LaHood: Cops Have Special Cell Phone Training
Hot on the heels of yesterday’s piece on police “training” and ability, the always-amusing Ray LaHood has chimed in on the subject.
His position: The use of cell phones and other mobile devices should be absolutely banned for American drivers, on the federal level if necessary, no ifs, ands, or buts.
Unless, of course, you’re a supercitizen, I mean, police officer.
The transcript is here, but here’s the money shot:
LUDDEN: Okay. Let’s take another phone call. Jesse(ph) is on the line in Hartford, Connecticut. Go right ahead, Jesse.
JESSE (Caller): How are you guys?
LUDDEN: Good.
Sec. LaHOOD: Good.
JESSE: Good. First, thanks for taking my call. I do live in Hartford, Connecticut, and I have received a ticket for talking on a cell phone while driving. I’m just wondering because I see officers in Hartford constantly on the phone while they drive. What would that have an effect on their actions and their behaviors if this law will become a national regulation?
Sec. LaHOOD: Well, in the states that have passed laws, law enforcement people are exempted because of the jobs that they have, and that the ability that they need to be able to talk on cell phones. I believe they are trained to be careful when they’re doing it. But the truth is, they’re exempted because of the safety because they’re public safety officers and they’re required to have that kind of communication.
LUDDEN: All right. Jesse, thanks does that answer your question?
JESSE: I guess I would just prefer that. I mean, obviously, the interest of the public safety is important. Ill tell you, if I’m an entrepreneur and I have 45 people who depend on my performance, and Im in the car five hours a day, would you support offering some type of class or training where I could have similar training and be able to use my cell phone while I drive, because I produce output from being on the road and being on my phone?
Sec. LaHOOD: Absolutely not. Driving and talking is dangerous. Using a cell phone or a BlackBerry is dangerous while you’re driving.
I really, really, really want some of this special training the cops are getting. Not only are they “trained” to murder innocent civilians while goofing around, they are capable of doing something that nobody else in the whole world can do: chatting safely on a cell phone while driving.
On the other hand, maybe I should be giving the training. I took a call on my Audi S5’s Bluetooth a year or so back during a lap of VIR and still managed to run laps in the 2:38 range…
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Actually, if cops realized that modern cell phones (especially smartphones) are like individual personal locator beacons, they wouldn't carry one powered on. If WiFi and bluetooth is on, it's not difficult to pickup various bits of information. Even when bluetooth is in non-discoverable mode - it's still discoverable. Bluetooth range can be extended with the right antenna, so the limited range of bluetooth isn't always an issue.
Hahahahaha, this Z71 guy is such a clown. Get off the computer and go sniff some more jocks. There's absolutely no need for cops to use cell phones while they're driving. I don't dispute that having the phone is useful while on the job but they can and should use them while they're not moving. There isn't a single bit of critical information that can't be relayed over traditional communication lines while responding or in pursuit. If there is more sensitive but less pressing matters that need to be discussed then by all means, pull over and discuss them. And yes, I'm a hypocrite. I regularly take and make phone calls as I need to while in the car, oftentimes actually picking the phone up in lieu of taking it through the bluetooth. My problem with the issue is twofold. Most cops that I've been involved with have been arrogant, reckless, self important d-bags that think they're above the law they're supposed to uphold. Second, If I can't do it, neither can you, especially if there isn't a legitimate need to.