S1099

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 – 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 Senate President Richard J. Codey, D-Essex, which creates a stronger statewide ban on the use of hand-held electronic devices by motorists, passed the full Senate today by a vote of 34 to 0. Bill S-1099 will help crack down on dangerous driving habits by making driving while using a hand-held electronic device, such as a cell phone, a primary offense rather than a secondary offense as it currently stands.

“Cell phones have become a sign of the times in today’s fast-paced world. But there’s a time and a place for everything,” said Sen. Codey. ” Drivers already have enough distractions. Nine times out of ten, if someone cuts me off on the road, they are usually on their cell phone, not paying careful attention to the road. 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 – 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.”