Commentary on today’s news and opinion, from readers and newsmakers.
A 22-year-old woman from New Jersey caused a four-car pile-up on the New York State Thruway on Monday and police have charged her with texting while driving. LoHud.com readers weigh in on the accident that injured eight:
”’Texting while driving’ is what you charge when you catch someone… texting while driving. If you catch someone vaulting the guardrail and causing mayhem because they were texting while driving, you charge dangerous driving, reckless endangerment, endangering the welfare of a child, criminal damage driving contrary to signs, and anything and everything else that fits and carries jail time. Then you add the ‘texting while driving’ charge.”
— Michael Ross
“My sister and brother-in-law were right [there] and saw the entire thing … . My sister was still terribly upset and reliving what she saw. Texting has got to stop. Those poor children, the man and others involved all [were injured] because she was being immature and inconsiderate of other peoples’ lives.”
— Noreen Koballa
“This article refers to the number of ‘distracted driver’ accidents, which is much more general than ‘texting while driving.’ I don’t understand why there is a charge for texting while driving — unless there is also a charge for putting on makeup while driving and changing the radio station while driving. They are all distracted driving.”
— Catherine Ricks Kant
Children under 17 in New York State will now be prohibited from using an indoor tanning bed under state law after Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed a bill Monday that is to take effect in 30 days. Parents, concerned citizens and others took to LoHud’s Facebook page to give their opinion:
“Not the government’s job to babysit. It’s the parents’ responsibility. What’s so hard with that concept?”
— Stephen Masiello
“Regardless of parental direction, teens do what they want. Then throw in the morons that think it’s OK to take a 10-year-old to the tanning salon. Government shouldn’t have to get involved, but in a nation that places capitalism above community, sometimes government has to get involved.”
— Rob Collett
What are you talking about today? Leave your answer in the comments below.
