The state of New Jersey is considering a law that would make it illegal to send messages or make voice calls when drivers are stopped at a light, sign, or in traffic.
The bill, proposed by State Sen. Richard Codey, aims to get New Jersey’s laws in line with federal guidelines on distracted driving. It is already illegal to send text messages from behind the wheel in the Garden State. New Jersey’s lawmakers contend that cell phone use poses a hazard even when the car is stopped temporarily because they divert driver attention from the driving conditions at hand. NJ recently voted in favor of increasing the fines for texting offenses from $100 to between $200 and $400, depending on the circumstances involved.
It’s not clear when NJ might vote on this latest bill.
