New Jersey police issued 224,725 citations for violations of the state’s cell phone law in the last 23 months, officials announced today. “We are making progress in our efforts to ensure that all motorists are aware of the consequences they face if they choose to talk on a cell phone or text while driving,” Division of Highway Traffic Safety Director Pam Fischer said in a statement. “Any cell phone conversation while driving, whether handheld or hands-free, is distracting and dangerous, and can result in crashes, injuries, and in some cases the loss of life.”
In the last two years, there have been 3,610 crashes involving drivers using a handheld phone, resulting in 13 deaths, officials said.
New Jersey has banned drivers from texting or talking on handheld cell phones since March 2008. Star Ledger
While not arguing that talking on cell phone while driving May be dangerous- the crackdown is nothing more than a cash grab by municipalities and townships that are short of $$$
Having been struck in the rear by a young female who was text messaging, I totally support the crackdown. It is difficult enough to drive safely in this area. Having drivers with no clue as to what is going on around them is very dangerous. Let the towns collect as much as they want from drivers who are violating the law.
To #1, that violation is a state violation and the state gets most of the money from that ticket. The townships and municipalities get their money from township ordinance violations……just an FYI…..
Talking on a hands-free is still legal regardless of what the safety director says, the problem with his thinking is that talking in the car and music will soon be illegal. Also, a very important one – eating. A lot of people in Lakewood drive as if they are in their own world, they stop to let people cross without notice to the cars behind them, pick up hitchers while blocking the street, park on sides where you can not park, it’s not that people are rude, they just live in their own planet, not aware of the consequences of their actions. The laws job is to protect us and not use us as cash cows, their should be more safe driving classes and more awareness.
why is hand’s free different than talking to another passenger? Maybe thinking should also be illegal, because being lost in one’s thoughts is also distracting.
A CELL PHONE TICKET IS ABOUT $100.00 OR MORE SO IF THE STATE GAVE 224,725 TICKETS MULTIPLY THAT BY $100.00 YOU GET $22,472,500.00 AND YOU MEAN TO TELL ME TAXES IN THIS STATE NEED TO BE RAISED. SOMEONE PLEASE TELL ME WHERE THE MONEY GOES TO.
That’s roughly 32.5K per day during those 23 months for the whole state. Well, first you have to cover the expenses of the police ticketing, and then collecting the funds. So only a fraction is left for the state tax fund.
#6 your question is not a question.
To $22 MILLION: The money goes to pay for your WIC, JerseyCare, etc.,etc., benefits.
these numbers would be double if cops got tickets too for talking on cell phones when driving.
out of the 557 municipalities in NJ over a span of 23 months would equal to 1/2 a ticket per day, so ppl are getting away with it more than you think.
tickets muni days total
224,725 / 567 / 700 = 0.566
To #7 It is not illegal for law enforcement to use their cell phone while driving as long as it is work related……….Know the law before you run your mouth!!!!!!!!
#11 I’m sorry there is no such a law ,most cops are texting and yalking on the phones they look pretty giddy when doing so its not work related at all.
They should be mandated to use a headset anyways.
Spoken like a true cop….hubris and all.
ITS PROBABLY BETTER OFF TO TAKE THE CELL PHONE TICKET INSTEAD OF GETTING ONE FOR WHAT YOU ARE PULLED OVER FOR.. IE, BLOWING STOP SIGNS, SPEEDING ECT..