Codey Bill Banning Use Of Cell Phones & Other Devices By Motorists Passes Full Senate

TRENTON — With Governor Corzine’s signature making it official today, New Jersey sent a clear message to drivers that distractions will not be tolerated by implementing a sweeping ban on the use of hand-held electronic devices while driving. Bill S1099, sponsored by Senate President Richard J. Codey, will not only ban the use of hand held devices such as cell phones and blackberries, it will also expressly prohibit text messaging while driving.

“The roadways in New Jersey will hopefully be a lot safer soon,” said Sen. Codey (D-Essex). “It’s impossible to keep your eyes on the road and check your blind spots when you’ve got a cell phone glued to your ear. Sometimes it’s absolutely frightening to see people text messaging while they’re driving. It’s like an accident waiting to happen. Hopefully this new law will remind people that a cell phone is not a license to be careless.”

TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senator Barbara Buono which would allow municipalities with nonpartisan forms of government the option to hold their May elections on the same day as the general election in November in order to save tax dollars and increase voter participation was approved by the Assembly today by a vote of 49-25, with 2 abstentions, receiving final legislative approval.

“New Jersey voters are inundated every year with election after election – usually multiple times within a single calendar year – to the point where the average voter cannot focus on the important issues from one campaign to the next,” said Senator Buono, D-Middlesex. “We need to do a better job energizing voters and addressing voter apathy in the Garden State, and we need to give municipalities the option to consolidate election dates and save some much-needed tax dollars. This bill accomplishes both goals, and will result in a more streamlined election process and a more engaged electorate.”

TRENTON – Senate President Richard J. Codey, D-Essex, today applauded the Assembly Law and Public Safety Committee for approving his bill (S1099) to crack down on the use of hand-held electronic devices by motorists, signaling a victory for driver safety.

“When people are driving while on their cell phones they have a harder time checking their blind spots, usually don’t use their blinkers and are generally less aware of what’s going on around them. A cell phone is not a license to be careless,” said Sen. Codey. “We survived for nearly a century driving without cell phones, there’s no reason why all of the sudden they should be imperative. If the phone call is that important, people should make it a point to use a wireless device to free up their hands and minimize distractions.”

TRENTON – Senate President Richard J. Codey is continuing his push in the new legislative session for a stronger statewide ban on the use of hand-held electronic devices by motorists in an effort to crack down on dangerous driving habits. Bill S-1099, which Sen. Codey re-introduced two weeks ago, was passed out of the Senate Law, Public Safety and Veteran’s Affairs Committee by a vote of 3 to 0 today. The committee agreed to one amendment – rather than going into effect immediately, the ban would go into effect on the first day of the fourth month after the law is signed in order to allow more time for public education.

“Cell phones have become a sign of the times in today’s fast-paced world. To most of us they represent convenience,” said Sen. Codey. “But there’s a time and a place for everything. Drivers already have enough distractions. When you’re driving down the Turnpike at 65 mph, adding a cell phone to the mix is not only inappropriate, it’s downright dangerous.”

TRENTON – The New Jersey Legislature today sent a clear message to drivers that distractions will not be tolerated by passing a sweeping ban on the use of hand-held electronic devices while driving. Bill S1099, sponsored by Senate President Richard J. Codey, not only would ban the use of hand held devices such as cell phones and blackberries, it would also expressly prohibit text messaging while driving.

“When people are driving while using their cell phones they have a harder time checking their blind spots, usually don’t use their blinkers and are generally less aware of what’s going on around them. A cell phone is not a license to be careless,” said Sen. Codey. “We survived for nearly a century driving without cell phones, there’s no reason why all of the sudden they should be imperative. If the phone call is that important, people should make it a point to use a wireless device to free up their hands and minimize distractions.”

TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senator Barbara Buono which would allow municipalities with nonpartisan forms of government the option to hold their May elections on the same day as the general election in November in order to save tax dollars and increase voter participation was approved by a vote of 38-0 by the New Jersey Senate yesterday.

“New Jersey has so many individual elections in a given year that it’s hard for voters to be fully engaged in the process,” said Senator Buono, D-Middlesex. “But every year, without fail, State, county and municipal election officials oversee voting for school boards, fire districts, primaries, Presidential primaries, nonpartisan races, runoffs and the November General election, spending millions of dollars in taxpayer funds for an increasingly disengaged electorate. We need to consolidate elections in order to reduce voter fatigue, connect with the public, and reduce the cost of our nearly perpetual election cycle in the Garden State.”

TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senator Barbara Buono and Assemblymen Patrick J. Diegnan, Jr., and Peter J. Barnes III which will allow municipalities with nonpartisan forms of government the option to hold their May elections on the same day as the general election in November in order to save tax dollars and increase voter participation was signed into law yesterday by Acting Governor Steve Sweeney.

“New Jersey’s near-constant campaign cycle has definitely created a level of voter fatigue in the Garden State,” said Senator Buono, (D-Metuchen). “As a result of having to go to the polls usually multiple times in any given year, many voters become detached from the process and simply can’t differentiate the issues from one election cycle to the next. Through this new law, we will be able to energize an apathetic electorate, and allow municipalities to save tax dollars that would otherwise be spent on a separate election day.”