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Banning cell phones is impractical from a law enforcement standpoint, and expensive from a taxpayer standpoint.

Think about it.

On the surface, I'll admit that it looks like a good idea. I know people who have been hit by cell-phone users, and I know someone who has been on the phone when she initiated an accident.

But if you judge things by practicality, you'll see that banning cell-phone use while driving isn't close to genius. In fact, it's silly.

First, look at enforcement.

How many times have you seen a driver speed like mad down the right lanes of a highway without repercussions?

How many times have heard the story of people getting in a car crash, yet they didn't have their seatbelts on?

How many times have you had to honk and swerve as someone has almost run you off the road simply by not checking their blind spot?

The fact is, there's a lot of dangerous activity out on the roadways - not the least of which are drivers who simply don't know how to drive. Cell phones may be the least of your problems, and the least of the problems faced by the law enforcement officers who would actually have to enforce such a law.

In short: Let's enforce the laws we've got before adding new ones.

The second part of the argument is this: Is the cell phone going to be a PRIORITY for law enforcement officials? How important is it to nab someone on a cell phone? We have speeders and tailgaters to worry about - not to mention more dangerous criminals than traffic offenders.

Enforcing new laws takes additional law enforcement - or it takes time away from the law enforcement we've got already.

What would you rather see: Police make more drug busts in crime-ridden areas? Or police pulling over Mr. Slick because he's calling his office to let them know he'll be late for a meeting?

Here's my proposal:

Ticket those who swerve from their lanes - for whatever reason.

Ticket those who don't buckle up.

Ticket those who don't use their turn signals.

Ticket those who drive 85 mph in the right lane of a highway.

THEN worry about cell phones.

After all, some people can drive safely while talking on the phone. Some have done it for years.

Sure, some can't, too. Some are distracted. Some get into accidents.

But we're acting like cell phones are the first thing that's come up that's been a major distraction to drivers.

How about giant, booming speakers in the backs of cars and SUVs? They don't distract some drivers, do they?

How about eating a hamburger? Easy to do while driving, right?

How about applying makeup?

How about reading a map? Or, better yet, looking at a dashboard navigation system?

We need to worry about how a driver DRIVES. Not what he does while he's driving. Sure, it may be great to have a new law - but laws aren't enforced magically. It takes manpower. It takes money. And it takes the eyes of law enforcement officers OFF of more dangerous criminals.

Let's be practically. Forget this cell phone ban nonsense.

Learn more about this author, J.R. Anthony.
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