Texting Teen Gets Prison Time

[Sharpienads]

Do we really need laws that say "Don't text and drive"? Does it really matter what caused him to be distracted?

[Irving]

i dont think its because he had a fatal accident it is because he was driving in a negligent manner that could have been prevented. he is being punished for his negligence

You can make that argument for EVERY auto accident.

[palepainter]

This conviction really isn't a first. A friend of mine from AZ was killed by a teenager texting. He was riding his harley and she pulled out in front of him when he was doing about 45 miles an hour. She was 17 years old and was sentenced to 12 years for vehicular homicide. Now maybe this case in MA is unique to cars, I do not know. But it has been upheld elsewhere already.

[Ronin13]

The way I see it, we've just set precedence- distracted driving kills. I have a friend who, while driving on Parker Rd, picked up his iPod and simply changed the song, spotted by a cop, and ticketed... $78! I'm not sure what agency it was, but he thought it was ridiculous, I can't really say, because I've done it too. But we can't discriminate, I've seen people driving in front of me dip down and reach for stuff, eating while driving, and even women putting on makeup while driving. If they cause an accident do they get jail time too now?