State Sen. Richard Codey wants $100 fine for first offense, $250 for second, $500 for third
Red Bank police sergeant Errico Vescio stops a motorist on Route 35 who was talking on a cell phone.TRENTON — State Sen. Richard Codey says New Jersey needs to enact the nation’s strictest penalties to turn drivers’ attention away from their cell phones and onto the road.
"When you look at the stats, it’s mind boggling, especially among young people," said Codey (D-Essex). "We’ve all witnessed people driving erratically and you get to a light and see them in an animated conversation on their cell phone or texting."
Codey has introduced a bill that would suspend drivers’ licenses for 60 days after their third offense for talking or texting on hand-held cell phones while driving. The bill would fine drivers $100 for the first offense, $250 for the second and $500 for the third.
Under the current ban, drivers get $100 fines each time they’re caught talking on a hand-held device.
"It’s not enough as a deterrent ... This is going to become more dangerous than drunk drivers," said Codey.
Since 2002, 10,878 crashes have involved hand-held cell phone use, 31 of them fatal, according to the state Division of Highway Traffic Safety.
New Jersey first banned driving while using a hand-held device in 2004, but police did not have the authority to pull drivers over for that reason alone until 2008. Since then, they’ve issued more than 275,000 citations, said Pam Fischer, director of the state Division of Highway Traffic Safety. Fischer said most New Jersey drivers are aware that using a hand-held phone is illegal, but getting them to obey the law is akin to past battles against drunken driving and getting drivers to wear seat belts.
"We’re dealing with a situation where the public has not fully recognized how dangerous this is," she said. "We’re running and running and running to try to get this message out ... that when you’re on a cell phone, texting or even hands-free, you’re distracted."
The state does not ban driving while talking on a hands-free device, though many crashes have involved them. In 2008, 1,821 crashes involved hand-held devices, while another 1,383 involved hands-free. Codey said he expects technology to tackle that problem, disabling hands-free devices unless a car is stopped.
Codey’s bill does not have the support of Steve Carrellas, the New Jersey representative of the National Motorists Association, who said existing laws on the books for careless and reckless driving are enough. Carrellas said adding penalties to the current ban only shows it’s not working.
"I have to thank Senator Codey for helping us start the repeal of the current ban," he said. "Obviously we’re not getting compliance with the law, so now we’re going to jack up the penalties. It wasn’t going to be complied with. It never should have been banned."
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