British MP Sentenced For Driving Dangerously; Was Texting at the Time

A British Member of Parliament has received a three month prison sentence for “texting” while driving; he was driving dangerously as well at the time and hit another car on December 25, 2007; the driver was killed. The MP, Lord Ahmed of Rotherham, admitted he was sending and receiving text messages while operating his vehicle. His attorneys pled for leniency, noting that he stopped and tried to give the other driver aid at the scene. The judge who sentenced him said that the texting had no effect on the dangerous driving, and the solicitor involved in the case made the point to the media that “he thought his client had been used as a “scapegoat” by those attempting to drive home the message about not using a mobile phone while at the wheel.” He said he would appeal. Read more here in a BBC story.