German Judge: If Sex While Driving Is Legal, Why Isn't Driving While Phoning?
from the those-deep-philosophical-questions dept
Six years ago, we noted in passing that a court ruling found that driving while having sex is perfectly legal in Germany (separately, it's apparently a popular practice in Russia). Part of the point was in discussing the troubling trend to try to pick off each and every "distraction" to outlaw -- and it seems like a judge in Germany is wondering the same thing. The judge, issuing a fine for a driver talking on his cell phone, started questioning whether it was legal at all to fine drivers for talking, noting how many other driver distractions were perfectly legal -- including sex, masturbation, shaving, changing the radio station and others. The judge isn't necessarily saying it's good to do those things (in fact, he notes the opposite), but he's questioning the constitutionality of banning just one of many distractions, and has apparently sent the issue to Germany Constitutional Court to examine the issue.Thank you for reading this Techdirt post. With so many things competing for everyone’s attention these days, we really appreciate you giving us your time. We work hard every day to put quality content out there for our community.
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Filed Under: driving, driving distractions, germany, sex, talking
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The Future
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Re: The Future
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Re: Re: The Future
Smashing into walls...population control!
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Re: The Future
Not to mention the humping. I don't have time for that shit, just call me when it's time for the orgasm...
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Re: The Future
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Umm...since when did licenses and restrictions have to make the slightest inkling of sense? I wouldn't worry about driver's licenses losing utility, they could just require car licenses. I don't think it is humanly possible for a license to ever be more completely asinine and pointless as T.V. licenses in the U.K.
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You'd only need the driver to be made aware of situations in the event of a mutliple system failure. In which case the vehicle would be able to communicate to other vehicles nearby that the vehicle is now in human hands. Electronics are going down in price all the time, so I don't really see this being too far out there.
Obviously, you'd have some obsticals to over come in terms of data security, but nothing that couldn't be overcome.
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So if we got self driving cars in the US I'd be all over it. 20 minute naps to and from work :)
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Re: The Future
Or, more importantly, the masturbation...
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What ever happened too
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Obvious, really...
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Re: Obvious, really...
i can't stop laughing over the imagery in this one. I see lots of flames behind an old librarian/nun type wagging their finger at you while being 15 feet tall and towering over you.
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... Oh god .... Oh God .... Oh ... YES...YES!!!! ... wow that was fun ... technology is really evil ... I just had thoughts of phone sex while driving with a Nun, or was that driving into a Nun ... just the thought should get me arrested ... And I really liked the way she wiggled her finger ....
... Big Ole Grin
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Re: Obvious, really...
Because cellphone conversations (handheld or handsfree) are an external distraction. When you're talking to your passenger and they see a pedestrian step out in front of you or some other thing that you need to focus on, they'll instinctively stop talking and let you focus on driving. The person talking to you on the cellphone has no idea of your driving environment and will keep talking, and will expect you to be listening to them.
I am particularly aware of this because my wife doesn't drive, has never learned any driving skills and therefore frequently keeps talking at times when I need to concentrate, and it's bloody distracting.
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Re: Obvious, really...
Don't be ridiculous. It takes a lot more of your focus and concentration to talk on a cell phone than to talk to somebody next to you. And if my passenger starts poking me while I'm driving they can freakin' walk home. I may even stop the car before I let them out, aren't I nice?
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really?!?!
While we're at it, let's start handing out citations for talking during a movie because, after all, you're supposed to be concentrating on the movie and if some jackass is talking during it, it's distracting, right?
Bureaucracy is bull$#!T
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Re: really?!?!
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Think of the children®
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Re: Think of the children®
There, fixed that for you...
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ridiculous...
Don't most countries have laws against reckless driving and other traffic incidents?
Tired of new legislation just so stuffed shirts can say they're "doing something about _______".
How about enforcing the existing laws?
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Where will it end?
I have long believed that billboard advertising by the side of roads should be banned. The whole purpose of a billboard is to take your attention AWAY from driving, even if only for a few seconds. But it is just another example of how commercial interests are placed ahead of those of the community. As far as I am concerned my "right" to drive in a relatively distraction-free environment (ie: the roads) trumps a company's "right" to stick yet another ad in front of me.
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Re: Where will it end?
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Driving while thinking
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