DVD Player Sparks Murder Trial Against Driver
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Instructor
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 122
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From: Kansas City area
DVD Player Sparks Murder Trial Against Driver
Probably will not change anyone's mind, but if it does and saves someone, then maybe it was worth it.
http://news.excite.com/odd/article/id/418658|oddlyenough|08-02-2004::10:11|reuters.html
Copied from Excite.com link above
'
Aug 2, 10:10 am ET
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (Reuters) - An Alaska man whose truck collided head-on with another vehicle, killing two people in 2002, is on trial for murder this week with prosecutors saying the man was watching a DVD while driving.
Erwin Petterson denies watching the movie "Road Trip" on a DVD player in his dashboard -- he says he took his eyes off the road to reach for a drink -- but if convicted in a trial going on this week in Kenai, Alaska, he could be sentenced to 99 years in prison.
Alaska Department of Law officials say it is probably the first trial of this kind in the nation. Dashboard televisions are illegal in Alaska, but the law has not been updated to include DVDs. Prosecutors hope to prove Petterson acted with reckless indifference to human life. The crash that killed Bob Weiser, 60, and Donna Weiser, 56, on a highway south of Anchorage was merely a tragic accident, Petterson's attorney argued in opening statements.
The crash has prompted the Weisers' son to push for legislation to outlaw DVD players in vehicle dashboards, an increasingly popular feature.
"The young crowd from 18 to 25 loves it," said Terry Shimek, owner of an Anchorage electronics store.
To prevent drivers from watching movies while at the wheel, manufacturers include a feature that shuts down DVD players when vehicles are in motion, Shimek said. However, buyers who install their own players can override that feature. "
http://news.excite.com/odd/article/id/418658|oddlyenough|08-02-2004::10:11|reuters.html
Copied from Excite.com link above
'
Aug 2, 10:10 am ET
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (Reuters) - An Alaska man whose truck collided head-on with another vehicle, killing two people in 2002, is on trial for murder this week with prosecutors saying the man was watching a DVD while driving.
Erwin Petterson denies watching the movie "Road Trip" on a DVD player in his dashboard -- he says he took his eyes off the road to reach for a drink -- but if convicted in a trial going on this week in Kenai, Alaska, he could be sentenced to 99 years in prison.
Alaska Department of Law officials say it is probably the first trial of this kind in the nation. Dashboard televisions are illegal in Alaska, but the law has not been updated to include DVDs. Prosecutors hope to prove Petterson acted with reckless indifference to human life. The crash that killed Bob Weiser, 60, and Donna Weiser, 56, on a highway south of Anchorage was merely a tragic accident, Petterson's attorney argued in opening statements.
The crash has prompted the Weisers' son to push for legislation to outlaw DVD players in vehicle dashboards, an increasingly popular feature.
"The young crowd from 18 to 25 loves it," said Terry Shimek, owner of an Anchorage electronics store.
To prevent drivers from watching movies while at the wheel, manufacturers include a feature that shuts down DVD players when vehicles are in motion, Shimek said. However, buyers who install their own players can override that feature. "
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 122
Likes: 11
From: Kansas City area
as mentioned in the CNN article, the passenger's wife/girlfriend said the one guy admitted they were watching a movie. this is serious negligence if the driver was too. it's tough to say since we were not the ones there though. if it's true, then he deserves to pay, because he obviously doesn't care about anyone else. just the same as people who run red lights and stop signs and don't even look. they're not putting only their own life in danger, they're endangering every else!
do i think it constitutes a murder charge? no. this is clearly different from 'murder'.
do i think it deserves more than a traffic ticket and an insurance hike? yes.
now i am a big fan of the in-dash dvd, i happen to think it's cool as all hell. but for god's sake, why couldn't some people just exercise some self control and not watch it while they're driving?
my mom knew a couple that had the front end of their car ripped off because some guy driving a navigator was reading his email and crossed over the median and hit them. what the hell is wrong with people?
do i think it constitutes a murder charge? no. this is clearly different from 'murder'.
do i think it deserves more than a traffic ticket and an insurance hike? yes.
now i am a big fan of the in-dash dvd, i happen to think it's cool as all hell. but for god's sake, why couldn't some people just exercise some self control and not watch it while they're driving?
my mom knew a couple that had the front end of their car ripped off because some guy driving a navigator was reading his email and crossed over the median and hit them. what the hell is wrong with people?
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