What a stupid statement - dob in a hoon. It doesnt stand up in court. I believe the dob in a hoon idea was introduced as a way for people to relieve frustration, as they think something will happen to the alleged offender. You can't really believe that you can just ring up and get someone charged with something?

Talking and texting is just another nanny state law that the pollies introduced knowing full well that it would not be inforced. That aside, I am not convinced it is any more dangerous that eating a burger just purchased from the drive through, lighting a smoke, listening to loud music and so on whilst driving.

Sorry thinkitthrough I can't agree, driving means driving, eating should not be conducted whilst driving as with texting. Its all too late when you look up and jump on the anchors just as the bonnet dissappears under that tabletop you didn't see as your head was down checking your txt message. Driving means total concentration and I mean that from a motorcyclists point of view!

So over it, What I was getting iat it is legal to munch on a burger and illegal to talk on a mobile phone. If one is unsafe so is the other. Yes I agree driving means total concentration!

I don't think this is a nanny state law. So often I sit behind drivers wandering all over the road and figure they must be on their mobiles, when I pass them sure enough they are. I was nearly wiped out by the driver of one of those small rental trucks on the freeway when he suddenly tried to correct his lane drift in wet weather and nearly put it sideways in front of me. Guess what? Got up beside and the idiots on his mobile. Get a hands free and use it, and pull over to text. It only takes a moment to drift onto the shoulder and kill an innocent cyclist or pedestrian. Some laws make sense.

thinkitthrough I have a feeling that eating and drinking is also not legal but we don't often hear of it being enforced. Not 100% on this but reasonably confident.

Rule 300 - Driving while using hand-held mobile phone..$265 and three points. Rule 297 (1) - Driving without proper control of vehicle..$353 and three points. I presume this would apply to anything including eating or drinking if you don't maintain control of the vehicle in the opinion of the traffic officer.

Interesting is the ruling on sound systems - Driving or using a vehicle with a sound system emitting offensive noise..$150 and two points.

(ref: RTA general driving offences 1 July 2011)

Just as a sideline comment. The RTA has a general driving offences guide that lists close to 1000 offences that motorists could be fined and incur demerit points for committing. It was an eye-opener for me.

They state that the document is a guide only and is subject to change at any time without notice, but it does list offences that I hadn't even heard of. Such as "Reversing a vehicle further than necessary" - $88 fine.

Just drive the vehicle. A young female driver who was texting hit the back of my car.The result was a huge damage bill, covered by insurance, my car off the road for 3 weeks. Her car was badly damaged and she was charged with negligent driving. All because she wanted to text and try to drive. VERY DUMB.

Maybe it should be 6 points. this may stop them.