The man went before Judge Cedric Simpson at Washtenaw County’s 14A District Court on May 15, charged with driving without a license. Upon joining via Zoom, the 44 year-old man appeared to be driving a vehicle.

  • troed@fedia.io
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    24
    arrow-down
    1
    ·
    6 months ago

    Funny as it is, according to some of the comments he actually had had his license reinstated and the issue were with the court system not having updated documents.

    • garbagebagel@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      14
      arrow-down
      1
      ·
      edit-2
      6 months ago

      Regardless though, wouldn’t that count as distracted driving? Or is that not against the law in the states?

      • dependencyinjection
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        6
        arrow-down
        1
        ·
        6 months ago

        Can’t you talk on the phone as long as it’s hands free?

        How is it any different than talking to a passenger.

        • VicksVaporBBQrub@sh.itjust.worksM
          link
          fedilink
          arrow-up
          3
          arrow-down
          1
          ·
          edit-2
          6 months ago

          I know in California, any activity that is distracting away lots of attention of the driver from driving, even if the activity is legal, normal, eating, fun, a minor emergency, etc… is considered a Moving Violation ticket.

          Figuring out devices, heated phone calls (hands-free included), BJ’s, applying make-up, eating, air drumming or head banging to music, passenger tantrums, looking at an accident or garage sale or other spectacle, reading, etc.
          edit:
          Your last question…If for some reason a driver cannot handle a normal conversation during driving then it’s a hazard.

          • dependencyinjection
            link
            fedilink
            arrow-up
            2
            arrow-down
            1
            ·
            6 months ago

            Some of those examples are insane if people do that:

            • eating
            • BJ’s
            • applying make-up

            Are just crazy things to do.

            A minor emergency, can’t really be helped. You should pull over as soon as it occurs.

            Interesting they California is ticketing for some of these though, thanks for sharing.

  • nifty@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    5
    ·
    6 months ago

    Reading the article it seems the discourse should focus on the incompetence of his public defender instead seeing as it took the news media reportedly five minutes to find out that this guys suspended license order was rescinded two years prior

      • nifty@lemmy.world
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        1
        ·
        6 months ago

        What’s the point of the plea deal if it’s not taking all facts into account? The defendant was never properly informed of his options imo