I remember seeing the very first flip phone being used, and I had no idea what it even was. Eventually everyone seemed to have one and it was really nothing to see people driving while talking on their phones. Why we did not see into our future as to what kind of issues these devices were going to eventually cause is beyond me. Then, along came “smart” phones, and the problems only escalated from there.

We are now obsessed with these phones to the point where we cannot tear ourselves from them in our everyday lives. When the state saw fit to apply fines for driving while talking on one, the sum of $75 for a first-time offense, certainly was not going to be a deterrent. Since that has really not worked, we are now considering higher fines and even the possibility of losing one’s license.

I am all for $250 for the first offense, and $500 and $1,000 for the next two offenses, but if you really want to get their attention, on the third offense the officer should confiscate their cellphone for 30 days. That’s right. Their precious link to the world around them would be gone in the blink of an eye. This would make people think twice before they feel the need to use their phones while driving.

Let the hate mail begin.

Scott Plummer
South Casco

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