The Assembly Law and Public Safety Committee will meet tomorrow to consider legislation to establish violations of the state’s hands-free cell phone law as reckless under vehicular homicide and assault by auto statutes. The Bill, sponsored by Annette Quijano (D-Union) and Albert Coutinho (D-Essex), would make it easier for drivers distracted by their cell phones to face prison after a deadly accident and be charged like driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol. That means, a driver who kills someone while talking or texting could be charged with vehicular homicide, or a driver who seriously injures someone might face an assault by auto charge or vehicular homicide.

The bill was created after a NJ woman was crossing the street and killed by a driver using their cell phone, which was proven by the company’s phone records. The driver was let off with just traffic violations and a day in jail. TLS.