Should Driving While Texting Bans include iPhone Touchscreens?
The state of Maryland has proposed a ban on writing, sending or reading text messages while driving.
One lawmaker, however, is concerned if the bill becomes a law it will mean he can’t make any more calls using his iPhone touchscreen during commutes.
Saqib Ali, a delegate for Montgomery County, told a panel of colleagues yesterday that he uses his iPhone all the time.
He’s worried that tapping the touch screen to make calls would violate the ban proposed by delegate Frank Turner on writing, sending or reading a text message while operating a motor vehicle.
Turner’s bill doesn’t target talking on the phone. Just thumb jockeying instead of keeping your hands on ten and two.
Ali wonders how a police officer would know he was dialing his phone and not texting while driving.
Hmmm. Is this splitting hairs or should drivers be forced to keep their hands on the wheel and off their phones, period?
Image used with Creative Commons license, thanks to Mike Kline on flickr.
Via AP
Nicole Martinelli is a San Francisco native who has lived in Milan and Florence, Italy. She's written for Wired.com, The New York Times and Newsweek. You can find her on 
