New Jersey Bans Texting While Driving
The seeds of driving safety are being planted in the Garden State.
Tomorrow marks Day 1 when talking on a cell phone without a hands-free headset or texting while driving becomes a primary offense in the state of New Jersey. This means police can pull over a driver for the phone-related infraction alone, instead of having to wait for another violation to occur -- such as speeding or driving without a seatbelt -- before doling out a ticket for the talking or texting offense.
This marks an increase in the seriousness with which officials in New Jersey are taking this major source of driving distraction, although plenty of other distractions are in play and allowed by law, like shaving, eating or even reading the newspaper, as a spokesman for AAA points out.
By elevating the infraction to a primary offense, New Jersey lawmakers have made it clear that the primary role of a person behind the wheel should be -- yes -- driving. Fines will range from $100 to $250, although oddly enough no motor-vehicle points will be assessed.
The New Jersey division of highway safety is launching an education campaign to coincide with the newly strengthened ordinance, and electronic signs on the state's highways will warn drivers of the new law and the consequences for drivers who run afoul.
According to a local police official from Southern New Jersey, he expects catching drivers will be an easy task, with so many of them using cell phones in a careless way. "Its going to be like shooting fish in a barrel."
Be advised.
From the Burlington County Times.
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