There Is The Bad, And Then There Is The Good

The river of bad news and poor policy-making by public officials rarely slows down, but now and then comes a story that helps renew the spirit.

Compassionate strangers from across the country have banded together and donated more than $17,000 to support a handicapped Cary boy who had his cash stolen Thursday when he was raising money for a wheelchair basketball event.

A flood of donations from $5 to $500 have poured in since Friday to help 12-year-old Nolan Turner bring the experience of playing wheelchair basketball to Briarcliff Elementary School. More than 450 people have donated nearly $18,000, far beyond Nolan’s original goal of $1000.

Chapel Hill Police Chief Says Enforcing Cell Phone Ban Will Require Police To Search Your Phone

If you are pulled over by Chapel Hill police officer for violating the town’s new ban on talking on your cell phone while driving –including using a hands-free version of a phone — here is what awaits you, in addition to the $25 fine. 

Chapel Hill Police Chief Chris Blue has said a ban would be difficult to enforce since it would require officers to search a motorists’ cell phone. Police would have a heavy burden to prove a violation occurred, he said.

I look forward to seeing the video of a police officer rifling through a driver’s cell phone which will, no doubt, be taken by a passenger and posted for all to see. Welcome to Chapel Hill — a nanny-stater’s dream town.

Chapel Hill Nanny-Staters Ban Cell Phone Use While Driving — INCLUDING Hands-Free Phones

It is North Carolina’s haven for progressives who are convinced they make better decisions than you do about your behavior and actions. And now, the Chapel Hill council has passed a ban that is being billed as the first of its kind in the nation. Last night the council banned talking on a cell phone while driving — including the hands-free version of phones. And by the way, the council has no legal authority to do this — and they know it.  This is an obvious overreach of government.

Council member Laurin Easthom opposed the ban and clarified that it does outlaw talking on all types of phones while driving, including wireless systems in new cars.

“If you have a Bluetooth, if you have a relatively new car with a dashboard that allows you to talk wirelessly, you can’t use it,” she said.

After the vote, she said that the town needs to put signs alerting motorists to the ban at every major road entrance into town.

The ban defies an opinion from the state attorney general’s office that the town lacks the authority to prohibit talking on cell phones while driving.