Police: Texting legislation may complicate enforcement (90 days jail, more)

[The Straight Story]

(NJ) Legislation aimed at criminalizing texting and driving repeats existing state law and has some gray areas that may complicate enforcement, police say.

The proposed bill would make texting while driving a misdemeanor punishable by up to 90 days imprisonment and $100, with stiffer penalties for repeat offenders.

It also would relegate a crash involving texting that results in death or injury to the level of vehicular homicide or great bodily harm by vehicle, which are third-degree felonies.

....

Specifying a crash involving texting as a felony through statute is probably the most unique thing about the bill, police say. However, existing law already allows for tickets to texting drivers.

Under the state’s careless driving law, a driver is required to give their “full and entire attention to the operation of the vehicle.”


http://www.cnjonline.com/news/texting-42308-bill-police.html

[GKirk]

1. I would think

it would be a challenge to prove someone was texting prior to an accident.

[truebrit71]

2. My thoughts too...how can you tell if they were texting or checking the callerID on the phone...

...I think that cellphone useage should be limited to hands-free only nationwide, and that if you get caught with a cellphone in your hand whilst the vehicle is moving you get an immediate fine. There are enough distracted/shit/stupid drivers out there as it is, no need to add to the distractions..