Among the more notable proposals once again facing the Sunshine State are two that need more blunt and candid context: Texting while driving and restoring rights to former felons. Whether via legislation or amendment.
First, making texting while driving a primary offense needs to happen. It’s the only way to get through to too many who turn unconscionably careless and witless behind the wheel. We need to say as a society: “This is going to cost you big time–from serious fines to insurance impact to license suspension and worse. You take a selfish, cavalier attitude about distracted driving–and we’re coming after you. Count on it. Nothing will distract us.”
Second, is the ultimate rationale. We’re all impacted.
This is not some legal abstraction; the rest of US are potential victims every time we get behind the wheel because of who else might literally be crossing our driving path. We are the constituency with skin and bones in this game. Let’s do this for US. Let’s promote this for the gut-level common good.
As for former felons having their civil rights restored, it’s just fair that after having paid (via prison and probation) a societal debt–unless it was a violent felony that can never been righted–these people automatically get another shot at full citizenry.
Second, is the ultimate rationale. We’re all impacted. It’s worth repeating.
Felons who have had their rights restored–including voting, jury serving and certain professional license holding–have noticeably lower rates of recidivism. That’s a formal way of saying a restored-rights, former felon is less likely to negatively impact all of us non former felons. In short, having more than a million long-term, second-class citizens can’t be in Florida’s best interest.
This is doing the right, smart thing for the right, smart, self-serving societal reasons. For us.