Florida Texting While Driving Ban Bill Sponsored By Senator Maria Sachs

You're hurtling down the interstate at 70 mph, or 103 feet per second. Sending or receiving that irresistible text averages more than four seconds, which means you've traveled farther than the length of a football field -- blind.
Texting or talking on a cellphone while driving accounts for more than 100,000 crashes a year nationwide, according to federal statistics. In 2011 there were 3,331 fatalities nationally involving distracted drivers.
"We're going to put a stop to it," state Sen. Maria Sachs vowed Wednesday. "There's going to be no more distracted driving in the state of Florida."
The Delray Beach Democrat announced her sponsorship of a bill in the upcoming Legislature that would outlaw texting or cellphone conversations while driving.
Broward Sheriff Scott Israel, who along with the Florida Sheriff's Association supports the bill, joined Sachs at a demonstration of the effects of distracted driving at Broward College's Institute of Public Safety in Davie.
"It's relevant, it's important, and as sure as we're standing here it's going to save lives," the sheriff said. "Like alcohol and driving, texting and driving doesn't mix."
Sachs' bill would make it a moving violation for drivers to use anything but hands-free devices while behind the wheel. A first offense would result in a $100 fine, with higher penalties for second and third offenses. Driver's license points would not be subtracted.
Sachs said she expects the bill to be well-received by both Democrats and Republicans at this spring's legislative session.
"I don't know anybody who could oppose this, to stop the slaughter that's going on our highways," she said.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, texting while driving makes crashes 23 times more likely. Florida is one of just six states that don't have laws banning texting while driving, the administration said.
In Wednesday's demonstration, Deputy Ian Hunt, driving a navy blue Chevrolet Suburban at 35 mph, attempted to change lanes while texting. He swerved dramatically, knocked down a half dozen traffic cones, and nearly flipped over.
Wayne Boulier, the safety institute's driving instructor, said when drivers text, they're traveling blind and miss precious seconds in reaction time should they need to brake or maneuver out of danger.
"You're losing time, it's time you can't recapture," he said. "What usually happens is you overcompensate, over-steer or under-steer."
Volunteers at the college's driving simulator consistently left the road or crashed when trying to follow instructions while texting.
Sachs said text-free driving is a concept that will, in time, gain traction among drivers. "It's going to take a while to educate people," she said.
Car manufacturers support the concept and are increasingly producing vehicles designed for hands-free communication, Sachs said.
"The whole idea is keep your hands on the wheel," she said.
 

 

Ultra Music Festival 2013: City of Miami to Vote on Resolution "Disapproving" of Second Festival Weekend

It can't be Ultra Music Festival without a little bit of drama. This time it comes from Miami Commissioner Marc Sarnoff who has introduced a new resolution "disapproving" of the second weekend of Ultra Music Festival.The resolution, which the commission will consider on Thursday, claims the "event will be disruptive to the local business community and area residents due to noise, nuisance behavior of festival goers, and grid lock traffic."That's a different tune than Ultra organizers claimed a few months ago, when they stated the festival generated
A source at the city attorney's office told Crossfade that the resolution came from unhappy downtown business owners who lobbied during a December meeting. The resolution also seems to confirm what we already knew: the festival will be returning to Bayfront Park this year. And while there is a separate trust for the park, the resolution affirms that the city code says that the trust's broad powers are "subject at all times to city commission approval."

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It's unclear at this point whether the resolution would actually prevent the second weekend of Ultra from happening, and we are waiting back to hear from the city's attorney office to clarify the possible repercussions.

 

Credit : Crossfade

Amelia Earhart Plane And Flight 19 Wreckage Could Be Found By New NOAA Technology

They are among aviation's greatest mysteries, vanishing decades ago without a trace.
But experts say technology now exists to find both Flight 19, the Navy squadron that took off from Fort Lauderdale in 1945, and Amelia Earhart, the legendary aviatrix who in 1937 in Miami began her attempt to fly around the world.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration currently operates a ship that systematically explores the seven seas, and already has discovered a number of sunken vessels and planes. Its multi-beam sonar paints a three-dimensional image of the ocean floor, allowing it to spot everything from wrecks to natural gas leaks.
Some private companies also offer vessels equipped with sophisticated sonar, among them OceanGate, based in Seattle, Wash. Using a small submarine, it recently discovered a World War II era Navy Hellcat fighter plane in 240 feet of water off Miami Beach.
If someone were willing to pay "possibly hundreds of millions," the submarine stands a good chance of finding Flight 19 or Earhart, said Stockton Rush, CEO of OceanGate, which rents out subs for exploration, research and commercial ventures.
"The technology to find those planes exists," he said. "It's really a question of, is it worth the investment?"
Some private expeditions have successfully found high-profile wrecks. In 1985, explorer Robert Ballard spotted the Titanic 2 1/2 miles below the surface of the North Atlantic, using underwater robots.
To find Flight 19 or Earhart's plane, NOAA scientists would need a good idea of where the wreckage sits. A search grid would be set up and sensor equipment would then try to discern shapes on the ocean floor.
Several factors could make the quest difficult, including the planes' depth, whether they broke up when they hit bottom and whether they are covered with marine vegetation. Still, if NOAA's 224-foot Okeanas Explorer were assigned to find those wrecks, it might succeed.
"If you pick a good survey area, sonar makes the likelihood of discovery a little better," said Frank Cantelas, head marine archaeologist for the NOAA's Office of Ocean Exploration and Research.
On the other hand, the ship's main missions are to map the seafloor and examine the oceans for scientific purposes. It wouldn't specifically hunt for Flight 19 or Amelia Earhart, particularly since NOAA operates on a tight budget, Cantelas said.
"It's really a matter of prioritizing the things we do," he said. "It's not that they have been deemed insignificant; it just that they really haven't been discussed."
OceanGate's submarine also is primarily concerned with scientific research. For instance, it found the Hellcat while inspecting 15 artificial coral reef sites for Miami-Dade County.
"Flight 19 and Amelia Earhart are of great public interest, but it's hard to get an economic justification," Rush said. "It's sort of like searching for the holy grail."
What has made finding Earhart's plane so difficult is that it could be in a vast area of the Pacific and in 15,000 to 20,000 feet of water. That didn't stop Richard Gillespie, executive director of The International Group for Historic Aircraft Recovery. Last July, he used sonar to hunt for Earhart's plane near Nikumaroro, a small South Pacific island, where he thinks she temporarily survived. However, no plane wreckage was found.
Finding Flight 19, also known as the Lost Patrol, might be more realistic, as the five planes are thought to be within a few hundred miles of Daytona Beach.
Indeed, Jon Myhre is confident the five planes went down in the same vicinity that debris from Space Shuttle Challenger was found after it exploded in 1986. However, as yet, none of the planes have been spotted.
"I used aircraft performance information, weather, winds and radio transmissions to come up with a point in the ocean," said Myhre, of Sebastian, who wrote a book about the squadron, "Discovery of Flight 19." "All of it points to the same location."
Flight 19 took off from what was then the Fort Lauderdale Naval Air Station -- today Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport -- on a routine navigational and bombing exercise. But the flight leader got lost and the planes are believed to have run out of fuel and crashed into the ocean.
Myhre "absolutely" believes the technology exists to find those single-engine bombers, as well as Earhart's plane. He only hopes that interest won't wane as time passes.
"I applaud anybody who tries to find them," he said.

Credit : Huffington Post

Photos : Kim & Khloe Kardashian's Pants Get Us In The Holiday Mood

On the fifth day of Christmas, the paparazzi gods gave us Kim and Khloe Kardashian wearing red and green pants.
The coordinating ensembles, with black tops and that super straight hair, might have been a coincidence. But considering the pair were out in Miami filming a contrived-for-TV adventure their real lives, this was probably planned. Two possible ideas: there's some sort of Christmas theme or Kim and Khloe are just part of a larger Kardashian rainbow (we bet Kourtney, Scott and Mason are lurking around there somewhere wearing orange, yellow and blue pants).
We could tune into an upcoming episode of "Keeping Up With The Kardashians" to find out which one it is... or we could just glance at these photos and call it a day.
Merry Christmas, y'all.

Credit : Huffington Post

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Healthiest State Rankings Of 2012

Americans, on a whole, are dying less from cancer and heart-related causes, but at the same time, chronic conditions like obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure and sedentary living are on the rise, according to a new report ranking the health of each U.S. state.

The report, released by UnitedHealth Group's nonprofit, the United Health Foundation, in association with the American Public Health Association and the Partnership for Prevention, shows that 27.8 percent of all Americans are obese, 9.5 percent have diabetes, 30.8 percent have hypertension and 26.2 percent lead sedentary lifestyles.

However, premature deaths and deaths from heart disease and cancer have decreased since 1990.
"As a nation, we've made extraordinary gains in longevity over the past decades, but as individuals we are regressing in our health," Dr. Reed Tuckson, M.D., medical adviser to the United Health Foundation and chief of medical affairs for UnitedHealth Group, said in a statement.

The report also showed disparities in other health categories between the states who scored the highest for health, and the states that scored the lowest. For example, the five least healthy states had smoking rates between 23.1 percent and 28.6 percent, compared with 16.8 percent to 19.4 percent in the five most healthy states.

Similar patterns were seen for sedentary behavior: In the five least healthy states, sedentary lifestyles -- defined as 30 days of not exercising outside of work -- were led by 27.2 to 36 percent of people, compared with 21 to 35 percent in the five healthiest states.

The rankings of the states are based on the results of telephone interviews. Determinants include smoking, binge drinking, obesity, high school graduation rates, sedentary lifestyle, children in poverty, infectious disease cases, air pollution, violent crime, health insurance, immunizations, primary care doctors, hospitalizations, and rate of conditions and deaths, such as cancer, obesity, diabetes and heart disease.

Credit : Huffington Post

Texting-While-Driving Ban: Doug Holder, Florida Representative, Sponsors New Bill

 State lawmakers seeking to have Florida join the 39 states that prohibit texting while driving said they have gained the upper hand.

On Tuesday, state Rep. Doug Holder, a Sarasota Republican, filed a bill to make texting while driving a secondary offense under which a driver can receive a citation but only after being pulled over for a primary offense such as speeding or reckless driving.

Cell phone calls while driving would still be permitted under the bill, a companion to one filed in the Senate by Venice Republican Nancy Detert
Federal estimates show distracted driving contributes to 16 percent of all fatal crashes, leading to around 5,000 deaths every year, the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety reported.

"If you are texting while driving you are 23 times more likely to have an accident," Holder said. "I think the timing is right. I think we are going to get something passed.

"Generally conservatives are somewhat reluctant to let government have control. I am conservative but (distracted driving) has become an epidemic."

Holder said he's not aware of any opposition to the bill at this point.

He said the bill could be considered a compromise of sorts because it does not prohibit all use of handheld devices while driving, as laws in some states do. But he said he believes it is important to approve a texting law, especially because of widespread use by teen-agers.

"Teen-agers must realize that some behavior they do at their home or walking around the mall is not behavior behind the wheel, but we don't have anything on the books."

State Rep. Irv Slosberg, D-Delray Beach, at a November rally in Tampa against distracted driving led by U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, said the distracted driving bills died in the Legislature before because of the libertarian leanings of former Republican House Speaker Dean Cannon.

Cannon has left office because of the term limits law.

The Reason Foundation, a California-based libertarian think tank, said in a report earlier this year that "cell phone usage has never been proven to cause accidents."

"While cell-phones can be distracting, so can many other features in cars. Is the next step to ban GPS units and car radios?" said a January blog post by Reason Foundation transportation policy analyst Baruch Feigenbaum.

The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety has said distracted driving consistently ranks as one of the traffic safety issues at forefront of many drivers' thinking.

"Each year, more than 80 percent of drivers in the annual AAA Foundation Traffic Safety Culture Index cite distraction as a serious problem and a behavior that makes them feel less safe on the road.
Holder's bill establishes unlawful use of a "wireless communications device" in a crash as a penalty of four points against a drivers license. A moving violation in conjunction with unlawful use of a wireless device within a school safety zone would carry of penalty of two points.

The bill says a person may not operate a vehicle while manually typing or entering letters, including texting, e-mailing and instant messaging.

Exceptions apply to operators of authorized emergency vehicles or others reporting an emergency or criminal or suspicious act to law enforcement.

Exceptions also apply to use of navigation devices and receiving radio broadcasts. 

 

Credit : Tampa Tribune

Florida Man And Three Others Sue Ex-Elmo Puppeteer Kevin Clash

 Another man on Monday sued the former Elmo puppeteer who resigned amid sex abuse allegations, claiming the voice actor befriended him in Miami and promised to be a father figure before flying the teen to New York to have sex with him.

The alleged victim is now the fourth to accuse Kevin Clash, who resigned from "Sesame Street" last month after 28 years. The three legal actions filed so far have been civil cases seeking financial compensation.

But the incident with the latest victim, referred to only as S.M., could involve criminal charges because the lawsuit claims Clash transported him across state lines for the purpose of engaging in sexual activity.

Attorney Jeff Herman said he encouraged his client to report the incident to authorities but it's unclear if the now-33-year-old alleged victim has done so.

Sexual abuse allegations against Clash triggered a media frenzy last month. He quickly denied the first claim, which was recanted the next day. But Clash then resigned after a 24-year-old college student, Cecil Singleton, sued him for $5 million, saying the actor engaged in sexual behavior with him when he was 15.

Singleton claims the voice actor met him in New York a dozen years ago after trolling gay telephone chat lines and seeking underage boys for sex.

In the latest case, the plaintiff said Clash approached him on Miami Beach, complimented his appearance and struck up a friendship. Clash returned home to New York, but stayed in touch with the teen, promising to be a dad to him. The youth, who was 16 or 17 at the time, had been molested by a teacher and was considering running away from home, according to the lawsuit.

"These are all vulnerable boys. None of them had father figures in their lives and they were looking for that father figure," said Herman, who represents three of the alleged victims.

The lawsuit says Clash paid for a plane ticket from Florida to New York in 1996 and arranged for a car service to pick up the teen and bring him to his upscale apartment, where he gave him cash and showered him with "attention and affection" and ultimately engaged in numerous sexual acts.

Herman said he is poring over receipts and other documents to see if the car service was paid for by Clash's employers at Sesame Street.

Clash's attorney Michael Berger said in a statement that "the lawsuit is without merit and we will vigorously defend the case and Mr. Clash's reputation."

Sesame Street publicist Ellen Lewis said "we're confident in the actions that we took," but declined further comment, saying it was an issue between litigants.

Herman said the alleged victims didn't come forward sooner because they were afraid, but have found courage as others have spoken up.

He said they are compliant victims who participated in the sexual acts, but didn't consent because it's illegal for a minor to do so.

"Because they participated in the sex they feel like they're doing something wrong ... they're ashamed, they're embarrassed, not something they really want to talk about," he said.
Herman said he's been contacted by several other possible victims and is vetting their cases.

Credit : Huffington Post

Police Chase U-Haul Truck Into Miami; Yank Driver Through Window

 

The driver of a U-Haul box truck led Miami-Dade Police on a high-speed chase Friday afternoon before he was finally pulled from the vehicle by swarming officers.
CBS Miami reports the pursuit began south of Miami in Cutler Bay around 12:15 p.m. when the U-Haul's driver refused to stop and attempted to run over a police officer. The truck was then seen speeding through traffic along the Don Shula and Palmetto Expressway and residential areas, ignoring traffic signals and at times driving the wrong way down the street.
Aerial footage showed at least a dozen officers finally dragging the suspect from the truck through the window after he stopped at a blockade.
One officer was apparently injured when pinned between the U-Haul and a police cruiser, according to NBC 6.
The driver was taken into custody as heavy police and rescue response converged on the area, which is near Marlins Park and Miami Senior High School, which was put on lockdown.

Chanel's Art Basel Barbecue For Art.sy: Demi Moore, Lenny Kravitz, Martha Stewart

Who'd have thought the French were so good at barbecues? Chanel's beachside bash for Art.sy just might be the frontrunner for party of the week so far at Art Basel Miami Beach.
Not only did the tent back up right to the water behind Soho Beach House, but it was surrounded by bonfires on the beach and stocked with two bars, delicious burgers, a paella station, plenty of chic Chanel, DJ Nick Cohen, and our first Martha Stewart sighting of the week. We love that lady!
But the party, which was hosted by Carter Cleveland, Larry Gagosian, Peter Thiel, Wendi Murdoch and Dasha Zhukova (who both arrived in pink), also boasted our first Demi Moore sighting. The actress is rumored to be dating the much younger Vito Schnabel, the 26-year-old art dealing son of artist Julian Schnabel, who is hosting his own party Thursday night -- and the pair have been much buzzed-about so far around the art fairs.
We only saw Ms. Moore chilling with Lenny Kravitz, but then, there were so many other bold-faced names in view, so much great fashion, and so much art to discuss. Brian Atwood, Will Ferrell, Stephen Dorff, Russell Simmons, Pharrell Williams, Naomi Campbell, KAWS-Brian Donnelly, Daniel Arsham, Peter Brant, Jeremy Piven, Adriana Lima, Damien Hirst, Lorenzo Martone, Mia Moretti, Tony Shafrazi, Anne Pasternak, Vladislav Doronin, Nicole Miller, and more were on hand to celebrate Art Week.
And best of all, a pre-barbecue dinner and auction of work from the likes of Matthew Barney, Jeff Koons, Nate Lowman, and Barry McGee raised over $1 Million to benefit the Dash Snow Initiative for the Henry Street Settlement.