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With all this talk about people going to jail for leaving guns and ammo lying around the house, it got me thinking about the morons who drive around in their Chevy Aveos in the middle of a 2 foot blizzard to get to some damn shopping mall in spite of begs and pleas from the authorities to stay home unless you HAVE TO travel.
http://blogs.wsj.com/metropolis/2010/12/27/new-jersey-drivers-made-blizzard-mess-worse/
Transportation Commissioner James Simpson said he saw drivers –- even truckers –- who had no business being on the road and looked as if they usually only drove occasionally or on the weekends. “People did not heed any advice,” he said. “On Route 1, people were going shopping to get their after-Christmas discounts while the storm was raging.”
He also saw something he’d never seen before: drivers stopping in the middle of the New Jersey Turnpike, getting out and cleaning off their windshield.
“We were yelling at people left and right, get out of your car and pull off to the side,” he said.
On Route 280 near West Orange, cars that had trouble with steep hills slid into each other and other drivers became stuck while trying to navigate around the mess. The resulting traffic jam blocked plows and made a bad situation worse.
“You had a lot of cars that were spinning out because they didn’t have the right tires, they didn’t have the right transmission, they didn’t have four-wheel drive,” Simpson said. “The next thing you know, it looked like a bunch of kids’ toys that somebody had just shaken up and thrown out of a box.”
I don't suggest putting these idiots in jail; but I wouldn't mind seeing them fined or having their licenses suspended. If you can't behave responsibly with a driver's license, you shouldn't have one.
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Originally posted by PsychoPawn1) I think it's reasonable to ask that people be reasonably informed of what's going on out there on a day to day basis in the information age that we live in. Ignorance of the law is generally no defense. If I honestly didn't know that you're not allowed to park in downtown Manhattan between 7 AM and 7 PM weekdays, I can still get a ticket for doing so.
What if they didn't hear any of the emergency warnings?
What's stopping them from inventing an emergency when asked by the police?
2) Nothing, I suppose. Though if they're caught lying they can be charged with an additional crime.
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Originally posted by sh76Instead of fining them, why not just take away their government run health care privilidges if they become injured? Of course, if they live through it, what do you care?
With all this talk about people going to jail for leaving guns and ammo lying around the house, it got me thinking about the morons who drive around in their Chevy Aveos in the middle of a 2 foot blizzard to get to some damn shopping mall in spite of begs and pleas from the authorities to stay home unless you HAVE TO travel.
http://blogs.wsj.com/metropolis/2 suspended. If you can't behave responsibly with a driver's license, you shouldn't have one.
Originally posted by sh76There's a big difference between parking and an emergency situation since usually with parking there are signs - and it's not unusual to get a parking ticket dismissed on the basis that the sign is not visible or present.
1) I think it's reasonable to ask that people be reasonably informed of what's going on out there on a day to day basis in the information age that we live in. Ignorance of the law is generally no defense. If I honestly didn't know that you're not allowed to park in downtown Manhattan between 7 AM and 7 PM weekdays, I can still get a ticket for doing so.
2) ...[text shortened]... ng, I suppose. Though if they're caught lying they can be charged with an additional crime.
I just don't see this being truly enforceable. Yes, it could be a crime to lie about it, but how do you verify that? Do we waste the police officer's time trying to verify someone's story?
I think people take their risks and in certain cases they can close roads and/or even send you home but I don't really see it being made illegal.
Originally posted by whodeyDo you spend all day just thinking about non-existent government run health care privileges?
Instead of fining them, why not just take away their government run health care privilidges if they become injured? Of course, if they live through it, what do you care?
Originally posted by PsychoPawnThere is a "blue zone" in downtown Manhattan where daytime parking during the week is illegal, sign or no sign.
There's a big difference between parking and an emergency situation since usually with parking there are signs - and it's not unusual to get a parking ticket dismissed on the basis that the sign is not visible or present.
I just don't see this being truly enforceable. Yes, it could be a crime to lie about it, but how do you verify that? Do we waste the ...[text shortened]... ey can close roads and/or even send you home but I don't really see it being made illegal.
Originally posted by sh76Perhaps you are correct. Where, however do you draw the line on this one? What about the people who brave harsh weather to get to work, because they fear losing there jobs? Should this be a crimminal offence too?
With all this talk about people going to jail for leaving guns and ammo lying around the house, it got me thinking about the morons who drive around in their Chevy Aveos in the middle of a 2 foot blizzard to get to some damn shopping mall in spite of begs and pleas from the authorities to stay home unless you HAVE TO travel.
http://blogs.wsj.com/metropolis/2 ...[text shortened]... suspended. If you can't behave responsibly with a driver's license, you shouldn't have one.
Originally posted by sh76Is there any indication that you are in this blue zone? I'm just wondering now.
There is a "blue zone" in downtown Manhattan where daytime parking during the week is illegal, sign or no sign.
I still think it is a little different. A ticket won't necessarily prevent anyone from going out during a snow storm and having more police out to give those tickets might prove to add a danger.
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Originally posted by PsychoPawnThere are signs in the area.
Is there any indication that you are in this blue zone? I'm just wondering now.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/31018257@N00/3557570630
But the signs are not necessarily on every street and you can get a ticket regardless of whether there's a sign on that street.
Information is available online as to the exact borders of the blue zone. I guess if you drive into Manhattan, you're expected to research the traffic and parking rules on your own.
Originally posted by bill718Maybe there can be a color coded system.
Perhaps you are correct. Where, however do you draw the line on this one? What about the people who brave harsh weather to get to work, because they fear losing there jobs? Should this be a crimminal offence too?
Red means you can't travel except for a medical emergency.
Orange means you can't travel except to work or school or a medical emergency.
Yellow means you are cautioned against driving unless you have to, but it's not illegal to drive.
Etc.
Originally posted by sh76I think I can count how many people research traffic and parking rules before they go somewhere on one hand with a few fingers left over.
There are signs in the area.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/31018257@N00/3557570630
But the signs are not necessarily on every street and you can get a ticket regardless of whether there's a sign on that street.
Information is available online as to the exact borders of the blue zone. I guess if you drive into Manhattan, you're expected to research the traffic and parking rules on your own.
It's nice to know that they do have signs just in case I do end up visiting NYC and am driving when I do so. I most likely will still fail to research the parking rules.
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Originally posted by PsychoPawnSuggestion: If you do visit NYC (and it's a wonderful place to visit) DO NOT tour Manhattan by car, especially on a week day. It's very high stress, high intensity driving with heavy traffic, confusing directions and signs and it's near impossible to park unless you park in a garage, which will cost you an arm, a leg and your first born.
I think I can count how many people research traffic and parking rules before they go somewhere on one hand with a few fingers left over.
It's nice to know that they do have signs just in case I do end up visiting NYC and am driving when I do so. I most likely will still fail to research the parking rules.
Plus, there is such an extensive bus and train system (and swarms of taxicabs) in Manhattan that there's really no need to drive around in a car anyway. It's much less stressful not having a car in Manhattan, trust me.
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Originally posted by sh76I'm impressed! But isn't this the same type of government interference that Republicans normally rebel against??
Maybe there can be a color coded system.
Red means you can't travel except for a medical emergency.
Orange means you can't travel except to work or school or a medical emergency.
Yellow means you are cautioned against driving unless you have to, but it's not illegal to drive.
Etc.
Originally posted by bill718Actually, I think it's more the type of government interference that Republicans like. 😉
I'm impressed! But isn't this the same type of government interference that Republicans normally rebel against??
In all seriousness, this is a public health issue, not a privacy issue. People don't have a privacy interest in behaving in a manner that endangers the public.