Cell phone use while driving in NJ may soon be a primary offense

[nick burns]

From The Press of Atlantic City:

Drivers using cells beware: Police may soon be on lookout

From Press staff reports
Published: Friday, December 9, 2005
Updated: Friday, December 9, 2005

The Assembly Transportation Committee approved legislation Thursday that makes driving while talking on a hand-held cell phone a primary offense.

That means law-enforcement officers could stop a driver solely for the offense of talking on the cell phone.

The bill already passed a state Senate committee and awaits further approval in both houses.

http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/news/newjersey/nj_politics/story/5754559p-5771663c.html

[phillydcbiker]

Good.

[oboeguy]

Nothing will happen. We have that ban in NYC and drivers are on the phone all the time.

[spandexwarrior]

This is Jersey, though. The cops there used to be pretty predatory in enforcing traffic laws - well, at least along the Garden State Parkway.

[John E]

Good. Agreed.

[PhillyCx]

This is Jersey, though. The cops there used to be pretty predatory in enforcing traffic laws - well, at least along the Garden State Parkway.

Not true... The staties in Jersey just care when they know it is an easy ticket for them. Also the easiest way to get out of said ticket is to be wearing a uniform from local EMS provider. Dont know how many times I have been coming home from working a shift with Atlantic City EMS and gotten pulled for flying down the AC expressway and have the cop come up and say "Oh, you're an EMT, have a nice day." Those guys dont care.

[Blue Order]

Nothing will happen. We have that ban in NYC and drivers are on the phone all the time.My best friend got pulled over upstate (Woodstock) for talking on her cell. The $100 fine stopped her cold, and it was habitual with her. She warned her husband to stop, and he didn't listen to her, so when he got pulled over for the same offense, he got the citation, and now they've both stopped.

[Jerseysbest]

This is Jersey, though. The cops there used to be pretty predatory in enforcing traffic laws - well, at least along the Garden State Parkway.

Lowest I know of anyone getting pulled over in a 65 on the GSP is 80, and that was in a red camaro driving like a retard when he was 17. I drive it up to 7 days a week during the summer... Only people who get pulled over are driving like *******s or going way above 85.

But thats because its not all about revenue like it is with the local cops in some towns.

[Az B]

Actually, all the rules are already in place. They simply need to be enforced.

A little driver education would also go a long way.

But it'll never happen. Americans are far too lazy and far too easily manipulated to care that over 40,000 die a year on our highways. Now if they were soldiers, there would be all kinds of protests, impeachments, etc...

Az

[jakub.ner]

Not true... "Oh, you're an EMT, have a nice day." Those guys dont care.

The cop probably identifies with you and figures you know what you're doing behind the wheel, had training, and are responsible.. no biggie. As long as he doesn't let fools off, I'm all for cops cutting slack.. even if you were handling a cell phone, aren't you already trained in handling the radio while barreling down the street in a large van?