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Sergeant John Weaver, Placer County Sherriff's  Department, Youth Services
On Cyberbullying..." I have witnessed this so many times. It is very, very common. Sometimes it has even evolved into 422 Penal Code – Terrorist Threats, a felony.
 
Joanna, I will tell you this, I believe this virtual pixel world is yesterday's “corner dimestore”. Remember when we were kids? I know, a long time ago... Anyway, I would run home, watch Gilligan's Island, go to football practice and then hang out at the corner drug store with my friends. We would tell jokes, shoot the breeze about everything, punch each other in the arm etc... Today’s Internet is that corner pharmacy and soda shop, this is today’s social club for kids. And man, do they loose their inhibitions when using it.

NO TEXTING WHILE DRIVING SB28 (Man, I am going to stand on my soap box for this one!): Seatbelts, provisional licenses, cell phones, texting while driving, now having to wait till 18 to get your license. All of these have become law or will become law. Guess what? Most laws are made not because people do the right thing, but because they do the wrong thing. Joanna, do me a favor and park in front of a high school at lunch or after school. Watch how many of these kids do these things.

Just yesterday I called to add my son to my insurance. He is taking his driving test tomorrow. After the paramedics were called and they finished reviving me I found out why my insurance is going from $674 a year to $2001 a year: A teen driver - the highest accident group in the United States of America.

 

Last week I wrote a 17 year old a ticket for 50 mph in a 25 mph residential zone. “I did not know how fast I was going, I was talking on my cell phone”, she said. I did not even see her talking on the cell phone, I was busy watching for cars, kids, dogs etc... while trying to get her to pull over. About 3 months ago I wrote a 16 year old for 40 mph in a 25. His teacher saw me pull him over and stopped. The young lad had two other kids in the car, not siblings, and had his license for a total of 3 days (provisional license). The teacher, his mother, and he all felt I should not have cited him for violation of provisional status. He no longer has a license and will not have one until he turns 18.

 

My badge has the following on it “Sheriff, Coroner, Marshal” and using the Coroner part is horrid, especially when it comes to young people. It is a privilege, NOT YOUR RIGHT, to drive a motor vehicle. It is our RESPONSIBILITY to do it in a safe fashion while being respectful to those around us. When a driver, especially an inexperienced driver, is not paying full attention he or she is a driving a one ton killing machine. Thus, laws are made.

 

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2009 CA Laws Impacting Minors: Opinion
Copyright 2009 Joanna Marie Jullien
Driving while InTEXTicated Tragedy: A Must Read!
  Parent
  Factor
Cyberbullying: Can Common Decency be Legislated?