Lawmakers Work to Sharpen the Teeth of Anti-Texting Law

New Jersey lawmakers are pointing to proposed legislation moving through the U.S. Senate as proof that the public is fed up with accidents caused by people distracted by their cell phones while driving.
New Jersey already has some of the strictest laws in the nation regarding cell phone use behind the wheel. A new piece of legislation is designed to address the increased use of text messaging services among drivers.

If the U.S. Senate’s ALERT Driving Act is signed into law, states will be required to amend their existing driving laws to prohibit texting while driving a vehicle, or face losing up to a quarter of their federal highway funding. The Senate bill was submitted by Democratic Senator Charles Schumer of New York and has drawn co-sponsorship by Democrats Robert Menendez of New Jersey, Mary Landriue of Louisiana and Kay Hagan of North Carolina. Fourteen states currently have laws on the books prohibiting cell phone use while driving, and it is unclear how many others would act quickly to pass new laws or amend their current statutes to match the federal requirements.

Statistics bear out the dangers of cell phone use while driving. In 2008, more than 20% of traffic fatalities of teens between 16 and 19 years old occurred while the driver was texting or talking on a cell phone. More than 50% of teenagers admit to texting while driving and a large percentage say it is their number one distraction.

Under provisions of the current New Jersey law, passed by the legislature in 2004, drivers face a 100-dollar fine if caught using a hand-held cell phone while operating a motor vehicle in motion. The law currently states that only hands-free devices are permitted. Recent studies show, however, that a hands-free cell phone does not significantly reduce the amount of distraction that can lead to an accident.