments were restricted to just saying that Dublin police were cracking down on people talking on their cellphones while driving and to watch out when Pleasanton police catch on to how easy enforcement is. "
No, Stacey, he went beyond that. He mentioned the specific tactics that were being used. I will agree with him on one thing, though: Some adults here do have a problem with reading comprehension.
Posted by Stacey, a resident of the Amberwood/Wood Meadows neighborhood, on Mar 17, 2012 at 11:42 am Stacey is a member (registered user) of PleasantonWeekly.com
Yes, he mentioned the specific tactic being used to relate how Dublin police are cracking down. Since my reading comprehension skills are so bad, perhaps you could also point out where he mentioned that he talks on the cellphone while driving?
Posted by Sam, a resident of the Oak Hill neighborhood, on Mar 17, 2012 at 12:48 pm
Stacey said: "Yes, he mentioned the specific tactic being used to relate how Dublin police are cracking down. Since my reading comprehension skills are so bad, perhaps you could also point out where he mentioned that he talks on the cellphone while driving?"
Wrong again, Stacey. (You're really having an off day, aren't you?) He went further than that, as I've mentioned to you for the third time. He mentioned specific streets that were being targeted (thus implying a lesser risk of getting caught if one uses other streets), and he mentioned the types of police vehicles being used, and he mentioned how they were being hidden, and he mentioned how they were observing the traffic. Any reason to go into all that detail if not to give drivers intent on breaking the law tips on how to avoid getting caught?
As for your question, I already addressed that in my second post to Franco above. Perhaps re-reading it will help improve your comprehension.
Posted by Stacey, a resident of the Amberwood/Wood Meadows neighborhood, on Mar 17, 2012 at 3:29 pm Stacey is a member (registered user) of PleasantonWeekly.com
Sure Sam, whatever you say. Implied sympathy for those who have been caught and the naming of specific streets proves that Franco talks illegally on a cellphone while driving. Makes sense to me.
Posted by Multitasking, a resident of the Mission Park neighborhood, on Mar 17, 2012 at 4:38 pm
CHP has received a very large grant to crack down on distracted driving. They will target cell phone use but also anything that can be classified as distracted driving including putting on lipstick, eating, and drinking coffee if they appear to be distracted.
No more reading the paper while commuting to work.
Posted by David, a member of the Foothill High School community, on Mar 20, 2012 at 9:05 am
I love the Dublin motor officers doing this and like other posters wish they would do much more of it. Let these blatant law breakers pay down some of the deficits in the city budgets. Pleasanton motor officers, please join this campaign and nail the nonstop flow of cell phone violaters peppering our community!
Posted by Frederick, a resident of the Bordeaux Estates neighborhood, on Mar 22, 2012 at 3:03 pm
All you sheep are missing the point. This is yet another expansion of the police state. I have the right to talk to people on the phone if I want to. It's no different than talking to a person next to you except you're not looking at them. So in many ways its safer to text. I am a free man and I don't like the state sticking its big nose into my personal business. My car is my castle. Otherwise, it's like Big Brother and the Holding Company.
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