Washington Injury Law Blog

A U.S. Supreme Court decision this week has ended decades of campaign finance law.  The court ruled that corporations may spent as much money as they want on federal political elections.  Although, they can’t donate directly to candidates they can run their own ads against or for any candidate.  Let the flood begin!

The conservative block of the court in 5-4 ruling said that corporations have the same free speech rights as individuals.  President Obama called the ruling “a major victory for big oil, Wall Street banks, health-insurance companies and other powerful interests that marshal their power every day in Washington to drown out the voices of everyday Americans.”  The ruling is being viewed as a big win for Republicans and big money corporations.  Money will pour into presidential now from large companies.  Every commercial on TV during a federal election is probably going to be a political ad.  I’m going to love my DVR so much during the next Presidential election.

We can expect companies to endorse certain candidates based upon support for certain issues important to company profits.  While opponents may feel a chilling effect against taking a strong stand on an issue, like National Park oil drilling.  The candidate can expect a flood of TV ads against him/her from the oil companies. 

Here in Washington state we won’t see much change in state elections.  Washington already does not have any limits on how much corporations can spend to support Washington state candidates.  Companies cannot give money directly to a candidate but can run independent ads of their own in support or opposition of a particular political candidate.  

What I see here is a continuation of the U.S. Supreme Court’s shift towards more conservative rulings.  The additions of Justices Roberts and Justice Alito are swinging the court from a more liberal trend to a more conservative trend.  This has happened throughout the history of the court.  The pendulum swings back and forth from liberal to conservative and back again.  In my opinion we will continue to see decisions in favor of corporations at the expensive of individuals for many years to come. 

Max Meyers, Esq.

Washington state law requires you to use a hands free device with your cellphone when driving and prohibits texting while driving.  The problem with these laws has been that a violation was classified as a secondary offense.  Secondary offense means that a policeman can only pull you over if you commit some other traffic infraction that is a primary offense, like speeding and improper lane change.

Washington State Sen. Tracey Eide of Federal Way has proposed changing the cellphone and texting laws to make violations a primary offense.  That means you could be pulled over when that cellphone is to your ear or even in your hand.  The basic fine would be $124, but that would increase if you caused a car accident that injures someone. 

Sen. Eide has a friend who was t-boned and injured in a car accident with a teenage driver who was talking on a cellphone.  Research has shown that driving while talking on a cell makes you as likely to cause a car accident as someone who is driving drunk with a BAC of 0.08 and 23 times more likely to crash if you’re texting. 

My reaction to this is FINALLY!!  The cellphone and texting laws as they currently stand are a joke.  Nobody obeys them because there’s no real threat of being stopped by the police.  I still encounter idiots on cell phones every day I drive on Washington roadways, and I’ll admit at times I’m one of those idiots.  Why, because I have no fear of a traffic ticket, which could raise my car insurance rates and cost me some cash.  

I hope the proposed law passes.  All you have to do is look at the seat-belt law history to see this change will force people to change their behavior.  Washington currently has the second highest seat-belt usage rate in the country at 96.5%.  That wasn’t the case when the seat-belt law violation was a secondary offense.  The seat-belt law was changed to make failing to click it an automatic ticket.  Now look at us, dedicated seat-belt users.      

Drive safe,

Max Meyers, Esq.

Seattle’s Aurora Avenue apparently has a new pest trolling the streets.  The economy is bad, but I had no idea things had gone this far!