New Jersey cops crack down on chatty drivers

Fri Feb 29, 2008 3:00AM EST

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We all know about those pesky cell-phone laws states are putting out to scare drivers into using hands-free devices while behind the wheel. If you live in New Jersey, you better start taking those laws seriously unless you want to pay a hefty fine.

Philly.com is reporting that law enforcement officers in New Jersey will be able to fine drivers for talking or texting on their cell phone while driving. New Jersey adopted its hands-free law in July 2004 as a secondary offense, which meant the police couldn't pull you over for talking on the phone alone. But starting this Saturday, March 1, the law becomes a primary offense, and chatty drivers will be subjected to huge fines for not using a hands-free device.

These fines will range from $100-$250, although the state's Division of Highway Traffic Safety says no points will be assessed.

Guess it's time you start looking at inexpensive headsets folks. If you need a headset, and would like to get one free (and who doesn't), check out FreeHeadsets.org.

This organization has been promoting safe driving since 2003 by distributing free cell phone headsets. All you have to do is pay the shipping charge, which is about $4. I wrote about these guys last year, so you can get more information about FreeHeadsets.org here.

I'd love to hear what you think about this new law.

 

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  • 6 Posted by osupoolfanatic on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:47PM EDT Report Abuse

    If you cant drive with one hand and still be able to focus on the road, you probably shouldn't be driving anyway. It isn't any different to drive while talking to a friend in your car than talking on your phone. I have never had a problem talking to someone on a cell phone and being able to drive. As long as you aren't having a tough time seeing where you are going, then talking isn't going to hurt anyone. If it does, then you probably need a refresher on handling your car.

  • 7 Posted by superman_0414 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:48PM EDT Report Abuse

    Talking on the cell phone should be illegal in every state even talking hands free with both hands on the wheel because your busy talking on the phone and thinking what to say and not in front and around of you. I think losing your phone use and heavy fines.

  • 8 Posted by mccoy.helene on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:13PM EDT Report Abuse

    I am all for it. It should be like this in all States I almost got wiped out the other day by someone on there cell phone it shook me up so I had to pull over and they just kept on going down the road she did not even notice what was going on. I use a cell phone all day in my office but not on the road. Ladies putting make up on and such give it a break I am a woman but please be careful alot of folks have ended up in the E.R. due to doing other things rather than paying attetion whats going on the road.

  • 9 Posted by annala6425 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 2:55PM EDT Report Abuse

    I think it should be a three strikes law.....3 tickets for being on the phone or texting while you drive and you lose your license.

  • 10 Posted by ynevettjohnson on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:56PM EDT Report Abuse

    I have a bluetooth and even with that I am not really able to concentrate on the road. I think it's just safer for everyone if we pull over for emergency chat. Once ga----- s $4 a gallon, I think we'll all be walking anyway.

  • 11 Posted by zeno333 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 11:00PM EDT Report Abuse

    What eisosdesign said is very true....just talking on the phone even with a hands-fre device is very distracting.... In other words it's a stupid law that only half-way addresses the safety issue in question...

  • 12 Posted by partygirl_rox on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:59PM EDT Report Abuse

    I think it is stupid that they are passing laws telling people that they can't talk on the phone. Like any body is going to follow it! IT'S A FREE COUNTRY! If somebody wrecks because they were talking on the phone...they probably arent that good of a driver and doesnt need to be driving, its their own fault...as for the rest of you peeps who can talk, text, and drive at the same time...good for you, dont let the man bring you down.

  • 13 Posted by mopar4482000 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:26PM EDT Report Abuse

    i agree most drivers cant handle a car by itself. give them a cell phone or a big mac or doing their makeup, whatever and they are worse. but there are people out there who can drive while talking or eating or whatever. i will talk on my cell phone when i want because i know the important thing is the road not my phone. i know the laws of the road and the onlky one i think i break is the speed limit

  • 14 Posted by formula5802003 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:01PM EDT Report Abuse

    It's about time somebody started prosecuting these people. I have a long commute and see it every day, people driving 70+ mph in heavy traffic while yakking on their cell phone. They're easy to spot, always the clueless one drifting in their lane or driving 15 mph too slow in the left lane, while dozens of vehicles stack up behind them. Inconsiderate, stupid, and dangerous.

  • 15 Posted by sg4w on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:14PM EDT Report Abuse

    I suppose you find laws against drunk driving "pesky" as well.

  • 16 Posted by armacias2 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 2:57PM EDT Report Abuse

    How many times have you been in congested traffic when you pass a few people and realize that it is open freeway after them. From what I have seen, people talking on cell phones and doing 50 in the fast lane contribute a lot to traffic problems in Los Angeles. If people are not willing to give up their cell phones while talking, I think they should levy an infrastructure tax on cell phone bills to alleviate future taxes that the rest of society is going to pay for new carpool lanes. (Of course the government won't increase the capacity of our freeways for us regular drivers)

  • 17 Posted by hanovi on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:16PM EDT Report Abuse

    Here's to sensible laws! I have used a hand-held phone while driving, and I know that my attention was dangerously divided. I'd like to see this be the law in all 50 states. Here in Britain, where I live temporarily, it's illegal to use a hand-held phone while driving. No one multi-tasks well enough to drive while using a standard mobile phone.

  • 18 Posted by thomasrhn on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:08PM EDT Report Abuse

    This should be a law in every state.I am a commercial driver who drives semis.I have been cut off so much by people on cell phones.They don%%

  • 19 Posted by johngineer on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:39PM EDT Report Abuse

    I'd love to learn how to get a job writing a column like this one. You basically summarize from a couple online sources, and then solicit input from readers. Google does most of the work. How do get started in a racket (i mean, career) like this?

  • 20 Posted by mays_23 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:12PM EDT Report Abuse

    Completely in favor of this law!

  • 21 Posted by sralgodon on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:37PM EDT Report Abuse

    Thank God!! I drive, ride my bike or take public transportation to work and 90% of the time I see someone do something dangerous or thoughtless they are on a cell phone. Driving too slowly while straddling the white line? Cell phone. Not stopping at a light? Cell phone. Running into the stopped bus? Cell phone. Making a right from the left lane? Cell phone. And the bigger the car, the worse the consequences. I cannot believe it took so long. They can pass a seat belt law and a helmet law under the hypothesis that it is better for our overall healthcare costs, but in reality no one but the offender is hurt when those laws are broken. I cannot believe it took so long to get this law passed given that other people's lives are at risk due to negligent drivers. And the fine should be more than $100. And you should get a point on your record.

  • 22 Posted by jiveass321 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:35PM EDT Report Abuse

    Absolutely ridiculous! Cell phones are no more distracting than cd players, scanning radio stations, eating, or dealing with your screaming kids in the back seat. Headsets may help but so would tranquilizers for the kids or banning music and food in your car. You can't legislate every aspect of safety and we are getting a little too comfortable with the government chipping away at our civil liberties so that things like this seem reasonable. Even if this were a nationwide law people are still going to find some way to get killed in a cars. Hmmmmm, maybe we should look into outlawing the automobile!

  • 23 Posted by greghenson49 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:12PM EDT Report Abuse

    If you have to talk on your cell phone while driving be courteous and pull over. New Jersey has it right and I can't for Colorado to enact the same law. If I am behind a person driving slow and they are holding up traffic it usually someone talking on their cell phone. Give it folks.

  • 24 Posted by mpatmack on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:27PM EDT Report Abuse

    It,s all about the benjamins and more government control.

  • 25 Posted by blue41chevy on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:09PM EDT Report Abuse

    well first of all i drive 7 to 8 times as far a year as the average person. I'm in the transportation industry. some things in life are multi tasking. driving is not one of them. don't care how good u are. to prove my point. i would like to ride behind u and record your driving on a camcorder and show it to u. don't care if u have a hand held device or not. u may not have been in a wreck. but how many have u caused and not even realized it. grow up America and think of someone besides yourself. hang up and drive or get of the road.

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