New Jersey cops crack down on chatty drivers

Fri Feb 29, 2008 3:00AM EST

See Comments (108)

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.

 

Top 5 Posts

Comments on New Jersey cops crack down on chatty drivers

Post a Comment

Join in the discussion. Here you'll see the comments in the order they were posted.

  • 66 Posted by rchoskinsr on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:31PM EDT Report Abuse

    Hey ftmontera, How about they just kill um, that's what they do in texas huh...grin just kidding I echo the same feeling I and I'm sure many others would support a national law restricting cell phone usage in Auto's and Trucks, to hands free cell phone devices only.

  • 67 Posted by mikemeehan@att.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:20PM EDT Report Abuse

    I wish they'd start doing it here where I live! I'm sick and tired of it! I just saw a girl yesterday who couldn't keep the car in her lane because she was busy texting and smoking a cigarette! I think she was holding the steering wheel with her knees! It's ridiculous!

  • 68 Posted by tmsb07 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:14PM EDT Report Abuse

    Anyone doing anything that has nothing to do with driving while operating a vehicle is guilty of negligence and total disregard for the safety of others. Talking on the phone, texting, reading, primping, eating, drinking, etc. all should command heavy fines in the thousands for the first two offenses and registration/license revocation for the third offense. Don't think this is fair? Visit a hospital, cemetary or home of a disabled accident victim.

  • 69 Posted by philm1026 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:10PM EDT Report Abuse

    Good for NJ, However enforcing it is another thing. I live in upstate NY and on my drive to work I am always passed by drivers doing 75-80mph chatting on their cell phones. Then there are the local and state police driving down the road using cell phones. How can you enforce a law when the enforcers are breaking it? Saftey on our highways is paramount it's a good law everone needs to follow it.

  • 70 Posted by axleunlimited on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:00PM EDT Report Abuse

    I know 3 people walking who've been hit by cars from drivers in 2007! 2 fatally. All drivers recklessly were talking on cell phones. I can't imagine how many more accidents are caused by cell phone use and not reported. I hope they ban phones in cars altogether. they are just as dangerous as drunk drivers statistics report, hands free or hands on. We are the only country besides sweden and mexico [minus mexico city] that still uses cell phones in cars. We are so self indulged and narcissistic, we forget we used to do just fine without them.

  • 71 Posted by annajorgy@sbcglobal.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 2:55PM EDT Report Abuse

    How about this, why don't we put GPS systems in all new cell phones and when the phones are moving faster than a normal walking or running pace, say 8 mph, they won't work? Of course there are people that could disable this function, but I think that there are plenty of people out there that couldn't. I'm for it, all though the cost of cell phones would probably go up drastically. Of course, you would have to let someone dial 911 whether or not they were moving that fast, because you would want to be able to call in case of emergency and sometimes, you are in a moving vehicle when that happens.

  • 72 Posted by dalsande27 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:34PM EDT Report Abuse

    As I grow older I find myself leaving more space between me and the driver ahead. I don't know if this is an increasing nervousness on the road or a heightened awareness of the dangers of driving, but I'm sure that part of it is due to those drivers talking on their phone. I think it should be a strong legal offence to do so. Therefore, I think more states should get on the bandwagon.

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

    Just talking on a cell phone while driving should also be outlawed. Whats amazing is they are now just discovering it's to distracting to talk on a cell phone while driving,I knew this 15 years ago ! I'm hoping Every state bans talking on a cell phone while driving ! Guy

  • 74 Posted by kal89k70 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:46PM EDT Report Abuse

    I hate phones anyway, especially cell phones. I agree with other posters - wait to get home to make your call or use call notes or some kind of recording or answering machine.

  • 75 Posted by toopurfect12 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:17PM EDT Report Abuse

    as a jersey girl born and raised, i think this law is fantastic. i definitely agree with everyone here that cell phone drivers are major traffic causers. and i agree with a few of you who say that driving above the speed limit is not always dangerous....especially on some of jersey's major roads like 295, turnpike, and parkway which are straight and not congested. what IS dangerous is when you are driving along at a good speed and some jerk decides to go 10mph below the speed limit because they are on the cellphone and to stupid to see that they are causing traffic. i just DONT get that! cheers to my home state.

  • 76 Posted by belindalbright on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:04PM EDT Report Abuse

    I am a limo driver from PA and am in NJ regularly. I think it is a great idea and wish PA would follow suit. I am appalled at the amount of people who I see driving and texting. Wake up people, you aren't on the road alone. You put all those around you at risk. Not to mention all the people who are almost lying down and talking, driving under the speed limit and swerving from lane to lane. And I am sure all you offenders are the ones complaining about road rage-you cause the rage.

  • 77 Posted by saabmann111 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:59PM EDT Report Abuse

    Talking on a cell phone and driving should be outlawed period. To alpyne2 Why should people have to just cope with it? You're the type that would sue the crap out of someone if they hit while talking on a cell phone. What if it were your son or daughter killed by someone on a cell phone. It happens every day. The bottom line is this. Driving and talking on a cell phone is same as getting behind the wheel drunk. I lived In Jersey I know how stupid the drivers are. No respect for anyone but themselves. Good for Jersey for making it a law. Wish all the other states would follow and outlaw cell phone use entirely. It kills thousands of people every day. AND YES A FRIEND OF MINE WAS KILLED BY SOME JACK*** ON A CELL PHONE.

  • 78 Posted by larajean on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:56PM EDT Report Abuse

    If you can't drive, you can't drive, cell phone or not. I live in NJ and I wish the cops would get the bad drivers off of the road. The cops are never around when people are running lights, cutting people off or weaving in and out of traffic. I wish the focus was on that, rather than just the cell phones. If someone hit you while talking on the phone they'd probably still hit you if they weren't on the phone. Everyone shouldn't be driving.

  • 79 Posted by momtochaseandhunter on Wed Mar 12, 2008 11:37PM EDT Report Abuse

    I think it's a much needed law. I've witnessed so many people blow through red lights, swerve into my lane and not use turn signals - all while talking on a cell phone. Whether the hands free device is the solution to the problem - we have yet to see - but what I do know is that people - in general - cannot multitask!

  • 80 Posted by bozark28 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:12PM EDT Report Abuse

    THANK YOU POST # 70!!! Maybe we should first start ticketing people that drive slow in the fast lane!!! Are these people stupid or just ignorant? Also, I basically learned how to drive while on the cell phone. (10 years & no accidents due to phone usage) I think it is the OLDER people that have been driving for years without cell phones & are trying to pick up something new. Maybe you really can't teach old dogs new tricks. NOW... I know this probably sounds sexist & racist but in all my experiences.. African American Females (especially while on the phone)have to be the utmost worst drivers in the world. 1 more thing... those who say you shouldn't even talk on a wireless headset while driving... Does that mean you shouldn't have a conversation with the person sitting next to you either?

  • 81 Posted by murriela1 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:30PM EDT Report Abuse

    post 97 makes a good point... people are jusy gona keep texting anyway while driving.. its easy hiding a phone from the view of cops.. there is also a huge need for more money.. but I also believe that being on the phone is dangerous.. bottom line -- doing anything at all while driving is dangerous - its true, driving is truly a risk in itself, theres no way to really be truly safe - you can only minimize the dangers somehow by cracking down on people using cell phones- I still believe that people will still keep using their cell phones anyway regardless of this law

  • 82 Posted by newdelhi_4 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:36PM EDT Report Abuse

    If you are just talking what is the difference between hands free and talking to someone in the car?

  • 83 Posted by rondehugger@sbcglobal.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:49PM EDT Report Abuse

    Yep, should be the Law Of The Land. That $100-$250 fine might be alright for first offenders. Second offenders should have a double fine and their driving privileges and vehicle taken away for two weeks. Third offenders should be hanged. Bet there wouldn't be many third offenders, aye?

  • 84 Posted by rondehugger@sbcglobal.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:49PM EDT Report Abuse

    Yes, but at the end of the day, when all is said and done, there's always that one nagging question---Was it really the Martians?

  • 85 Posted by johnfontana2003 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:39PM EDT Report Abuse

    FINALLY! In my area this is a huge problem. You can barely drive a mile without nearly getting into an accident with one of these morons. It's about time.

Post a Comment

Sign In to Post a Comment

My Tech

Please enable your browser's cookies to activate the My Tech column.

Also on Yahoo! Tech

Computers Home Office Wi-Fi & Networking Phones & PDAs Cameras & Camcorders TV & Home Theater Portable Audio
 

Site Map | Tour | Subscribe to Yahoo! Tech

Question and Answer content at Yahoo! Tech is written by Yahoo! users at Yahoo! Answers. Yahoo! does not evaluate or guarantee the accuracy of any Yahoo! Answers content. For more information, read the Full Disclaimer.

Opinions expressed by the Advisors are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Yahoo! Inc. Yahoo! receives no compensation from any manufacturer or distributor nor does it compensate any Advisor for the coverage of any product or service in any Advisor's content.