Yesterday Mayer Nutter signed a citywide cell phone ban designed to prevent drivers in Philadelphia from operating a car and talking on their cell phone at the same time. I have a number of problems with this law:1. Personally, I have been driving while talking on my phone for 15 years. I have never had a cell phone related accident, I have never had a cell phone related "close call" and I have never been pulled over by the police for anything remotely related to driving while talking. To me, driving and talking on the phone is roughly the same as walking and chewing gum at the same time. As a result, I look at cell phone bans as an invasion of my right to privacy. I know the argument for the ban is that the risk of public harm and the general social utility of the ban outweighs the restriction on personal freedoms. However, until society takes protecting drivers seriously (meaning actual, meaningful penalties for drunk driving, etc), then I think that the restriction on my right to drive and talk is unfair.
2. From a city-wide perspective, this bill is yet another in a continuing series of stupid moves by Mayor Nutter. It seems that Nutter wants to do everything in his power to worsen Philadelphia's financial situation. He tries to close libraries and fire houses. He threatens massive cuts in police officers when the city is under siege. And now, for the cheap political points gained with a cell phone ban, he will cost the city $90 million in state funding. Yes, thats right. In Harrisburg plans are under way to pass legislation stating, simply, that if Philadelphia proceed with this cell phone ban the city will lose that amount of state funding. So just oto recap, to Mayor Nutter, during the worse financial crisis in recent memory, a cell phone ban is more important than $90 million in state funding. Thanks Mayor!!
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