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New Arkansas laws govern school zones, texting

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laws, texting

Updated: 10/02/2011 8:45 am

Published: 10/02/2011 8:44 am

FORT SMITH, Ark. (AP) — Two new Arkansas laws restrict drivers from using their cell phones near schools and in highway work zones.

The Southwest Times record reports that starting Saturday, police gained the power to ticket motorists for using a mobile phone when driving near a school when children are present.

Mobile phone use is also now prohibited while driving through highway work zones while children are present.

The law prohibits both talking and texting while driving in those areas.

The laws aren't primary offenses, meaning officers can't pull over a motorist for one of those offenses alone. But a driver stopped for speeding or some other offense could get an extra ticket, thanks to the new laws.

Associated Press

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cmducks - 10/5/2011 5:05 AM

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Butch54 With all due respect... I wasnt trying to talk for you. It wasnt your comment i was refurring to. It was the article i thaught we had read above. If you'll notice it does mintion texting. People have been talking and driveing sens there has been cars. It wasnt until texting came along that it realy became a problem.

J Dog - 10/4/2011 10:28 AM

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I don't think this story was told as it should be.(Mobile phone use is also now prohibited while driving through highway work zones while children are present). Children in a highway work zone????????? WTH.

Butch54 - 10/3/2011 6:03 AM

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cnmducks. I didn't say a thing about texting. Where in my comment does it say a thing about texting. Now let me say this. Can you understand what you read or just go off half cocked. All I said was talking. Do not put words in my mouth please. I don't know if your able to talk for yourself. So I don't want you doing it for me.

brite - 10/3/2011 5:52 AM

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I'm glad that I am not a cell phone slave, my kids don't like it that I won't answer it very often but I think they are the best answering machines invented. Nothing more dangerous than a soccer mom in an SUV one a cell phone-nuff said

RGilbert - 10/2/2011 5:57 PM

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Well Raymond S there's nothing that can stop you from actually suing the legislators but you would get about as far as a glob of spit would get spitting into a force 5 hurricane wind.

cmducks - 10/2/2011 5:04 PM

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Butch54 With a cb you dont have to take your eyes off the road to talk on it. When you are texting.... You have a tendency to whant to see what your typing. This taking your eyes off the road and not paying attention to what is going on around you..... Sutch as the person in front of you that just hit their breaks or who you might be about to swerv into.

Butch54 - 10/2/2011 4:46 PM

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What gets me is the truck drivers have been talking on CB radios for years. As well as a bunch of us that are not truck drivers. There are also lots of ham radios in cars. Why are we crying about phones when no one ever complained about people talking on the radios. One is as bad as the other. I think we are just turning into a bunch of whiners. GOT CHEESE.

cmducks - 10/2/2011 1:44 PM

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If its not a primary law. Why bother? I think its just another way to get revenue. If they cant stop you for it than that tells me their not realy worried about your safety... Yep.... Thats Arkansas lawmakers for ya. We pay these people good tax dollars to sit up there and figure out more ways to take more of our rights and steal more of our money out of our pockets.

1fatboy1 - 10/2/2011 1:23 PM

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Maybe we could get the cops to set a good example by not chatting while driving. They might demonstrate the use of turn-signals while they're at it.

Monroe - 10/2/2011 12:06 PM

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They will never be able to control idiots using cell phones in unlawful manners in restricted places. The same goes for it being unlawful to smoke in your car with kids present. I see the unlawful activity going on regularly. The other day while picking up my granddaughter from school, a lady was in line to pick up her child from school puffing on a cigarette....on school grounds....which is against the law......some people don't care about the laws, and just simply ignore them.....and rarely get caught while breaking them.

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