New Jersey already draws ire for not letting drivers pump their own gas. But the state might ban them from having a cup of coffee behind the wheel too.
A bill under consideration in the state Legislature calls to prohibit “any activity unrelated to the actual operation of a motor vehicle in a manner that interferes with the safe operation of the vehicle on a public road or highway.” That means no cup of coffee for those sitting in traffic, no munching on that breakfast burrito, no time to groom. (No, the law does not target coffee verbatim.)
The bill is meant to target distracted driving, which plays a role in thousands of fatal crashes in the state each year. At least 3,179 fatal crashes were attributed to distracted driving in 2014, according to the state’s Division of Highway Traffic Safety website. Distracted driving played a role in nearly 800,000 crashes between 2010 and 2014.
“The issue is that we need to try, in every way, to discourage distracted driving, it’s dangerous,” Assemblyman John Wisniewski, a Democrat in Central Jersey, who sponsored the bill, told The Star-Ledger. “Education and enforcement can change the attitudes of people.”
Wisniewski and two other sponsors, Assemblymen Nicholas Chiaravalloti Patrick Diegnan, said the legislation was modeled after a law in Maine passed in 2009 thatoutlawed distracted driving altogether.
So, the penalty for sneaking a bite of your ham sandwich? Between $200 and $400 for the first offense, $400 to $600 for the second and $600 to $800 for the third, as well as a 90-day license suspension and points on the license.
Wisniewski said he has seen people try to multitask while driving, even reading newspapers behind the wheel, according to News 12 New Jersey. The law, he said, is meant to educate, not punish motorists.
But some drivers aren’t convinced such a broad interpretation of distracted driving is the answer.
https://twitter.com/sleepmonger37/status/762448984879173634
Here's what a logical New Englander thinks about NJ's proposed coffee ban https://t.co/Md4omgTfDM
— Ralph S. Ventre (@NECralph) August 6, 2016
No word yet on whether changing radio stations or talking to someone in the passenger’s seat while driving would be outlawed too.
I KNOW!!!!! SAYS THE STATE……. “LETS CREATE ANOTHER INCOME STREAM!!!!!!!!!!!”………….YEA BABY!!!!!! LETS TERRORIZE THE PISS OUT OF PEOPLE!!!!!!!!!!
Nazi Jersey is the most corrupt state in the union. I honestly can’t wait to leave this forsaken hell hole. Even when the Republic is restored, NJ will need extra cleansing to get all the crap stains off of it.
You’re welcome here in Indiana, Sunfire.
I escaped Nazi Joisey in 1998.
Never felt better than to leave it forever.
Don’t go to Chicago.
Definitely!
Major false flag target, imo.
“But the state might ban them from having a cup of coffee behind the wheel too.”
Meaning that Starbucks would have to close all their drive-through windows?
Heresy!
“The issue is that we need to try, in every way, to discourage distracted driving, it’s dangerous,”
No, the issue is that you scumbag jewb#tches somehow feel you haven’t STOLEN enough mammon from the people yet, so you’re constantly figuring out new ways to steal MORE.
Seriously? This bill will effectively eliminate ALL cops from driving on duty. The author of this bill is a MAROON.