Exactly!! Kevin C, he was sent to prison for killing a man because of his careless actions. Yes two years is not long enough.

if he messes up when he gets out he go right back in. what he recived what a 1st time offender term. everyone deserves a 1st chance. he did not intentionally kill the man.

Texting while driving...or DWT (Driving while texting). Really no different than DWI (Driving while intoxicated). Accountabilities should be the same. Right!?!

Two years seems a pittance to what the dead man's family has been forced to endure.

Throw away the key! I see kids blindly walking through a store in a daze texting,running into people, texting,running into people, texting,running into people, texting,running into people, ...

as long as we give prison sentences and revoke driving licenses for taking care of your kids, putting on makeup, eating while driving or changing the volume on the radio.

distractions are distractions and making some punishable and some not punishable is a form of discrimination.

Look at the front of the cars of young people who text at a red light. Caved in or dented with multiple paint runs showing they did it more than once. I want to get out and slap them and throw the crackberry down the road.........

I so agree with you. I was shocked that his stupid actions killed an innocent man, a husband, and a father. They say his license will be suspended for 15 years but trust me, he will drive again. His victim never will again. He also knew the dangers of texting and driving.

Right on Kevin, the headline for this article is very misleading. 2 years wasnt enough for make up for the life of a man. People get more time for dealing drugs than this boy got. Unfortunately this tragedy is a trend that only seems to be getting worse.

It is not just kids texting. Lots of adults. And the cellphone glues to their ears while driving and walking. Some guy on the cellphone walked backwards down the steps where my husband works. He fell. He is claiming workers comp. the call was personal.

But if it was some idiot like Paris Hilton or Hulk Hogans idiot son they get a slap on the wrist.. Why use the little guys as "examples" and let the rich or famous people always get a slap on the wrist? Class warfare.

The problem I have with this sentence is that the kid is now basically doomed for life. He'll do time with real thugs and become prey, then be forced to become a thug himself for survival.. 2 years later, we now have another thug on the street with likely no prospects for a bright future.

Anyway you look at it, this is a grim story.

Jason, you are absolutely correct! The problem is the other distractions(offenses) would be very hard to prove, unlike cell phone records.

GOOD!!!

Got to be a moron to text or even talk on a cell while driving..either you be dead or you'll kill another sooner or later!

The even greater crime here is that the court system is handing down a more severe punishment for driving while texting with a fatality for a first time (caught) offender than they ever have for a multiple time (caught)offender of driving while under the influence with a fatality. The latter happens far more oftem than the former and they get lighter sentences. Both should be equal. Driving while impaired in any capacity should be treated as attempted murder and causing a fatality should be treated as first degree murder. Think for a moment that the "driver" made a conscious choice to drive while in a diminished capacity and also made a conscious choice to become diminished in capacity. There is no accident when one deliberately puts others at risk of death by making choices that they know can, and in some cases (like this one), do cause loss of life. If the judges truly want to set an example then they need to enact stiffer penalties from the first to the last and put an end to the plagues of society that feel they are better than everyone else. We are all truly equal because when we are cut we all bleed red, no exceptions! Punishments need to start fitting the offenses. The victim lost his life permanently, his spouse is now a widow permanently and his children are with out a father permanently. The perpetrator should also lose out permanently, but instead he gets tapped on the wrist by only losing 2 years of his life and has to be without a license for an additional 13 years after he gets out of prison. Explain the justice in that if you can. The DOJ needs to stop playing with the law and start enforcing it with the appropriate degree of punishment. Until then there is no example that will ever be set. The most money and best lawyers will always prevail over true justice. **stepping down off my soap box now**

2 years for homicide from texting? Looks like professional hitmen will put down their guns and pick up their phones.

Until people pay a cost for their life threatening actions, they will keep doing it. This trial is, obviously, not just about this teen.

I agree...not a long enough sentence.

When you operate a motor vehicle you have a duty to operate it responsibly...so innocent people's lives are not ruined or ended. Texting while driving is reckless and irresponsible and as dangerous or possibly moreso as driving under the influence, in my personal opinion. Just like a person who gets behind the wheel after drinking too much and kills someone...I'm sure he very much regrets it and wishes he could take it back. Doesn't mean he's a bad person...but he made a very careless decision that ended a man's life.

It's crazy on the road because of people doing everything but paying attention to what they are doing. Sadly, someone has to have an example made of them in situations like this to get the message out that we can't tolerate this. And I don't think 2 years is going to get that message out.

No, he got a prison sentence for texting and causing a fatal accident while being male. Do you have the slightest idea how many teenage (and older) females are let off the hook for committing the same crime? In Aaron Deveau, the system finally found someone who could be made into an example.

so? just because something is harder to prove doesnt mean you discriminate on the other things. You can prove the radio was playing, you can prove makeup all over the wrecked vehicle, you can prove food thrown all over the car from mcdonalds.

If we want to be honest, old people cause more accidents than distracted drivers. So lets just ban everyone over 50 from driving.

Its foolish. Its a foolish law. But, all everyone is worried about is showing this kid something and ruining his life.

He's 18....every teenager makes major mistakes, its life, it happens. Major punishment is FAR overdoing it. He's already gotta live with the guilt and memories of killing someone.

Ben1986 -- so because one is illegal and another one is not, it is somehow worse? Jason is absolutely right. It doesn't matter why someone is distracted, if they are distracted and cause a death, they should be liable the same way.

It is ridiculous to have distinct laws and penalities for different types of distraction. If you kill someone because you are being reckless, you should be liable.

@ben1986

ya, sure its "illegal"....why? because its a distraction.

You either have to have all distractions illegal or non illegal.

Again, discriminating based on which distraction caused your fatal accident. THIS is absurd and people need to think about this.

Being in prison doesn't seem to have a positive influence on someone's life, except if there are classes or something to do in there. But in this economy those classes and programs are kind of hard to come by. So yeah, prison changes people good or bad, let's see what occurs and hope.

The term justice is kind of hard to define. In a case like this it most certainly is.

be distracted with your crying kid and kill someone in a vehicle accident....no big deal

be distracted with your cell phone and kill someone in a vehicle accident....prison sentence

and people not seeing whats wrong with this all explains why we're $16 trillion in debt.

Ben1986

Yes, texting while driving is illegal. However, how is that any different than someone who changes the radio station, is distracted, and causes the death of someone by doing such. A distraction is a distraction. The person who was killed and the family doesn't care how it was done. They have had a loss.

If only every state would raise the minimum driving age to 21. Some teens are just way too stupid to be allowed to operate machinery.

if he messes up when he gets out he go right back in. what he recived what a 1st time offender term. everyone deserves a 1st chance. he did not intentionally kill the man.

I wish he had gotten at least 30 years. To me this is little different than drinking and driving. He made a conscious decision to do something stupid and wholly unnecessary that caused the death of another and badly injured another. Did his parents never discuss how stupid this act was before he did it? Did he just ignore the PSA's? Did somebody really have to die to get through to him? The families of the victims are going to sue the pants off his parents and rightly so. This was just the criminal portion. He should also be charged with perjury because his testimony was clearly false.

I got my granddaughter a phone a few weeks ago and she can call anytime but she has no texting ability whatsoever. She is only 14 but I want her to get used to talking and not texting. Of course talking on a phone while driving isn't wise either but nowhere near as dangerous as texting (particularly with available hands off devices). Texting to me is very close to a regressive technology. And it really disturbed me to see the story earlier this week showing kids prefer this over actually speaking to each other. What have we become when that is the case? What does that bode for the future?

I have to agree. He killed a man with three children because of his negligence. Excessive speed had to play a part. 24 months is a small price to pay. How much guilt can a 17 year old have anyway?

That's it 2 years!!! What a joke. Drunk Drivers get more time for doing the same thing. Whether it be drinking and driving or texting and driving at the heart of it isn't it essentially the same thing? People not being responsible and risking other peoples lives when they are behind the wheel.

Hell if you only get 2 years for killing someone with your car (while you are texting of course). It may not be a good idea to advertise it. I mean the street gangs may trade their guns for cellphones and create a whole new version of the term drive-by

TLG-3006585- If something is illegal, and you choose to break the law, it is not an accident. You broke the law and what happens is the consequence of that action. There is no first chance. Another thing I disagree with is how attorneys "bend the truth" to create a "doubt" in the jurors' mind. There are many shades of the truth, it's all interpretation of the facts.. I have been on a jury and we sent the youth to jail for drunk driving. I will vote the same for texting and driving. It's illegal so don't do it. Pull over, park and respond if it is that important.

HOTTICKET-2304234,

Well, you have a lot of anger there.

In case you have not noticed, in America, we do not kill or "draw and quarter (sic)" people for unintentionally causing a death in a motor vehicle accident. Yes, he killed a man, which is horrible and he was terribly negligent in doing so. Nobody disputes that. But this death was NOT intentional.

Furthermore, prison is no daycare. Not for a 19 year old "kid". The judge got it right.

And all you other "hang'em high" types, you really need to get your priorities straight.

My answer to the question,DO YOU THINK IT WAS A FAIR SENTENCE is no.It should have been at least 25 years, no parole!! Hey Jason, if it was your dad that this kid MURDERED, would you feel the same way?!

This kid should consider himself lucky that he only got two years in prison, personally I think the sentence should have been much longer. Too many people view this as a simple accident and say things like 'he did not intend to kill anyone.' They downplay the seriousness of what he has done and the fact that this was an act of willful negligence. Well when you are driving a car you are behind the wheel of a deadly weapon. To not pay attention to what you are doing is criminal. It was no accident that he was texting when the incident occurred, it was a deliberate act on his part to stop paying attention to controlling the deadly weapon he was driving and worry about a stupid text message. This is clear case of negligent homicide. As far as I am concerned the penalty needs to be stiffer. This father of three got a death sentence because of this kids willful negligence. Three kids will now grow up without their father because this kid could not wait until he was off the road to do his texting. I am also apalled that this kids lawyer would say "there was no evidence that the crash caused Bowley’s death." What does he think caused this guys death!?!? The guy was alive and well until his client ran into the guy. As for losing his license for 15 years, my guess is that will be modified. They will end up giving this idiot some type of restricted license that lets him drive to get to and from work and other approved activities. This is what they end up doing with most drunks that lose their licenses.

Once this kid gets out of prison he will likely spend the rest of his life working to try to pay off the civil judgement that will no doubt be filed against him following his being found guilty in a wrongful death suit. It costs a lot of money to raise three kids and put them through college.

Jason,

Get over it. I don't buy your logic and something tells me you probably know yourself the overly simplistic thinking you're using to make an invalid point. You can change the volume, track, station, etc; deal with an angry child; even talk on a cell phone with bluetooth....all without becoming distracted from safe driving. It is absolutely impossible to text while driving, without looking away from the road for significant intervals. THAT is why anti-texting laws are needed and the "laws" you rashly propose are not.

Before you all ahng him.. A guy here hit and killed a man walking on the side of he road while drunk, he left the scene and HE got 2 years and I am sure his liscnese will be there waiting for him. I have no issue with the time but 15 years w/io liscense? Then how will he ever be able to pay restituion if he can not work. it was horrible he will do his time. it is the license i have the issues with. people are convicted of multiple drunk driving and still have their liscense.

To make matters worse, the story is wrong. The sentences are concurrent, and the sentence is only one year. I live in N.H., and all the local Boston stations, and the link here to the story in the Boston Globe, are all reporting it is ONE YEAR. The rest of the sentence was suspended.

Jason must be a teenager who likes to text and drive. Stop crying kid, nobody wants to hear you make excuses for this inconsiderate moron who only got two years for freaking killing somebody. Go whine about it on facebook. Teenagers make mistakes? Really? We all know that, but guess what? The vast majority of these mistakes don't result in the death of another human being and when they do then that "mistake" should be punished accordingly.

The sentence for celling and driving for any reason, other than having to call 911, should be a minimum of two years in prison and permanent suspension of the driver's license. The sentence for injuring someone while celling and driving should be 25 years and the permanent suspension of the driver's license. The sentence for killing someone while celling and driving should be a minimum of 50 years and the permanent suspension of the driver's license.

There is never, ever any reason to use a cellphone while driving, whether it's to yackety-yack or texty-text (unless it's to call 911). It should be made a felony all across this nation. Like so many others, I can no longer count the times I remained observant enough (and one has to these days, with so many cellphones glued to ears) to avoid a serious accident because someone cut in front of me, totally oblivious to what they did because they were too busy being immersed in that "important" conversation on their cellphone while driving. No celling and driving ever. Yack on that phone, call prison your home.

Oh, and as for that kid, he'll be very popular while in prison. What's textese for "Bubba?" He'll now learn the real meaning of OMG.

Almost everyday you will come across a driver weaving and slowing down (for no reason) and you used to assume they had been drinking, but no, they are on their phones.....and they are dangerous! The police should be checking the phones of everyone at the scene of every accident. And states to enact huge fines for anyone caught using a cell phone (not just texting) while driving, especially when it involves an accident.

Not that I'm disagreeing with your statement, but I have a friend who can text w/o looking at the phone.

Two separate cars today almost hit me while I was driving because they were talking on their cell phone. I literally had to stomp on the brake because they were not paying attention and never saw me. Both people were mature women. BTW, my brother was killed by a driver that was drunk and obviously not paying attention. It ruined my family forever. Think about it..

Duphas,

Wow! You have some real anger management problems dude.

On the excessive speed, go to the home town papers and indeed the court where the case was heard and you will see if excessive speed played a roll. You can go look it up as it's all on line. A little bit of work on your part might be exhausting for you, but it will cash in some of that pent up anger you have there.

As far as all the name calling you tried to paint me with: Hey, you're the one with the name of Duphas, not me.

My heart goes out to this poor kid. I doubt that any driver in this nation has never used their phone, drank a coffee, ate a snack, had a conversation or drove tired before. No one is perfect. He was a 17 year old kid for God's sake.He only had his license 5 months before this happened. Accidents happen- they always will- I don't care what restrictive law you pass. This boy did not intentionally mean to hurt anyone. All of you who are so quick to condemn this poor kid had better take a long, hard look in the mirror before you pass harsh judgements. This poor kid's life was already ruined by the accident. He was remorseful even before he knew what trouble lay ahead for him. What makes all of you so perfect that you feel you have the right to make things even worse with your hateful comments? What if that was your son on that stand? What if it was you? For God's sake, show some mercy.

Yes, texting while driving is illegal. However, how is that any different than someone who changes the radio station, is distracted, and causes the death of someone by doing such. A distraction is a distraction.

Because it's illegal to text while driving and it isn't illegal to fiddle with the radio. That's the difference.

Since you and a few others commenting similarly about driving distractions feel so strongly about it, perhaps you should put to your state legislature the need for a law that bans radios and other listening devices in motor vehicles as well as a statute forcing all drivers to refrain from doing anything but having their eyes on the road and two hands upon the wheel at all times while the motor vehicle is running. While you're at it, you should lobby Congress to enact a bill that requires all motor vehicles in the USA to be equipped with a breathalyzer that must be used before the vehicle will start so that no one who has imbibed any alcohol will be able to operate a vehicle. Also, motor vehicles should be required to have safety sensors installed that prevents a driver from operating a motor vehicle over the posted speed limit, and automatically decelerates a motor vehicle that approaches any other vehicle closer than 84 feet (this would be approximately 6 car lengths) at speeds over 45 mph. This way, you will be assured that you and every other driver on the road will be safe forevermore from irresponsible drivers. Or maybe you should just have all motor vehicles banned and make public transportation the only means for private citizens to travel. </sarcasm>

Or better yet, just stay the @!$%# off the road.

It was a terrible accident. i dont think it was a fair judgement at all. I see distracted drivers daily on the roads. Until theres a fair way to judge everyone. I have teenage boys and to imagine my sons life ruined by a text that i see others and adults to doing daily i couldnt handle it. im not saying its ok to do and i hope my son doesnt do it weather he see's it on streets. If i was killed by a teenager making a mistake i wouldnt want his life ruined.

This is why drunk driving is a stupid law. It's the reason you're recklessly driving, not the actual reckless driving. We should treat all reckless driving fairly similarly. Obviously if you're texting and don't hit anything while swerving across the double yellow you can get a huge fine and possibly be sent on your way (or not), and if drunk you can't continue on your way after the ticket...BUT, why should the reckless driving not be the crime, and the cause of it be the bigger issue? The reckless driving should be the issue, not the cause.

This kid gets 2 years. A drunk driver who caused the exact same harm would have gotten 20. How is that fair? It isn't.

Drunk driving laws should be repealed or changed to be driver specific (you should be able to take a driving test (or simulation) drunk and determine individually what constitutes "drunk" for you...the limit of blood-alcohol content should not be uniform....08% is not drunk unless your an 80lbs woamn). BTW, I don't drink at all.

Cause should not be criminal necessarily...whether you killed a man while changing the radio, being drunk, or texting is irrelevant...you still killed am an. All those causes should carry the same sentence...and there is no need to prohibit further causes of reckless driving if you simply focus on the reckless driving itself. We have too many laws as it is. It's just common sense that reckless driving for any reason (no matter the distraction type) should be illegal. All the rest of it is just pandering to public outrage (which has no rtional basis and is purely based on emotion).

Ever notice how an intersection that hasn't has stop sign for 50 years has one kid die when jaywalking and they throw up a stop sign? Perhaps the parents were to blame, or the kid, not the lack of stop sign? Maybe?

But politicians don't re-elected by not throwing up useless stop signs and blaming the actual cause of the problem.

BTW..the #1 cause of reckless driving...is lack of sleep (being tired).

Should we make being tired illegal too? Or just focus on the reckless driving part (the actual problem)? Think about it.

I have long felt that when one person causes the death of another that victim is just as dead as if the killer had used a gun. The only exception would be in self defense or the defense of a relative.

There fore the 2 year sentence is no where near enough, not even close.

Perhaps, just perhaps if he was given life without parole and his "story" were posted in every driver's ed class in the country it might do some good.

Since you and a few others commenting similarly about driving distractions feel so strongly about it, perhaps you should put to your state legislature the need for a law that bans radios and other listening devices in motor vehicles as well as a statute forcing all drivers to refrain from doing anything but having their eyes on the road and two hands upon the wheel at all times while the motor vehicle is running.

Or you could quit being full of dumb and making unnecessary laws. Reckless driving should be the illegal act (as it's the harmful one), not the cause of reckless driving that is also done by other people who don't allow it to create a reckless driving situation (some can text and drive, some can't, clearly).

This is why the roads need cell jammers along the road, or in every car... probably cheaper to put it in the car knowing our goverment...

Hes onlygoing to serve one year of that... what a damn joke. Hope the deceased's 2 small children are all better in one year.

bobber-3677831

Not that I'm disagreeing with your statement, but I have a friend who can text w/o looking at the phone.

Can your friend ALSO READ the text message without taking his eyes off the road?

Can you look in your mirror without also breaking you attention from looking ahead of you?

No.

So should we ban mirrors? No.

If you look at other things, like a passenger your talking too, or your kids in the backseat, and it doesn't result in reckless driving, then it shouldn't be illegal on its own. Why? Because logically what we're trying to stop is reckless driving, and we're getting in the weeds on what is causing it. It's an irrational way to address the problem.

All I hope is this sends a message to other drivers around the country before I end up a hood ornament on somebodies car.

Hang him? 15 years or more sentence in prision? I'll bet people saying this are oldies who didn't have texting when they were kids and are just showing their disdain for the technology more than anything.

And isn't our prison system buldging at the seems as is, costing tax payers more and more each year? It was negligent homicide by a minor. His sentence should be accordingly administered.

Btw sombody might be able to make a killing on motion sensors in phones that cease to operate when traveling more than 10 miles per hour. Or signal blockers that parents could mount in vehicles.

The act of texting while driving is illegal. There is a punishment for it. The act of drinking and driving is illegal. There is also a punishment for that. If they both result in the same fatality due breaking the law AND driving erraticly , they both deserve the same punishment. Regardless of the age or status of the responsible person, an innocent person is PERMANENTLY DEAD.

sorry i just have to LOL @ homicide by texting... you can kill someone by texting. you can by being negligent, but mass takes it to a whole new level of jackassery in the form of libtard logic.

Some of you people are seriously deluded. You try to claim you're making a logical argument through a completely illogical (and false) comparison. Have any of you ever actually timed yourselves checking in the rear view mirror before a lane change, yelling at your kids, taking a bite from a burger or changing the radio station? You can either accomplish these things in 1 second, or in certain cases without even taking your eyes off the road. THAT IS THE DIFFERENCE. GET IT THROUGH YOUR HEADS!

Do yourselves a favor and get a stop watch, grab your phone, unlock it, click on the message icon, search for the contact you want to text, click on the name, type a message and then hit send. If all that takes your eyes from looking ahead for more than 1 second then there is your answer. So cut out the BS discrimination claims already.

When do you propose it is okay to stop coddling traffic offenders like this? Teens especially cannot plead ignorance on texting while driving. It's in their friggin' driver's ed classes!!!! And adults who got their licenses before 2002 should know better too. Most states criminalize it and there have been enough news stories surrounding such incidents that they would have to be living under a rock to not have heard that it is dangerous.

ProIndividual-3906907

Or you could quit being full of dumb and making unnecessary laws. Reckless driving should be the illegal act (as it's the harmful one), not the cause of reckless driving that is also done by other people who don't allow it to create a reckless driving situation (some can text and drive, some can't, clearly).

I think maybe before you continue with this campaign that you are so passionate about, you should first look up the definition of "Reckless Driving".

Definition of RECKLESS DRIVING

: driving that evidences a deliberate or culpably negligent disregard of life and property and creates an unreasonable risk of harm to others

Checking your rear view, taking a bite from a burger, or changing the station will never been seen as unreasonable in a court for a good reason. They are NOT unreasonable actions that require more than a couple of seconds of your attention. Intoxication and texting are activities that have been proven to be unreasonable behind the wheel because of the way they impair most drivers. A few people who can drive drunk well or text with their eyes closed shouldn't open up a debate on the validity of the laws.

And what's more, those activities cannot be proven. Which is why you usually only see people cited for Reckless Driving who are going 90 mph and weaving in and out of lanes. You can bet your a$$ that if someone witnesses a driver putting on make-up who then caused a fatal collision that they would try to prosecute that offender too!

Cell phones (guns) don't kill people, people kill people... that's why people go to prison and not their cell phone (gun).

Bill Billingtonvia

sorry i just have to LOL @ homicide by texting... you can kill someone by texting. you can by being negligent, but mass takes it to a whole new level of jackassery in the form of libtard logic.

That's some real redneck logic there! Spend all your time trying to fight against homosexual and immigrant rights, but God forbid we prosecute the folks who commit VEHICULAR HOMICIDE.... not texting homicide... VEHICULAR. You should remember that term the next time you reach for that bottle of Jack Daniels in your glove box!

well as usual on these posts; mass hysteria with the villagers up in arms to hang someone. first off, there are plenty of laws. PLENTY that i don't vote into affect. also plenty of laws that are broken on a daily basis like speeding laws. there were also plenty of laws in nazi germany and plenty of laws in stalin russian. just because they are laws doesn't mean they are correct and also doesn't mean people will always follow them. to me i have to agree with jason on this although im sure to be the minority as usual. i DONT tx while driving. at a stop light maybe but never while driving. i have gotten into 3 car accidents all three not my fault and i have been driving for 10 years. each time this has been by people simply not paying attention. too busy looking at other people in cars or rubberneckin at the scene of the accident. never by a phone. i see people talking on their phone ALL the time where i live and accidents are still the same as usual. still people making dumb stupid mistakes that unfortunately cost sometimes. one time i looked into my purse to check if i had my debit card and couldn't find it at first, i swerved towards the divider and almost crashed. distraction. from that point on i only do that at lights. you can, and i have personally witnessed, people being completely not focused on driving for many reasons and it is just as dangerous. cell phones have taken the brunt of this because it is easier to prove. this kids life is ruined. jails are overcrowded. taxpayers spend billions a year and complain when they want to put people in jail for stupid @!$%#. it will be hard for him to find work, therfore he will be living off the taxpayers more after release. congrats everyone, one more person supported by the system you hate. well he might have to pop out a kid first to get them, at least in ca u do, but hey that can be arranged. someone up above mentioned first degree murder. haha laughable. so would a teen turning the music up on his dial and looking away for a second constitute FIRST degree murder? first degree murder is murder with clear intent. his clear intent was to send a text. you purposely plan and execute murder. not the same thing in the slightest. you can argue negligence but not premeditated murder at the first degree. o please. my sentence is unintentional negligent homicide by a minor. just because your actions had a terrible side effect, it doesnt constitute intent which is what first degree is. don't waste my time. my grandfather always said pay attention to the road because if you kill a kid, you will live in guilt forever till you die. this KID must live in guilt for the rest of his life for his reckless actions. i guarantee if he was released tomorrow he would never do it again. someone above stated it was because he was a male and not female. please go back under the rock you came from thanks. we have criminals out there with INTENT to kill and murder. we have jail systems overcrowded with stupid offenses that cost taxpayers billions. leave the jails for the real criminals.

I constantly see cops on their cell phones while driving. I was almost side swiped by a sheriff drinking his coffee and driving thru a red blinking light while turning, never stopped. And he actually gave me a dirty look and sped away. This was a month ago.

Who's watching those who watch us? Frankly do as I say not as I do is a serious problem. No wonder why the youth have little respect for authority.

Take on the police? My momma didn't raise a fool!

Boys in Blue stick together.

This victims family should now sue the so called teeneager and his family for everything they do and will ever own. I see idiots with a phone in their hand and texting while talking on their headset and steering with their elbows. To later hear them say it was an accident when they have murdered someone with their ignorance is ludicrous. It's one thing to cause accidents that hurt people from your negligence but in the case of a death, there should be nothing short of manslaughter charges brought against them.

i have witnessed the same thing mdb123. i see alot of cops talking on their phones. also i see them park in handicap or red zones for excessive amounts of time. i see them speed on a daily basis as well. you see they are above the law. they don't have to follow the laws of the land. in fact in my town they got off of their manslaughter sentence for beating a bum to death because the chief of police omitted evidence and covered up for his boys as usual. i also knew of a detectives son that would speed to excess on residential and main roads to the point of being dangerous. he would swerve in and out of traffic all while going 65 in a 35. he didn get pulled over many times, but bragged he got out of his tickets by stating who his dad was. makes me sick but yet you don't hear people talk about it because they are so brainwashed by supposed authority figures that they bend over for anyone they are told too. i guess i should be happy i use my own brain with my own thoughts instead of being lost in the masses of sheeple.

...and he's a liar.

Ok...according to the logic of all the posters that think he should have gotten a stiffer sentence....

Don't ever get into an accident while speeding, driving too fast for conditions, improper lane use, failure to stop at a traffic control device....those are all misdeamenor traffic offenses, much the the same as texting while driving. All lead to a potentially unsafe environment.

So let's go back through the records. Go and pick up every person that was ever involved in an accident where another driver died, and throw them in jail for 2 years.

They choose to speed, drive too fast, not obey that yellow light. They are negligent. Let's make them pay!

It was an accident and this judge was too harsh.

"Deveau's lawyer argued there was no evidence that the crash caused Bowley's death."

What??? What was it then, natural causes? Must have been pretty easy to disprove that argument, I would think. Is that really the best defense his lawyer could come up with?

A Massachusetts teenager was sentenced Wednesday to two years in prison and loss of his license for 15 years for causing a fatal crash by texting while driving.

Good! He took a mans life wile breaking the law with texting and driving. Texting and driving is just as bad, or even worse than those that drink and drive.

Teens need to be held accountable for their stupidity while texting and driving.

He should have gotten 25 years, but make him serve the full 15.

I and a few others hope to see this (jail sentences for texting while driving) happen a lot! Note, there are some of us doing things to make this very possible for local authorities to do just that; as well as send people to jail for using cell phones in their cars!

Almost everyday you will come across a driver weaving and slowing down (for no reason) and you used to assume they had been drinking, but no, they are on their phones.....and they are dangerous! The police should be checking the phones of everyone at the scene of every accident. And states to enact huge fines for anyone caught using a cell phone (not just texting) while driving, especially when it involves an accident.

"dialing" a number while driving is hazardous. Talking on the phone is not, or at least no more so than changing the radio station, or eating an ice cream cone while driving. One only needs one hand to control a car.

Arieus...reread your quote. He lost his license for 15...he's only serving two.

For all you that want to send people to jail for texting and driving....ok fine...but before we start jailing texters that have accidents for two years, can we first start actually jailing sexual predators, child molestors, child beaters, rapists, etc for more than 18 months?

I don't get why people are so bent on revenge. It is definitely tragic that someone lost his life, but the kid is 18 years old and has to live with the weight of someone's death on his conscious. Prison is not going to fix him, all prison does is teach you how to be a criminal. As bad as it is, I don't think he should be in jail because he probably isn't really a danger to society. I think living with killing someone by accident will be a big enough deterrent for him not to text and drive.

I have a couple of thoughts on this "accident." 1 - Losing control of one's vehicle while being distracted does not make it an accident. I thought an accident happened when you have no control over the situation. Seems like this kid was in total control of the situation that caused the death of this poor man. 2 - For those of you who think that there is all kinds of wrong about sending this kid to jail, what if it was your father who was killed, or even just in a wreck, caused by someone not paying attention to their duty of being a driver. 3 - When I was learning to drive 50 years ago, one of our instructors asked us to remember that when we are driving, we are in a situation of great trust. The other drivers on the road are putting their trust in us to be doing the correct things as we drive, just as we expect the same from all the other drivers on the road. However, if we are driving impaired, we are breaking that trust without letting the other drivers know. That is so wrong on so many levels, that no amount of punishment for causing a death while driving is ever enough.

Joe-755363 and BIG DADDY V DAWG, I couldn't agree more. Was thinking both of those things as I was reading all the crazy comments.

Not his fault? How do you figure that?

Yes, he killed a man, which is horrible and he was terribly negligent in doing so. Nobody disputes that. But this death was NOT intentional.

I guess the cell phone - jumped into his hands - and forced him to read and then text back?

People making excuses for idiots doing what idiots do... that's was the cause and the pity for killing a Father. At some point - lienency has to stop being the solution for correcting stupid behavior. I'll bet that lil' Lord fontleroy never forgets to pick up his phone before leaving the house everyday.

So how can it be so difficult to not answer a text when he is driving? The good thing about cell phones is they have this feature where it will allow you press the call back button, after you pull of the freeway and park.

It ain't hard, all it takes is common sense. This common courtesy should be ingrained in a kids mind as thoroughly as telling them to assume any gun pointed at you - should be consider Loaded. No call is so important as to cause you to kill or be killed to answer it in 2 rings or less.

And even if it were important - they should have actually called. Text messages are supposed to be just information - not for emergencies.

As a professional driver, I see the cops on their cell phones all the time, talking and texting.

The other day I watch a diesel cop swerve onto the shoulder and cross the center 5 times in one mile, and yet they can fine us up to 2750 bucks for doing the same thing as them!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I constantly see cops on their cell phones while driving. I was almost side swiped by a sheriff drinking his coffee and driving thru a red blinking light while turning, never stopped. And he actually gave me a dirty look and sped away. This was a month ago.cn

Or while typing on the precinct provided computer, cop cruisers are equiped with, so they can look things up (like people's plate numbers and what not, for the DMV record...)

Now on all of this, I'll say a few things.... On the one hand texting and drivng is stupid, and people should know better. This in mind however, when a personn is in court, they should be judged on the basis of their own wrong doing, NOT with the intention of "making an example out of them", or effect society as a whole. Individuals are in court, society is not.... This could all too easily sway a judge into handing out sentennces based on not only their own actions, but other people's also (or what other people are perceived to do at some future time). As an individual was involved in whatever act, the sentencing should be based on the individual, and not on some presumption of "punishing someone for all of societies ills, to make everyone else...."

Now as to cell phone jammers and everything else, they wouldn't do this because then people couldn't call 911. The other thing is, that there are such things as hands free devices, and not everyone is as distracted by talking as everyone else. On a somewhat unrelated matter, least here in Jersey, a measure has been proposed to forbid truck drivers from being able to make any calls even when a hands free device is n use... Ironically, use of the CB isn't considered such a distraction.... Now truck drivers in particular can be in a situation of needing to speak with dispatch, needing to coordinate deliveries or pickups with other businesses, and if they can't, having the truck out front but no employees ready to unload it could cost time and money both for the trucking companies, as well as for the stores/businesses.

Now we all know where this goes, because if they can't make another delivery because they're out front waiting, business is lost, and guess who the companies tend to pass the costs (or lost profits) onto? Why, they're own customers. But if the businesses get a bigger bill, they're passing that on also, along with a little profit on the side, and next thing you know, prices in stores could go up more (aka inflation) even while many are having a hard time making ends meat. Businesses hate aborbing losses.... But would a "not even a hands free device..." be reasonable. Now if one followed some people's suggestion of jammers and the like.... In fact any sort of service or delivery industry where the employees need to be able to keep in contact.... Now if everytime a store or dispatch had to call them, they had to get to the outside line, go from the flow of traffic to a complete stop on the shoulder (which many times the flow of traffic is 10 mph above the speed limit, with busy Interstate traffic, i-78 in Jersey is a perfect example, as I've heard some of the Interstates in Calif are too), and then had to get back up to speed with no breaks in traffic to get back on the road; I'm not sure this would be a better prospect then just allowing them to have a hands free device. This is however where some of these laws are going, and as to getting back onto busy interstates, a 16-wheeler can't re-accelerate very quickly. There's a lot of weight (especially under load) for that engine to beat inertia with.... Besides, many truckers who were targeted with that one, are better drivers then many residential liscense holders.... The requirements for securing a CDL are much greater in terms of the rigors of testing involved....

Then again also, jammers that blanket out even it ringing, would mean the person woulnd't know the entire trip that for instance, the planned delivery, the workers are running late, so won't be there to unload the truck until 1 hour after scheduled time, etc; with back to back deliveries booked, so that a 1 hour delay effects other stores/businesses also....

As stated by many before me, 2 years is not nearly enough.........just as Ravi's sentence in the Tyler Clementi suicide trial. I know of a woman who was killed while crossing the strret with her eldest child. The driver would have hit the child whom she pushed to safety. The driver has been imprisoned also for a brief sentence. Her eldest child is 8 and the 2 other children are 4 and 2.....they have no family here in the US and the father was a sole bread earner. What about their lives now ? And what about the 8 year old who may have emotional problems since his Mom saved his life and chose to be the target instead. Our tolerance is way too lenient is too many catagories in this country.

I've read through most of this thread, and there are all kinds of responses to the subject. Michael senior brought out some point in a positive manner. I agree mostly with what you say, but intoxicated driving has been around a lot long than texting and driving. One person talked in a way that only teenagers do this, yeh. I'm going on a limb here and guess that most of you don't really do much more then local driving work, stores, home. I drove OTR 18 wheeler for a good many years. When we're driving we have many things to be attuned to, but the one biggest problem for us is people and cell phones. A good many people talking on cell phones while driving will slow down to 35-40 MPH on a highway that is 65-70 MPH. The problem is they don't realize they are a traffic hazard at that time. I have also been almost swiped more time than I can recall by people texting while driving. I can only move the truck over just so much and if they enter my lane and hit me, than I figure that it would be on them. Luckily this never happened to me. When I was driving my phone was never on, I had a message service, saw no need for it to be on.

As to the young man in Mass. It was inevitable that this was going to happen, a death. The sentencing of 2 years prison is questionable. Should it be longer? They don't pay me to make these kind of dicisions. There always has to be that first signal flashed out. Someone has to be the case that sets the presidence. Unfourtunatly People still drink and drive so they will still text and drive.

Feel sorry for the kid. He did something stupid that most kids do every day and now has to live with the results for the rest of his life. Feel even worse for the family of the man who was killed. For those arguing it wasn't an "accident", yes, it was. The kid didn't pick up the phone thinking "goody, now I can run into someone and kill them".

I have no problem with cell phone use or even texting while in the car - as long as that car isn't moving. In a parking lot, stuck in the drive through, I don't see an issue with it. Driving down the road is totally different. Of course I used to see people driving while reading the paper, eating from a bowl and shaving on a daily basis, and frankly it's no different. What sunk the kid wasn't that he received a text message when the accident happened - there's no proof he read it, but rather that there IS proof he sent one 1 minute prior to the accident. Sad situation all around.

Not his fault? How do you figure that?

Yes, he killed a man, which is horrible and he was terribly negligent in doing so. Nobody disputes that. But this death was NOT intentional.

I guess the cell phone - jumped into his hands - and forced him to read and then text back?

The point intent, is that he did not intend to cause an accident. We all [or many of us] cut some corners when driving. We drive over the speed limit, change lanes without signaling or without looking, become distracted by conversations with other occupants in the car, or adjust the lid on our coffee. None of these actions are done with the desire to cause harm. Sometimes, something happens and an accident occurs.

If this teenager had intentionally caused an accident, I could understand all of the "hang 'em high" reactions on this board. He did not. He behaved unwisely, and recklessly, and caused a fatal accident. Given the impact of his behavior, he certainly deserves jail time, but not a life sentence. Two years is sufficient.

MDB is right about the boys in blue acting like the laws don't apply to them while driving on the same highways as you and me. I drive by countless "Click it or Ticket" signs everyday.

Does anyone out there think the RI state trooper who was thrown from his vehicle (can't be thrown if the seat belt is on) after crashing it on the highway will be fined the $85.00 you and me would ? Not a chance in hell.

I do believe texting while driving is dangerous, but I also believe the laws should be in place for all, not overlooked because of who you are and who you know.

If the judge gave the teenager the max, then I guess that is a good thing.

This kid will be changed for life because he acted like a kid. I would say that 50% of adults do it as well. Texting on your phone is a big problem driving or not. It should be band from cell phone options you/we will never stop people from doing it. The world will get along just fine with out it and the cell phone companies are just making a buck on a dangerous product. I would bet that 50% of you that have hung this poor kid have done it yourself.

Just sayin

I'm with dman on this - it was stupid, negligent, and horrible - but it wasn't done with malicious intent. All this screaming for blood makes us look like overzealous morons.

Jayson KY:

If we want to be honest, old people cause more accidents than distracted drivers. So lets just ban everyone over 50 from driving.

You're way off base here, and wrong. Statistcs show just the opposite

He probably did not get enough time for what he did but, the judge had not right to take his license away. According to a Supreme Court decision back in 1969, driving is a person's 'Right'. It is protected under 'Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness', under which all of us has. The only person's that may, is the 'person's who do it for hire'. You can not take away their 'Personal Right', however. Research it, it is there...

If the government really wanted safer highways, why do billboards keep getting bigger and brighter? Of course those massive TVs bring in revenue while texting plans are basic fees already paid. So your safety is only important if it doesnt get in the way of state revenue. Once the billboards come down, then, and only then, will I believe the state government wants safer highways and streets.

Two years ago a good friend of mine was killed on his motorcycle. He was driving the speed limit and a 17 year old girl ran a stop sign and killed him. All she got was a ticket for running the stop sign. The point I'm trying to make is that there needs to be some consistency in our sentencing of offenders for there to be any actual detterent. I actually think that what she did was worse than what this young man did, yet one of them will spend the next two years in prision while the other will enjoy college with her friends.

I was always told that driving is a "privilege" and not one to be taken lightly. I personally do not text or talk on the phone while driving. Hands-free is not a problem for me. Texting while driving is a major distraction. Even if you put the phone up where you can look at the road and text at the same time, it's still a distraction. Most people cannot walk and chew gum at the same time. What makes you think they can text and drive at the same time?? Nothing that anyone has to say or text to you is that important that it can't wait for you to stop. As for the person who said that his license shouldn't be taken away because then he can't get to work, have you ever heard of public transportation??? You know, those things they call buses??? I use it everyday. I don't feel sorry for this kid at all. He LIED in court. His attorney was a MORON to think that this so-called "accident" didn't cause this man's death. And for those of you who think that this was an accident, get in your cars and drive. I'll come at you head-on while texting. Maybe the same thing will happen to you that happened to this father of three. Sarcasm intended. I'm pretty sure you wouldn't want that to happen to you or anyone you know. My sympathy lies with the deceased and his family. Screw the kid. And for those of you who are only blaming young people with this offense, think again. Too many older people can't possibly live without their cell phones because they can't be away from their jobs for that long. It's really absurd when people walk into you on the sidewalk because they're too busy texting to look around them. End the addiction. Life on the other end of your phone is not that important.

Condolences and my prayers for the family of the deceaced; especailly for the three kids.

The satat should ban the cell phones because they can cause deaths as proved in this case; just like the handguns causes deaths !!

this is a good example how any artifact whn used improperly can cause a tragedy; there are more cars and cell phone than handguns out there; just about everyone has one (car and cell) and it only becomes deadly when handled careless; with disregard of safety;

training and education will do wonders in reducing tragedy; all citezens are responsible for this; not only should we relay on the laws; people cause tragedy, NOT the objects that can inflict tragedy; so if we ban all cars and all cell phone this senseless death would have no occurred?

I think 2 years in prison for killing a human being, if proven guilty of negligence is a vacation from where this kid will come back and recover from; hope he and all learn his lesson.

There is no comming back for the dead; there will be no recovery fully for those families and friends ever.

Can we see now the analogy?? human being bad behaviors is the cause of harm always; NOT the tools we have at hand; Handguns, cell phones, cars, baseball bats, knives, monky wrenches, bricks atc and ANYTHING capable of inflict bodily injure to a human is just that ; A TOOL it is its use and our training and education what makes the difference.

wrong...

If we want to be honest, old people cause more accidents than distracted drivers. So lets just ban everyone over 50 from driving

If anything, most older drivers help traffic, by slowing down the speeders. Elderly drivers are the "speed bumps" we need to control traffic.

Several states already have laws in effect which address the issue of when age becomes a factor, and have anonymous numbers you can call to suggest that Mr. Jones is getting to the point that his driving is a problem... just like they have laws which prohibit people with Night blindness, loss of peripheral vision, uncontrolled diabetes... etc ; from driving due to medical conditions.

Older drivers, according to Insurance records have fewer accidents than teens ... by a long, long percentage. Elders are pretty good about restricting themselves or asking for DMV to evaluate their driving, They are smart enough to know that driving to see the kids and grand-kids - long distance - is no longer something they can do... so they fly, catch the Greyhound or get off the roads at night, get a hotel/motel room and start afresh the next day (after the commute rush).

They have nothing to prove, they aren't trying to set a record of how fast they can get from Kansas to LA. and for your edification, 50, 60, even 70 is not old. Matter of fact, I know a truck driver (Over the Road, 18 wheeler) , who became a trucker for a second career after he retired. as an owner/operator, he can and does pick his cargo, destinations, routes. He and his wife usually share the driving duties in shifts. He is 67, the wife is 68, he rings up something like 40,000 miles a year of his rig. No accidents!

When he can't or doesn't want to drive anymore he's willing to accept that restriction. he is test, as a commercial driver - with a lot more detail and thoroughness than our 18 year convict ever was.

When I was a kid, most of the summer, me and few others would work as loaders at the truck depots. many of the drivers were retired Military... still driving into their 70's.

Two years ago a good friend of mine was killed on his motorcycle. He was driving the speed limit and a 17 year old girl ran a stop sign and killed him. All she got was a ticket for running the stop sign. The point I'm trying to make is that there needs to be some consistency in our sentencing of offenders for there to be any actual detterent.

Different conditions, different states, different judge...Oh - there is and probably always will be a bias toward women, girls. You know it, I know it... all guys are aware of it. Thats not going to change in either of our lifetimes.

Some things are just like that.. Go to the local night club, women get in free, women get drinks free - and they double the charges for guys.

... deal with it!

Maybe raising the legal age to obtain a DL to 21 years old will help with the texting thing and a little also with the sppeding; teens feel they are invencible and forget to care about what they know they should care about when they are with friends outside the family; only a few are truly responsible; passing a writen test and a 10 minutes driving test at the DMV prove nothing as we continue to see these news coming in everywhere; a little; most teens are the one who don't seem to get it even though I have seen a complete grown up texting, using his ipad and attending 2 phones while i was sitting as a passanger on his car; a coworker of mine and I was horrified not to say i told him that was just plain irresponsible and wrong and not to ride ever with him again.

We need way harder deterrent laws with irresponsability in any way it shows.

another person i know he have 3 DUI's he does not have a DL of course but still gets drunk oftem as he always call me from some bar when he is hammered; he recently told me he is waiting to recover his DL I do not think a guy like this deserve to have one but DMV will not deny him the reinstatement just because i say so; after all who am I? I am going to be really sorry for the next DUI victim from this guy.

This is the right decision.

Mistakes happen and this is the worst kind of mistake to make. But if this young man was not punished, what do you tell the family of the person who was killed? "Oh, I'm sorry but we're not going to punish him because everyone does it." And they do. This could have happened to anyone.

This is a bigger problem than I think a lot of drivers realize. This is a "there outta be a law" moment for many more states without cell phone legislation. Hopefully this will open the eyes of just one more person after this accident, but why does someone always have to die before problems are fixed?

My feelings of sadness are only for the family of the man killed.....

How can you say this young man did not intend to kill anyone...

Of course he did not, but he was doing something that was against the law,

and in doing so a family is distroyed....doesn't that mean anything to all of you that

try to forget...A life was lost, just to answer or talk on the phone..

I do not feel sorry for the young man at all, his actions caused the death of another human being.

Actions that were selfish and thoughtless.......

"actions that were selfless and thoughtless, causing the death of another human being"....kind of the like the war we just came out of. I don't see anyone going to prison for that.

Sorry...got tired of being called a libtard by others on here...so had to get that in. Go ahead and collapse me.

Teens are risk takers, it's unfortunate that our car-centered culture makes it nearly imperative for them to be driving when they are at their most impulsive and selfish, it's a recipe for disaster.

This isn't selective to young people only. My aunt was killed my a man texting while driving and he was near his 50's. This verdict should happen more often concerning these types of cases regardless of age.

We need to be more strict about people using phones while driving, in many major cities the government almost ignores this stuff, and not because it happens often.

Would you rather kill, be killed, or check your facebook? I don't prefer the latter.

People go to jail all the time for DUI, even if nobody was injured or killed.

True. However, I would go so far as to say, second DUI you go to prison for two+ years. All depends on the severity of the DUI. It is crazy to send someone to prison for .08.

@Shandril - and yet we continually here stories about people who have had half a dozen DUIs, do it yet another time and kill somebody. It's an interesting question. Which takes precedence - my right to live, or someone else's right to be stupid?

People DO NOT go to jail all the time for DUI even if somebody was injured. They usually have the decency to reprimand them if somebody is killed, but way too many people have multiple DUI's and are still driving. There is a HUGE difference between a kid who made a huge mistake that took a life and will have to live with that burden for the rest of his life and an adult who knowingly and repeatedly drinks too much and decides to drive because they just don't care enough about anybody or anything else but their partying. Deepest sympathies to the girlfriend and children of the victim.

I drive the Washington beltway everyday. There are the people reading the paper, shaving , putting on mascara. Coffee in one hand, doughnut in the other. The texting and cellphone glued to the ear is just the tip of the ice berg regarding distracted driving.

jlsrunner1...

As a person who has seen the effects of a dui fatality first hand, I say just the opposite! Any person who goes driving with a .08 % blood/alchohol level should go to prison if its his second offense. The person who killed my brother in '88 was quoted(at the conviction 14 months before this incident) as saying "my drunk driving never hurt no one so why punish me for something I havent done yet". He lost his lisence for 5 years at that time. if he had gone to prison for two years my brother would still be alive!

I think the laws for driving under the influence of ANYTHING should not only be tougher, I'd take them even further...

1. Bars should not be allowed to have parkinglots, IF YOU DRIVE TO A BAR TO GO DRINKING,YOU KNOW AHEAD OF TIME THAT YOU WILL BE DRIVING HOME UNDER THE INFLUENCE!! THATS PREMEDITATED MURDER!

2. Bars should have to, by law, include the price of a cab ride in the price of a patrons first drink or provide a car/van service for thier patrons.

I love pot and don't drink and would never suggest to make liquor illegal again,but with the invention of the high speed automobile people should be held responsible in some form or another,BEFORE they kill my younger brother too.

The man who killed my brother got 18 months in a minimum security jail....

I havent seen my brother since 1988

As always...

LEGALIZE MARIJUANA!

People go to jail all the time for DUI, even if nobody was injured or killed.

If they were not driving recklessly they should of not faced any penalty. Only if they were clearly out of sorts should any action be taken otherwise. The smell of beer and a bad breathalizer at the ridiculous limit of .08% (drunk only for an 80lbs female) is hardly a reason to arrest someone, let alone set up Nazi checkpoints. Reckless driving is what we should focus on, not whether the person who drove recklessly was drunk, changing the radio, texting, or the number one cause of reckless driving...being tired. All the penalties should be the same given the harm. If you just crossed the double yellow, for any of those causes, you should get the same penalty. If you killed someone for any of those causes, same penalty.

All else is BS.

We don't need more laws, we need less and ones that make more rational, logical sense.

Any person who goes driving with a .08 % blood/alchohol level should go to prison if its his second offense.

Sorry about your loss and everything, but what you just said is nonsense (except the legalize weed part). Most humans are not even buzzed at .08%. You do know that, right? They arrived at that number based on what the smallest adult (not counting midgets; petite low alcohol tolerance women is what they based it on) would be drunk on.

Drunk driving is just one cause of reckless driving; like texting, changing the radio, and being tired (the #1 cause). It should be reckless driving that is the illegal act, not what causes it. Any harm that comes from that act of driving recklessly should be punished equally, no matter the cause.

I mean you just said make parking lots illegal at bars, and logically would be also for banning radios in cars nd being sleepy in the morning commute. Seriously? Think this through a bit more, instead of basing it on emotions.

Im not buzzed after 1 joint either but i still feel I shouldnt drive for at least 2 hoursafter I smoke just because it does effect your reaction time and awareness, and changing a radio station does not compare at all to driving under the influence, unless you stare at the radio the whole time your driving home and never watching what you are doing. You do not need to have a buzz on to have your ability to drive comprimised. And like i said ..if the man(and i use that word loosely) had been more severely punished for his repeat offense he would have still been in jail and unable to kill my brother.

LEGALIZE MARIJUANA

And while i hate how the gov't dictates my every breath too,until people are perfect and don't kill people by "mistake" I just feel someone needs to protect the unsuspecting straight driver.

as always

LEGALIZE MARIJUANA

PROIndividual - It is obvious you have no clue as to what .08 percent blood alcohol means. Size does matter. .08 percent in an 80 lb woman and .08 percent in a 300 pound person is still .08 percent . the difference is HOW MUCH you drank to get there. An 80 pound woman might reach that level in one beer. To get the 300 pound person to that level might take around 5 beers. it is a percent of what your sample of blood has in it. bigger people have more blood, thus it takes more alcohol to get them to the same PECENTAGE. Thats why petite woman get fall down drunk faster than 450 pound people......

While .08 might not be buzzed for some,the police need to have a basis to judge from. If you say 1.6 is the limit what about those who get drunk at .08? I feel i can drive well at 90mph without any problems but the limit is 65 mph because not everyone can drive safely at 90 so I obey(sometimes) the 65 mph law. It sucks but thats what it takes,sometimes the general public has to deal with stupid laws to try and protect us from the morons. (unless you want to make passing a "are you a moron" test a conditionon getting your drivers lisense) LOL

LEGALIZE MARIJUANA!

Legalize all drugs! Legalize everything that impairs someone or alters their ability to drive...or operate machinery. Alcohols legal so why shouldn't weed be legal? It's not as addictive(?) We'd save money on taxes(?) The war on drugs would be over(?) Here's my favorite one,when they passed the medical weed in Colorado..."there's only a few that are in NEED of the medicine so why are we being so CRUEL to these crippled people?"! Now there's stores on every other block and opening more all the time (have to admit it's slowed down a little lately). Absolutely amazing how ridden with pain the population of Denver has become :) Pot heads/lib's are funny...please keep it up...stupidity's a self eliminating gene.

Just another example of why america is what it is. About 7 yrs ago in the town i live in a sixteen yr old girl ran over a woman and killed her while texting. they let her go with a slap on the wrist because they didn't want to ruin her life.society today is a sick place the people who break the law are coddled while many times the victims are punished. The whole judicial system needs to be overhauled a crime is a crime if it had been an accidental shooting more gun laws would have already been signed. if his father was important in the town we would not even had heard about it. but each case is unto its self in the eyes of the law.it make sme want o puke how a lawyer can in good consience defend some one they know is guilty. i cry for the little children of today who are going to pay for the mistakes made of this texting generation

2 years wouldn't be all that uncommon for a DUI, at least in some states. I think Pennsylvania gives rather long sentences for it, and the 11 years I lived in New Mexico, aside from prison terms there was talk of confiscating cars, auctioning them off, the state keeps the money, and when the person does get their liscense back, of requiring them to have an ignition interlock device installed.... DUI's don't get a slap on the wrist, at least not everywhere....

tbh, I'm not sure Paris Hilton's 30 days would even be normal for it.... Seems she got off incredibly light, with years being more normal for the average Joe...

Oh and on the speed limits, the Interstate system was designed to handle more then 65 mph... It first went down (to actually 55) in the 1970s, and it had nothing to do with public safety so much as the "gas crisis" and conservation.... Many states in the east raised it to 65, though in the west it's higher; but the actual roads were designed for greater speeds, which from what I've read was allowed prior to the "gas shortage" so called, of the 1970s....

When determining the amount of alcohol in a persons system the legal limit in my state is .08. The discussion above pertaining to some being drunk @ .08 (petite woman) while taking a larger person a larger reading to get same response is wrong. The reading of .08 or any other quantity is a percentage of blood to alcohol currently in a persons system. One beer may get a petite woman to .08 while it may require a 200# man 3 beers to get a .08 reading. I agree that .08 is not enough to even get a buzz, however the point of the law is to prevent a person from getting a buzz while driving.

@onwithlife, between a teen and an adult having an incident that took a human life I feel that it would effect either the same way. Causing a death effects one and all the pretty much the same reguardless of age.

As for .04 vs .08, weight does not have anything to do with it. People do not disapate (blood alchole goes down) alchole at the same rate. Many time I've seen a hundred pound guy out drink a much larger guy. The reason is because there is a gland in your body that produces a Hormone (or what ever) that disapates alchol from your body. In some people this gland works more than other in people. Along time ago I learned of this gland and don't recall it's name. Your theory about a 300 lb person drinking more to get to .08 is flawed. My advise is if you weigh like that is don't be swayed by that idea.

Capt,

Much Research has been done comparing the effects of Alcohol and Marijuana, Guess What? Marijuana smokers are safer drivers then Drunk person's. Research by Insurance Co's and Private Institutions. You do the research and find the results for yourself, it is there...

I firmly believe that texting and driving is worse than drunk driving. At least a drunk driver keeps his / her eyes on the road. A texting driver is not watching the road and more dangerous.

having sex and driving!

House-1092992,
you are a moron, I guess you are one of the people who are ok with people
driving drunk or distracted, unless and until it happens to them or their loved
ones.

Eating while driving. Especially if you're not having it fed directly into your mouth by another person. Especially if it's a food that forces you to adjust your head/face to eat it, like a taco. Man, I'm hungry.

You can put a phone down. You can instantly drop it in an emergency. If you look up and see you're drifting a lane, you can tell and fix it quickly.

You can't put drunk down, you're stuck with it even when you do realize you're in a bad situation. If you're drunk enough, you won't even know you're in the wrong lane even while looking.

Texting is bad, but drunk is awful.

They both involve not being able to control your car properly. Drunk driving is easier to prove. There are a lot of distracted driving accidents that happen because of cell phones but how do the police know you were on the phone. They won't check unless it involves serious bodily injury. Two years for killing someone? After it gets knocked down for good behavior he'll serve 8 months. That's not enough. Just think of the dead man's family. Do they get saddled with what you can bet is a giantic medical bill for his time in the hospital? Or do they have to end up back in court to sue the kid's insurance company?

Having been in minor accidents with texters and DUI,the other drivers not me, I think that both should be sent to the slammer for at least two years for the first offence,if no one is injured.Of course injuries or death caused by texting or DUI,should be at least five years ,no parole. Also ,the offender should be forced to pay for any property damage the offender causes

No matter what there is no excuse for doing anything that would keep you from being able to pay full attention to what you are doing when you are behind the wheel of a car. For all the damage and trauma caused by them they can be just as deadly as a weapon in the wrong hands. That said, when you choose to do something that you know alters your perception, not just distracts, and get behind the wheel you deserve to loose your license off the bat.----we also can't forget those who get destracted by wind and cause accidents.---what should their punishment be?

I guess I think it depends on how drunk. There's a difference between having 3 or 4 and being just over the limit and being blind drunk, unable to walk, and still driving.

@10nnmbri, studies have shown that it is indeed more dangerous to text and drive than to drink and drive. Also, just because a person (correctly) posts his opinion that texting is more dangerous doesn't mean that person is an advocate of drinking and driving. What kind of childish logic is that? Next time before you call someone a moron you might want to do some research so you can avoid coming off looking like a moron yourself. :)

Their equally bad...the only bad part is that you drive recklessly. If you drink and drive or text and drive without allowing to make you reckless, neither are bad. I'm interested in stopping reckless driving, not it's manuy causes. It's number one cause is being tired while driving...what are supposed to do? Ban morning commutes and force by law a nap before you leave for home from work?

These laws about the causes of reckless driving are absurd. It's only reckless driving we should be concerned with, not the cause of it. They should all be punished equally.

WHATS WORSE- does it matter to the dead person as to whether the crimminal was drunk or texting??

I recently read about a test done on a course using professional drivers. Texting was worse than driving drunk as far as distraction went. In both scenarios, the driver had to be prompted by the passenger to stay on the road (didn't want to wreck the test vehicles or endanger the participants).

Working in an emergency room, I see the effects of drunk driving all the time. What amazes me is that most of these people are charged with misdemeanors....if they're charged at all. Their victim can be maimed, have their livelihood and ability to work destroyed, but the offender gets what amounts to a slap on the wrist. The worst part is that the drunk is usually the one who survives, while the victims frequently die. Our criminal justice system really needs to get some teeth and keep these people off the road.

Whatever the driver's impairment -- texting, being drunk, stoned, or just exhausted -- if your impairment causes an innocent person to die, you must be held accountable.

Crankenstein, what state do you live in where DUIs get a slap on the wrist? Here, a first time DUI offender does at least one day in jail, has their license revoked for 3 months, and must have an ignition interlock installed for 1 year after their license is re-instated. That is assuming their only offense was DUI and not also causing an accident or injury.

For extreme DUI (0.015 BAC or higher), it's 30 days in jail, first offense. For repeat DUI or extreme DUI offenders, the penalties are much worse. Here we treat them like the dangerous threats to society that they are.

There is not a single person who has not heard--repeatedly--of the dangers of texting while driving. So to those who say this was an accident, no it was not. This young man willfully engaged in an act he knew could cause his own or someone else's death. If you point a gun at someone and pull the trigger, killing them, that is not an accident. That is a willingness to carry out a dangerous and deadly act. So is texting while driving.

I'm jumping for joy at this news...anything that removes even one M@!$%# driver (BTW, the most inconsiderate, self-absorbed, obtusely hierarchically oriented state in the US, in my experience) from the roads improves the chances for the rest of us.

I'm willing to bet good money that it takes all of 60 seconds for this post to be collapsed by another M@!$%# whose feelings were hurt. Waahhhhh! :)

girhen - I think the problem in this case is that this kid didn't put his phone down until he had a head on collision with someone. Too late to have saved the life of the man he killed.

I quite agree. If you're going to text, pull off the road while you're doing it. That, in part, is what the shoulder is for.

Perry is an idiot.

No, the shoulder is for emergency stopping only. At least here in California, you can get a ticket for stopping on the shoulder to take a call or to text.

We had a guy here in Florida that pulled off the interstate to text his wife and an 18 wheeler ran over him in the emergency lane. What a shame.

Not that I like to agree with moron Perry, but only reckless driving should be illegal, not possible causes of it. What is the logical end to what you suggest? Car radios would be illegal...so would being sleepy while driving (morning commutes banned, naps before drives home from work legally mandated). It's idiocy to ban possible causes of an actual problem instead of just focusing on the actual problem.

But see, my way is rational and effective, whereas your way is emotionally satisfying (albeit cimpletely inefficient and irrational). Politicians make laws to appease irrational crowds, not address problems rationally. Otherwise, they lose their jobs. So you win, I lose, and we have too many stupid ineffective laws making 40,000 people die a year on he roads while we waste resources combating people who text and aren't swerving on the road. Can we just focus on the swervers? Please?

I agree.

Sure Leadfoot, we'll try to keep the texting drivers out of the fast lane, ok?

Amen! Get the Phone Pokes out of the passing lanes! They have no idea what's going on.

TruthBeTold1226,

I NEVER use the phone while driving. There are still some responsible drivers out there. I also don't eat and drive or read and drive. I pay attention. Is that too much to ask of other people driving a 3-4,000 lb vehicle?

Yes Linda, unfortunately that is too much to ask. Sorry...

Well I Guess you shouldn't even be allowed to drive. As you do not know the rules of the road. There is NO such thing as a passing lane or fast lane. That is all imaginary allocations made up by drivers.

9 and 3... that's the new position. It has been for a long time, actually. Modern steering wheels, you see...

I still prefer 10 and 2 o'clock. Don't care about that air bag. If it pops, everything's cattywhampus (spelling?) anyway. Besides, I feel that I have better control over the car with my hands at the 10 - 2 position.

Not here Shandril...I'm going with 10 and 2

9-3 came about because of airbags. My teen son informed me of that. I still prefer one hand.

Now that most people get the time from a phone, I doubt that these clock positions mean anything to them.

I don't feel sorry for him. He knew the law, he knew texting while driving could be dangerous, and he -- like TOO TOO many others -- thought he knew what he was doing and was "smart" enough to avoid an accident. Now it's too late and he can't take it back.

PEOPLE -- PUT YOUR DAMNED PHONES DOWN! Every day I see drivers swerving in the road and when I can catch up to them I see that they're texting. The only reason more people who text while driving don't get into accidents is because of pure luck that no one ran out in front of their cars or that someone didn't have to stop suddenly in front of them. Paying attention while driving is to prevent the SUDDEN and UNEXPECTED things that happen; if you're busy looking at your damned phone you can't see these unexpected things and thus can't avoid them. If BSing with your friends is that important, PULL OVER, get the texting out of your system, and get back on the road when you can actually DO IT SAFELY!

Idjuts

10 and 2....9 and 3.....it doesn't matter. The point is to have enough respect for other drivers by putting down your phone and paying attention to the road. Otherwise you will end up in this guy's situation. I don't think he'll be worrying about steering wheel hand position for several years.

I use my knee, so I can drink a 44oz big gulp and eat a hamburger fried in bacon grease. So that would be 5 o'clock

Race car drivers use 9 and 3 and for a reason, this i know first hand or hands.

Nascar would be a lot more exciting if they had to text their pit crew or vice versa.

This is ridiculousness!! He was 17 when this happened! people all over the world text and drive still. many of you saying " 2 years is not enough " are texting right now as you drive. a "kid" made a mistake and texted while driving and now he will become part of the system. 2 years in prison and he will now be in and out of jail his whole life. We let kid rapist and murderers get off on probation or light sentences when there intentions where to rape and kill yet a teen who made a mistake its longer sentence then them. take casey anthony for instance she is out walking the streets free as a bird while a 18 year old kid is in jail because he was distracted by a text message. our justice system is a joke

Christopher, Convince me that the dead man and the injured woman did something wrong that day. Tell me what the victims of this "kid" did to deserve death or injury.....Since you now agree that they were innocent victims of a head on crash there are only a couple questions I have for you. Did the distracted driver in this case have a choice to avoid this deadly collision? (Yes, he did). He chose to take the chance that nothing bad would happen (but it did), and as a result he killed someone. Would you be willing to let him go free if he killed YOUR father or brother or grandfather?

NB8- You can't give a judgement of someone with personal feelings, you are looking for revenge on some kid that screwed up and screwed up royally, really do you think one kid going to jail is going to change how everyone drives??? Just like how we won the war on drugs because we jailed that 1 dealer... people seriously quit with the hysterics, older generations have been making blanket statements about the younger generations since there have been generations, that's nothing new, but this outcry for blood is disgusting, and no I'm not a teen, I just think you people on the forum jury need to take a valium

Tell that to the man's family. I don't care if it was intentional or not he still killed the father. What if he was playing with a gun and it happened to go off and kill someone... to me this is the same thing. 20 years minimum. That will open people's eyes. Two years is a slap on the wrist for the kid and a kick in the nuts to the family.

I wouldn't call 2 years in prison a "slap on the wrist" to an 18 year old. By the time he's out, he'll have been in prison 10% of his life.

I am SURE that the man is going to be dead more than 2 years. More than 15 years, really. You must drink that fluordated water I have heard about.

Personally, I think it is a harsh sentence. This was a tragedy to be sure and the young man will NEVER get over what happened! I also feel a lot of the comments are unkind! AND, I can't help but wonder how many times each of you...and myself have been distracted and but for God's grace, it could've been us! Distracted is distracted! AND YOU CAN NOT SAY YOU HAVE NEVER BEEN!! (And lest you think I am unkind, I DO understand the sadness and tragedy to the family of that man. I lost my own Mom years ago when she was hit and killed by someone who was 'distracted'. Punishing him would NEVER bring Mom back. Never!) Forgiveness folks! YOU may need it someday!!!!

krazskyr - The drunks also "do not have criminal intent". Try selling that story to the judge when ya kill some body while drunk.

i've never seen anyone who was playing with a gun and goes off, kills someone get time. It's an accident, not a crime as far as i know.

Yes, I do. It was quiet, and peaceful.

remember the beepers? lol

Yes... Beepers used to be the big thing. I know people that had 2, 3 , 4 beepers. 'What made it dangerous and still does for kids. Is The social obligation that (as in the case of a Girl or Boy freind -you know how needy and dependant 1's love can be)...if you don't pick up instantly. You can bet the Girl Friend is going to demand a minute by minute recitation of what was so important that he could'nt (txt ya bak)... are you cheating on me?

At least with a beeper, you could get away with claiming there were no phones near by.

Snikt... Yes I do. I believe that pushing several tons of steel down the road at 60-70 MPH requires one's full attention. And I don't care what position one's hands are in as long as they're BOTH on the steering wheel. Driving a car is serious business and it takes your full attenttion!

I still have a life without a cell phone. I can't stand being constantly bothered by people so 90% of the time, my phone is at home.

An idiot without insurance hit the back end of my car when she pulled away from a gas pump while texting. I don't think she should have been jailed, but, I would have liked to have seen her license suspended for a few months. I just hope the experience prevents her from having a more serious accident in the future while attempting to drive while texting.

You should be sentenced to death for not knowing how to spell "sentence". It's in the title of the article for pete's sake.

So you're all for taking someone's life for a typo? Get a grip!

I don't understand why everyone is saying he was texting while driving? The police found his cell phone in his passenger seat. The only thing it said was that a message came in at the same time or on the same minute as the crash. It doesn't even say if it was opened or not. For all we know, the phone was sitting on his passenger seast next to him when it beeped and he just took his eyes off of the road for a second to glance down at it. At most he may have read the message and threw it back down on the seat, or was reading it at the time of the crash and it just ended up flying out of his hands and landing on his passenger seat. Lets get this straight HE WASN"T TEXTING WHILE DRIVING, he may and I say MAY have read the message while driving but that's it. It is no different from you or I reading that article in the paper that we couldn't wait to get home to finish, or reading a map to find out where we are, or reading the numbers on our radio to get to the station that we want. It is no different than you "safe" drivers who wear a ear phone while driving but take you eyes off the road for a second to get the number your looking for off of your phone. It doesn't matter who you are, if you have driven for any amount of time, you have taken your eyes off of the road to read something. So if you think 2 years is to easy of a sentance, god help you. I know one thing and that is I do not want to share a country with you. A country where we make any example out of a 17 year old CHILD for doing something that everyone else has done at one time or another. SHAME ON ALL OF YOU!!!!

The article does say that he was texting while driving. He sent one at 2:34 and received one a minute later, at 2:35.

That said, I do feel that two years is sufficient punishment. He was stupid, yes, and his actions resulted in a sad tragedy. However, he did not do it INTENTIONALLY, people, and that is what the definition of murder is. He made a horrible mistake that many of us have, and will continue to make (because I am very sure that a lot of the people on here "screaming" that two years is not enough are guilty of texting while driving. I know I am. We just have been fortunate enough not to cause an accident, or at least one that resulted in death. So cut it out.

I could see the uproar if this young man had already been in trouble for doing this before. For all of you headhunters, if any of you were facing trial and jail time for this, you all would be begging for sympathy and mercy. Again, cut it out.

WOW your justification is ridiculous. Any driver who gets distracted enough by anything to kill someone should get put on trial for negligent homicide, even if you spill hot coffee in your lap after 20 years of drinking it every morning in the car. Let the jury decide what's reasonable. Don't drive if you can't focus on the road.

Amen! Thank you Steven.

Except the majority of people who do it aren't swerving or causing accidents. Would I do it? No. But I don't change the radio when I'm driving either, and many people do without killing a family of people in an oncoming lane.

I totally agree with you. I don't text, never have, don't know how. However I talk on the telephone about 90 minutes per day.

You can text a simple message a lot faster than calling a person. It's when people text freakin' novels that it gets ridiculous.

Most expensive message..go text. Phone companies love you.

You can text a simple message a lot faster than calling a person. It's when people text freakin' novels that it gets ridiculous.

Bull@!$%#!

Bull@!$%#!

Have you seen some people text? Just because you are a hunt-and-peck texter (or don't text at all) doesn't mean everyone is. I can type "Be there in 10 mins" in like 2 seconds- less time than it'd take for their phone to ring.

Nobody can get a message to me faster via text because I refuse to open them. If you want to talk to me you can pick up the phone and call me.

Nobody can get a message to me faster via text because I refuse to open them. If you want to talk to me you can pick up the phone and call me.

That's your problem... nobody else's. You're just being stubborn. There are many instances where having the ability to text is very convenient. Speed, for short messages, like I already mentioned. But how about if you're in a particularly loud place? Or a very quiet place, where you don't want to disturb other people? Anybody who just dismisses texts as "completely useless" has simply never used them.

Speed, for short messages, like I already mentioned. But how about if you're in a particularly loud place? Or a very quiet place, where you don't want to disturb other people? Anybody who just dismisses texts as "completely useless" has simply never used them...

More often than not, when I'm picking up groceries - either with or without the Missus. I have a list with the things she wants me to pickup. Problem is, there is usually quite a few idiots with the cell stuck to their ear, talking loud and bumping into everyone - swearing back and forth to who ever is on the other end about what to get, how much to get, what brand etc... Guess what - they don't have a listed.

Then there is the sullen, lil' Princess whining to whoever is on the other end of her line as she keeps a running commentary of usless information, trivia about who is sleeping who ever.

I don't need to hear that. The good thing - with my list, I'm out of there 10 or 15 min. after I walk in the door.

The thing is, if I needed some one to tell me when to come, go, check in ever 10 minutes ... I'd have just stayed home - sucking off the family teet and moved into the basement. being an adult - means you don't need to say "I'm sorry"! unless you really mean it".

20 years ago, in the civilized world, there were no cell phones, no texting. People got along better. People were more respectful of each other. But Americans are MORONS just waiting for the next "toy" to hit the market. Yes, this is the same country that embraced "pet rocks" and puts cheese on everything. (I tried to order a hamburger the other day and was told "we only sell cheeseburgers.........")

On a long enough timeline, all technology is unnecessary. Why even have a TV? We got along great with a radio. Why even have a radio? We got along great with newspapers. Hell, we could survive in caves, gathering berries for food. That doesn't mean we're all morons for desiring a higher quality of living. Don't confuse convenience with necessity. How individuals choose to use the technology is what might make them a moron or nuisance, not desiring the technology in the first place.

You people are idiots!! He was 17 years old and made a mistake, and I'll admit a big mistake at that. It is so plain to see that none of you have ever been to jail or prison if you had you would know that it isn't any place for an 18 year old to be. Just wait till that kid gets out and I say kid. He's not a man, but he will be one when he's out. And wait to you see then what you have on your hands. If he's smart he'll get affiliated with a gang right away because 18 year old white/ preppy boys are longed for in there. I garuntee you have just created a repeat offended. This right here is exactly whats wrong with our country. You people think that prison is such a joke and that it's an okay idea for punishment. Well we are now locking people up in record numbers so I just hope that it's you people one day who make a terrible mistake and are looking for a little leniency and sympathy but get nothing but a stiff sentance. Would it have been okay if he was just changing his hard rock/country/classical/r&b/easy listening radio station? Would you have given him some sympathy then? I'm so sick of you people in this country that think that every mistake made be met with the iron fist of justice! Mistakes happen, even terrible ones, but that doesn't change the fact one bit that they are just that, mistakes.One thing is for certain, one of you reading this will end up on the other side of the bars one day, lets see how you feel then!

The judge knows the law way better than you do. I also think he knows the rate of recidivism from people who go to the pen, at any age - young, old or in between.

What happens to him in jail is more dependant on how he handles himself than you would think. If he comes out a sissy - that up to him too. If he comes out changed - in two years... just think, his parents had 18 years to get him on the straight and narrow and didn't or couldn't get the job done. If he goes in there like his the King of the world then someone will test him, if he goes in there wetting his pants it can be even worse.

Its not the job of the state penal system to hand-out remedial parenting. They are only called in once the offered has cross that broad line. Kids get all kinds of breaks before they reach the age of majority. They draw the line at 18 - then when you do adult crimes you also do Adult time.

Don't fear though, he still has a chance to catch one more break. After the judge makes his ruling, which he just did - other correctional departments will evaluate him. Which prison he goes to, how he is treated will decided when he is processed. He may get lucky, get sent to a Juvenile camp where they send first timers and younger offenders; those between the ages of 16-17, up to around 23 or so.

He better hope they think he can be salvaged and give him time in one of the easier pens. It ain't over until the fat lady sings. He still might catch the gold ring on the merry - go - round ticket he bought himself.

Wolf, talk to me after you have been to prison, and then let me know what you think. I have been to prison and believe me, it's no walk in the park for a white, preppy 18 year old who's only crime was MAYBE reading a text that was sent to him. And if you have been to prison, well then you know his life is now over. More likely than not he will be tirned into a real criminal in there. I know I was. I didn't even have a part in the crime I was convicted of, yet I got 3 years for it. Trust me, every single day that I was in there I was thinking about the revenge I wanted to take when I got out. And huh, what do you know, I was back in within 5 months of getting out. I know have only have only a bitter resentment towards our criminal 'justice' system. IMO, it's an absolute joke. We need to lock someone up for everything that ever went wrong in our society. There are no mistakes anymore, or accidents. Everything that goes wrong must be paid for to the max! You people will not be satisfied until every single person who doesn't share your views is locked up. The only thing I can hope for is the youth pulling together, and throwing you and your kind out of every office held. The time of running our criminal justice system with an iron fist is coming to an end. Once these kids find out how much power they possess with their IM's and Facebook and the likes, hopefully they can come together and change the "old" way of doing things...

When you can match the stories of 10, 15, 20 or 30 years behind bars - innocent. that so many guys coming out of Ohio, Texas, Louisiana, Alabama... have done starting as early as 15 years old - in adult penitentiary's. Working on real Chain gangs and corperal punishment (being whipped or worse).

I might have a little time to feel a little more sympathetic over 17 - 18 year old who killed someone - to answer at cell phone text message.

I'm not heartless about where he is going - but neither am I broken up over him being rewarded with a life lesson his parents could have instilled in him before his negligence killed one, maimed another and left their kids with one parent to look after them, feed them and help them, hopefully - turn out better than the kid who killed their father.

I'm old enough, to have learned at an early age, what belongs to me and what doesn't. The parents of the kid getting this sentence, didn't do him any favor by not swatting his behind when he needed. What he is seeing now is something that didn't register when he was younger...plus a little interest tossed in; just to make the lesson stick. What would be nice would be to have jails, prisons, juvy dentetion being run much better - so that people can actually go there to turn their lives around, instead of worrying about the class of peole they will be housed with.

IF you can't trust the police, the law or the judges - then we might as well junk the system and all start carrying guns ... Ol' Western style.

The judge gave him the sentence to make a name for himself. Pedophiles get lesser sentences, rapists, really. Should he be driving and texting? NO!! but how many adults do it. I see it all the damn time, Women putting on their damn make-up, couples arguing in the car, eating, with that said no one drives and not being distracted. It would be different if they saw loads of text. He sent one text out probably sitting at the damn traffic light like we all do...and don't say that you don't. But 2yrs in prison with harden criminals. The fact that he saw up close and personal the effects of texting I do not believe he would do it again. One thing I know for sure is that many people get pulled over for being under the influence of alcohol and they do their time and get back behind the wheel and commit the same damn crime.. THEY ARE ADULTS DOING IT. but hey take away this boys future for a simple mistake. JUDGES NEED TO STOP MAKING EXAMPLES OUT OF THE WRONG PEOPLE. As far as him losing his license for 15yrs I know someone who killed someone driving drunker than drunk can be and he didnt lose his damn license for that long..A year that was all and spent 30 days in jail. But hey he didnt kill anyone.

That's right you tough on the law guy's! Make your example be a 17 year old child! We the community are so much safer now that he's in prison. Way to turn a kid into a lifer, if you think justice was served in this case wait till he gets out. You want to see a problem to the community, just wait. I'm actually supprised that I have yet to read a comment about one of you socialist calling for his death? What gives, are you slipping? This kid accidently murdered someone, why isn't there any calls yet for his death? asholes

he should be required to teach other teens not to text and drive...

Amen Ramon. Only idiots talk or text while driving. In Israel if you are caught talking on a cell phone it is a $1000 fine. If you are caught more than once your driving license is suspended for 6 months and to get your license back you have to go thru a driving course that costs $2500. Hang up and Drive.!!!

Or listen to this one man of steel, if your in America and your a child and are in an accident that "ACCIDENTLY" kills someone you go to prison. Why isn't there this kind of call to arms when someone is driving home from work, overtired and falls asleep at the wheel and kills someone? Why? Because we all have done it and could actually see it happening to us one day. Not like this new technology, the cell phone. With all it's high tech gadgets like texting and taking pics that none of you over the hill people would know a thing about, and just want to punish the youth for doing something other than you would do. Nice example. Headlines: 17 Year Old Kid Makes Mistake While Driving and Causes Death of Another. Sent to Prison where he Joins Prison Gang and is now a Menace to Society upon Release...

Ramon...when I read the article and all the subsequent responses I found myself really torn. I actually find some merit in just about (there are a few that just don't HAVE merit) every opinion expressed. I ache for the three children that will not have their Dad in their lives because of this young man's choice. I agree that he must be punished and punished harshly for robbing another human being of their life. I agree that it's about time we do make an example of the dangers of texting while driving.

Having a young son myself who is just starting to drive I will very often discuss with him ALL types of distractions while driving and our rule will be "Turn your cell phone OFF when you get in the vehicle." That is the first but I'm also pounding into his brain that other distractions will happen and what his responsibility is when he gets in a car to drive. Teaching him has hammered home to ME all the idiot choices I've made when behind the wheel of my car and I can't be the "do as say not as I do" person, so I'm finding myself making changes in how I behave when driving now. I don't think any of us are perfect drivers but I know many that at least try to do the right things. I often will tell my son...it's not necessarily that I don't trust YOU, I don't trust the other drivers on the road and if you're distracted you can't watch out for them the way you must in order to be as safe as possible. So Ramon and Man of Steel yours are the best posts for me. We lived without cell phones for a very long time. There is no reason that whoever is on the other side of a call/text cannot wait until you can stop the car and return the call/text...NONE.

I will say what makes me very sad both for the family of the victim AND the young man is loss. None of them will ever be the same. I know many grown adults who make the same choices as this 18 year old, and I remember being 18. It's the "I know it all and am invincible and it's not going to happen to me" syndrome. His life is over now...2 years...20 years...doesn't matter he killed someone and I believe that inside himself he'll be serving a much longer term of imprisonment than anything the judge gave him. It's a tragedy...and my hope is that from this tragedy even one person (not just teens) will make different choices the next time they're driving a car and reach for the phone.

Ms. Loco, quick question for you, and I do respect your answer, what ever it is. What if that was your son who made the mistake? Honestly now, think to yourself, What if that was my son that accidently killed a man? And you can't use the excuse 'Oh but my son never would, I've taught him better than that.' Because mistakes can be made by anyone. Would you still feel the same way if it was your son going to prison?

really though how many people out there do illegal stupid stuff and get a awful outcome??? ALOT!! There are people out there intentionally trying to kill and hurt other people and NO ONE does anything about it!! Now we want to make an example out of an accident? and you are saying he didn't get sentenced enough time?? are you serious? Everyone needs to take a look at the bigger picture and stop all the illegal killings and cruelty... Why are we not focused on bigger situations? Because you want to make an excuse and make everything illegal? I am so tired of seeing stupid stuff like this all over and talking about how they need to go to prison when there are people out there intentionally trying to hurt others!!! Yes it is awful that the man died in the but how big are the prisons going to get? really? we don't even have half the people in there who are messing up the world!!!!!!! So now this guy is gonna go to prison after he all ready knows he messed up and deal with real life idiots who kill,rape,steal,etc. so this is going to teach him what? oh don't text on your phone or you will be thrown in with nasty people who dont care about a thing!! good job!! what an example!!!!

Nicely put Tina and your exactly right. Right now this country is being run by these 40 year old somethings that are commenting on this sight how he deserves a harsher sentance and all that. These old people who wouldn't know how to send a text to save their life and are just looking for a reason to jam our technology back down our throats because they do not understand it. These are the same people in the 70's who thought they were "hip" and were out rebeling against their parents and vowed never to be like them, who as it turns out are actually much worse. These are the people running our country right now, that want to make every mistake punishable to the ut-most. They want to fill our prisons to the fullest just to get the young and the minoritees out of their hair. What you can do to change this and our country and get it back to what it was meant to be, a country where the peoples freedoms come first, and the knowledge that accidents happen and that not every accident needs to be punished to the 10th degree, is VOTE. Get out and vote. But be serious about it. Find a young candidate that shares your ideas and do what ever it takes to get him/her into office. You guys don't realize the power you possess, with your facebook and your instant messaging and all the like. If you truely wanted to, you guys could turn this country around and get it back on track, do not leave it to these old stick in the mud commenters on here to tell you whats right and wrong. You truely have the power to change it, you just have to try. Trust me it can work...

Back on track????? So you want to allow drugs, texting, calling and doing anythng while driving? He should have been tried for 2nd deg. murder. His actions caused the death of one and injuries to another, not to mentiion his kids no longer have a dad. 3 years was a joke, You kids will be just like your parients when you have to work for a living, and support a family. Right now you live in a make believe world, with no responsibility.

Yes, we have people doing crimes, and he decided to join them. But their is little differance to the family that doesn't have a father . It doesn't matter to them the reason the person killed him, he is Dead. Will all the crime out their you get idiots that decide that there is not enough of it so they choose to join them in creating more problems for the world. I am sure even your parients texted when they were younger, it has been a round for a while. Most of my friends text too and they are in there 50's and 60's.

Just one thing though, don't do Facebook while driving, you may end up joing him. I hope you grow up.

In prison and for the rest of his life he should pay the family for at least the monetary loss, they now have, and not the government paying for it. Or maybe like China, or the middle easy, where they would probably cut off the fingers of a person doing the crime.

Like Drunk driving Texting while driving is a decesion a person makes. Just like picking up a gun. Once you choose that decesion then that decesion impacts the rest of of any decesions. So if you make a bad one, likely the rest of your actions will be bad also.

While all destractions are illegal, again proving them is much harder, Not unless they add memory chips to the car to record how many times you touched a dial, or operated something on the vehicle how do you prove a person changed the radio station 4 or 20 times while driving? Even if there were food on the seats and floor, how do you prove it was from eating and not still in the bag, or if it was eaten eariler, before the drive started?

the law in Massachusetts makes texting while driving a primary offense.

Gone. People are too busy with their more important lives; other people's lives are just distractions or inconveniences.

Lucy common sense should also tell them not to run red lights but I see it happen every single day here in Phoenix. People just do not care. I saw a driver literally nearly cause a t-bone/head on collision in an intersection by going through a red light and he did not slow down while a car was turning in front of him to clear the intersection, not even when he was a foot and a half a way from the car turning in front of him; he actually sped up.

The wackos they let drive these days...

Geowil, I was thinking something similar. If you look at some of the posts responding to this tragedy you'll see perfect examples of today's "it's all about me" culture. Texting while driving isn't the only culprit. In my opinion it's lack of common sense, respect and consideration for the fact that you are not the only person occupying space on the road (or anywhere else for that matter) but it seems those things have disappeared in today's culture. I'm gonna get slammed for this example but I'll use Twitter...it came about in order for people to essentially say "look at me...I'm here eating...I'm brushing my teeth etc... You see it on message boards where your opinion is the ONLY one that matters and if I don't like it I'm going to collapse you, vote your post down, or call you names.

It's sad but if/when someone says something to me like "what is up with today's young people?" I have one reply...we no longer teach our children respect, consideration for other's and compassion." At work we have one of our vendors posters up on the wall and I get irritated by it every time I see it. "Respect few...fear none" Respect all until they've earned your disrespect and maybe...just maybe we'd see the return of things like manners and at the very least mind's open enough to at listen to someone else's opinion, even if it doesn't line up to yours, because who knows what brought that person to that place and maybe if we thought about it we might at least accept that they have a reason for feeling the way they do and find it in ourselves to agree to disagree without calling them a moron.