Just in time for Terminator: Salvation.

This is going to be a true zero-tolerance policy

As opposed to all the other zero-tolerance policies? It will never get past the union, anyway.

My first reaction was indignation, but meh. Cellphones didn't always exist and if leaving one's phone in a locker or just at home saves my life and the lives of my fellow PT-users, then so be it.

Before anyone whines about "emergencies" - once again - people were driving trains without cellphones for a hell of a lot longer than they have been with them. Do your job and live your life on your own time.

If someone dies while you're at work, they'll still be dead when you get off.

ZAZ: It will never get past the union, anyway.

Stephan G. MacDougall, president of the Boston Carmen's Union, which represents MBTA employees, said he supported the new policy and believed it could be implemented within 24 hours.

"Our obligation to the public, we think, is to embrace this, and not just for public safety or for political reasons. We think it's the right thing to do," he said.

Granted, this is the president and not the rank and file... but right now the union is on board with it, and willing to implement the rule within 24 hours.

BoneStorm: Before anyone whines about "emergencies" - once again - people were driving trains without cellphones for a hell of a lot longer than they have been with them.

There was a time when we didn't have trains either. And people are accidentally killed on tracks every year. Let's take those away too.

/Would prefer they just hire people who take their jobs seriously
//or ground the train making a giant faraday cage

I could see banning use, but banning carrying them too. Not over reacting too much, are we? Just ban the use while operating a train etc. or otherwise on duty outside of an emergency (calling 911 etc).

/Put down the cellphone!
//You have 10 seconds to comply

Why does an operator need a cell phone? Don't these things have radios?

While they could carry their phones and not use them, some dumbass screwed it up for everyone else, just like usual.

Can the ban be extended to passengers as well?

Zero tolerance policies are just plain stupid, no matter what they are about.

In fact, you could say I have a zero tolerance policy towards zero tolerance policies.

I hope his girlfriend was worth all this. Somebody dig up her pic and let Farkers be the judge.



/not her

"BRB, crash LOL."

Good.

Kierkegaard's Pseudonym: "BRB, crash LOL."

Awesome. Just what I was thinking.

damageddude: I could see banning use, but banning carrying them too. Not over reacting too much, are we? Just ban the use while operating a train etc. or otherwise on duty outside of an emergency (calling 911 etc).

Wouldn't they have radios on them for official communications? Why couldn't they be used - sure it wouldn't be a direct call, but it should do. Or drivers could borrow a phone from one of their passengers

Kierkegaard's Pseudonym: "BRB, crash LOL."

My thought as well.

Passengers were startled, screaming, and more than a few were bloodied when the collision between two trolleys occurred without warning

Because usually, when we crash our trolleys, we try to give everyone fair warning.

damageddude
I could see banning use, but banning carrying them too. Not over reacting too much, are we? Just ban the use while operating a train etc. or otherwise on duty outside of an emergency (calling 911 etc).

I disagree. They got it right. Its a clearer way to enforce the mandate. It also is sure to accomplish their end goal....never, ever having a public transportation operator be distracted by his/her cell phone and thereby avoiding that particular risk to the public. It doesn't seem a bit heavy-handed.

In reality, had he been paying attention, could the two trains have stopped in time to prevent a head on collision given the events that caused them to be in the same place at the same time in the first place?

Shiat! That's a greater penalty than for smoking a bone.

Well...ok. True, you do not need a cellphone to function and true, the boss gets to make the rules. But really, why would you work some place where every moment of your time and every movement & phone call is monitored by some draconian overlord? Like bosses who pace cubicles to see that everyone is seated at all times, etc.

Wow, the only job I worked at even remotely like that was fast food where you had to beg loudly for a bathroom break. There is "taking a breather" or doing something not work related while your mind does actually work on "work" issues and then there is slacking off. Most bosses see the difference. I wouldn't work for someone like this if it was the only job in town.

as a transit operator (not boston)...
I can understand this reaction...

I DO NOT use my phone when my vehicle is moving...
That said... an iPhone is VERY handy for getting directions to addresses i am not familiar with...
and looking up other info...

That said... I can see this happening more and more places...


i just wish a$$holes like this wouldnt screw it for the rest of us who use them responcibly....

Boston... the city of reason...

damageddude: I could see banning use, but banning carrying them too. Not over reacting too much, are we? Just ban the use while operating a train etc. or otherwise on duty outside of an emergency (calling 911 etc).

Because the asshats just close them, put them away, turn the off or whatever as soon as someone that shouldn't see them with it comes around. Humans are sneaky rat bastards.

I was on a bus once, at night, on a moderately busy highway, and I saw that the driver was actually talking on a cell phone. I'm not saying that I don't talk on the phone while driving, but I don't do it when I even have random passengers with me, and certainly wouldn't do it while transporting someone as my job.

Great. So when will they implement this for police officers? A day doesn't go by that I don't see one of them playing with their laptop or talking on their cell phone while driving.

/Guess we'll just have to wait until one of them crashes into a school bus or something.

Too bad Charlie didn't have a cellphone .. he's still riding the M.T.A !

funny how society seems to be falling behind this as acceptable... yet still has a soft spot for criminals :)

any society where a person who harms a dog can actually spend more time in jail than someone who does the same to a human... well... we need help...

just a thought after my last post

While visiting Boston, I asked a 'Cop' looking guy with a "MBTA" Patch on his uniform what it stood for and he said...

"My Balls Taste Awful"...

Funny dude.

ThreeEyedOni I was on a bus once, at night, on a moderately busy highway, and I saw that the driver was actually talking on a cell phone.

We had that problem too in Las Vegas until the RTC started focusing cameras on the drivers.

I support this. People yelling on cellphones are annoying.

You guys are slackin'.

altrocks: Great. So when will they implement this for police officers? A day doesn't go by that I don't see one of them playing with their laptop or talking on their cell phone while driving.

/Guess we'll just have to wait until one of them crashes into a school bus or something.

holy hell .... this. i understand your job might get boring but part of the job description involves crime prevention, which presumably calls for a little more of your attention than you are able to give when you're arguing with your wife about who is going to pick up the milk.

damageddude: I could see banning use, but banning carrying them too. Not over reacting too much, are we? Just ban the use while operating a train etc. or otherwise on duty outside of an emergency (calling 911 etc).

If they do that, then anyone accused of using one will simply deny it, and claim that, yes, they had it, but they weren't using it when they crashed into that dump truck....

By banning them outright, then eliminate that kind of thing.

It's a good start. Now if we can legalize execution of people who bring them into movie theaters we'll be getting somewhere.

gadian: Well...ok. True, you do not need a cellphone to function and true, the boss gets to make the rules. But really, why would you work some place where every moment of your time and every movement & phone call is monitored by some draconian overlord? Like bosses who pace cubicles to see that everyone is seated at all times, etc.

Wow, the only job I worked at even remotely like that was fast food where you had to beg loudly for a bathroom break. There is "taking a breather" or doing something not work related while your mind does actually work on "work" issues and then there is slacking off. Most bosses see the difference. I wouldn't work for someone like this if it was the only job in town.

Good luck on being an adult.

TehNacho: In reality, had he been paying attention, could the two trains have stopped in time to prevent a head on collision given the events that caused them to be in the same place at the same time in the first place?

It wasn't a head-on collision; texting boy rear-ended the trolley in front of him. The reason the trolleys collided was that texting-boy was staring down at the screen of his cell phone, rather than looking up at the array of red lights along the walls of the Green Line tunnel which would have told him to STOP THE DAMN TROLLEY BECAUSE THERE'S ANOTHER TROLLEY STOPPED IN FRONT OF YOU, YOU MORAN!

Hooray for overcompensation! What a stupid policy.

This is

You're a driver. A fight, mugging, or hold-up breaks out on your bus. You (obviously) stop the bus. And you call the cops. Oh, wait - no you don't. You left that handy cop-summoning device at home, because you'd get fired if you took it with you.

Awesome.

ZAZ: This is going to be a true zero-tolerance policy

As opposed to all the other zero-tolerance policies? It will never get past the union, anyway.

rtfa

spmkk: This is

You're a driver. A fight, mugging, or hold-up breaks out on your bus. You (obviously) stop the bus. And you call the cops. Oh, wait - no you don't. You left that handy cop-summoning device at home, because you'd get fired if you took it with you.

Awesome.

I'm not familiar with the MBTA, but they really don't have radio communication in their fleet?

earthworm2.0: Because usually, when we crash our trolleys, we try to give everyone fair warning.

EVERYBODY BRACE YOURSELVES!!!!

/yes, there can be a warning

damageddude: I could see banning use, but banning carrying them too. Not over reacting too much, are we? Just ban the use while operating a train etc. or otherwise on duty outside of an emergency (calling 911 etc).

Most mass transit vehicles have radios for communicating with their base. If they have an emergency or need 911, the radio is there.

HELLO!!
WOT?
WOT???
NO, I'M DRIVING THE BUS!
...
...THE BUS!!!
...
NAW, I DON'T CARE!
IT'S RUBBISH!
...WOT?
I SAID IT'S RUBBISH!

mainstreet62: You guys are slackin'.

Read the Boobies.
/Don't call me if you want to live
//Couldn't resist

The Great Gazoo

Zero tolerance policies are just plain stupid, no matter what they are about.

No, I think if they're about banning cell phones that's one place where they're not stupid.

spmkk

You're a driver. A fight, mugging, or hold-up breaks out on your bus. You (obviously) stop the bus. And you call the cops. Oh, wait - no you don't. You left that handy cop-summoning device at home, because you'd get fired if you took it with you.

Awesome.

Oh, you mean that two way radio device? Yeah, pretty sure they might of thought about how a driver might need to contact HQ in the event of an emergency.

Flapjack727: mainstreet62: You guys are slackin'.

Read the Boobies.
/Don't call me if you want to live
//Couldn't resist

That's a fail right there. *headdesk*

I'm gonna be a high school teacher soon so this is relevant to my interests.

/was probably part of the last graduating class in HS where not everyone had a cellphone
//class of 04

Flapjack727: Flapjack727: mainstreet62: You guys are slackin'.

Read the Boobies.
/Don't call me if you want to live
//Couldn't resist

That's a fail right there. *headdesk*

but I wanna read his/her boobies....

/or are they FLAPJACKS