New Jersey Cell Phone Ban Takes Effect Thursday, July 1st

[ragingfish]

Quote »Cell Phone Ban For NJ Drivers In Effect July 1stJun 27, 2004 9:52 am US/EasternTRENTON, N.J. (AP) New Jersey's ban on cell phone use by drivers goes into full effect Thursday, but police still can't pull somebody over simply for chattering away while going down the road.Motorists talking on hand-held cell phones while behind the wheel could be fined up to $250, but only if they are stopped for another driving infraction. That has some questioning the effectiveness of the new law.State officials said the measure is intended as a starting point for getting drivers to eliminate a potentially deadly distraction."It's a human behavior issue," said Roberto Rodriguez, director of the state Division of Highway Traffic Safety. "We want to analyze driver behavior to see if making it tougher is necessary."He compared the cell phone measure to a state law requiring use of seat belts, which was changed from a secondary offense to a primary offense, and now allows police to stop motorists for not wearing one. That change was made because statistics showed that 2 of every 10 drivers on New Jersey roads still weren't buckling up.New Jersey is the second state to outlaw driver use of hand-held cell phones. It is also prohibited in New York, and police there can stop motorists for talking on the phone even if no other driving infraction took place.When Gov. James E. McGreevey signed the measure into law, he dismissed criticism of it being a secondary offense, or one that requires another driving violation to be enforced. He said it was a necessity on New Jersey's crowded roads.That message of safety is being relayed to local police officers by top state law enforcement officials, according to Mitchell Sklar, executive director of the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police."We've had meetings with the attorney general's office and they're making a big push on it," Sklar said. "It is a priority for the state. It's more an awareness thing than writing up tickets."The message being pushed is that use of cell phones distracts drivers to the point that accidents could occur. At least 25 percent of vehicle crashes on the road are due to some form of driver distraction, according to estimates by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.Cell phone use was eighth on a list of factors contributing to accidents, ranking behind eating, changing radio stations and other driver distractions, according to an AAA study.State legislators considered instituting fines for other types of distractions, but police doubted that those types of infractions could be proved in court.Critics said tickets for using cell phones are likely to be handed out to drivers talking on the phone and exceeding the speed limit, which was the case when not wearing a seat belt was a secondary offense.Steve Carrellas, state coordinator for the National Motorist Association's New Jersey chapter, said the cell phone law will be ineffective."It's really going after the people who use cell phones occasionally and don't present a threat," Carrellas said. "Ideally, what you want to go after are people who are constantly on the phone. Since they can't differentiate, we're stuck with this blanket ban. People are going to end up resenting it because a lot of people use the phone occasionally in the car."(© 2004 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)All I can say is this law is long overdue!!! Even if it's only a secondary offense, it's still something!I'm sick and tired of being almost run off the road by people who are more worried about their conversation that of what's going on around them!

[scherry2]

I agree totally!! driving is a privilage and should be treated as such. there are too manys drivers that think their conversation is more important than driving.I like to cruise right next to them just a little ahead of their blind spot just so they start to see the front of my car, and sit there. they veer toward the center line a bit while on the phone and I'm on the horn. they hang up quick.

[ArcsVibe]

Fantastic! I am a cell phone user but I use a hands free kit. If the call is that important, I pull off the road. I hate people chatting away not paying attention to their driving

[Sputnik]

I wish they'd enact that law here. It drives me nuts. I don't even turn on my cell phone in the car. If someone wants to talk to me that badly then they can leave a message on the voicemail and when I'm done driving I'll get back to them.

[Jahntassa]

I'll admit that I would have some lengthy conversations on the road, rare..but they'd happen.Then again, i've always had a hands-free kit, which, in my opinion, helps take down at least 50% of the distraction, because you don't need to worry about holding the thing to your head!

[mojo_jojo]

It should be law in all fifty states. I'm in New York and have no problems using a hands free head set. Quite frankly, after getting used to talking via the head set I rarely talk on my phone with out it. Even when I'm not driving. Sadly, some people still chose to ignore the law. IMHO that's why there should be mandatory on the spot death sentences for drivers caught doing stupid things.

[greenfire]

In this case, I agree with silverawd. There are many things that people do to cause distractions. So why doesn't the state just make a law that you have to keep both hands on the wheel? If you are talking on your hands free device, and get involved in a conversation, its no different. How about no eating while driving. No smoking while driving, no talking on a two way radio while driving, etc etc. I dont see how the state can make such a law based on the data.

[MadBill]

I agree with Silver and greenfire! The story says cell phone useage was eighth on the list of distractions! Why not ban Mickey D. takeout and rig radios to permit station changes only when parked? (Not to mention figuring out a way to deal with rowdy kids in the back or arguments with your passenger.) Cell phones, like every other advancement of civilization, can be a blessing or a curse, depending on circumstances and such laws are just a simplistic, heavy-handed and oblique way to try to legislate against stupidity.

[rasermon]

I agree with Silver, Greenfire, and MadBill. In 1905, windshield wipers where thought to be hypnotizing to the driver, and just think what a safety device they are. In 1930, they tried to take the radio out of the car because they thought it was disturbing to the peace and distracting.

[scherry2]

when you drive down the road and some soccer mom is on her cell phone, turns and cuts you off and doesn't even realize she has done it because her phone call is more important, or that teenager crosses the centerline because her cell phone is more important than driving and she almosts hits you head on. you will change your mind like i did.

[Sputnik]

I saw an old guy this morning, slowly turning left through the intersection - so slow - and turns into the wrong lane. I looked at him and sure enough, he's got a flip phone pressed to his ear! You're supposed to have two hands on the wheel. With cell phones (not the hands free type) you've always got one hand pressed up against your head, while chattering away. Its a little different than changing the radio station. Most radios have a seek/scan. Press it and you're done! Its not a lengthy operation, like a lot of people's phone conversations.

[scherry2]

Quote, originally posted by silverawd26 » it is common sense when to talk on the phone and not too.True, I just wish more people would use their common sense.

[Roadpig]

Good! I hope they do the same here in VA.