MORRISTOWN, N.J. — Texting, we have all come to admit, is
the enemy of road safety everywhere. Applying makeup behind the wheel: more or
less universally frowned upon. Few will condone driving while reading a book or
eating anything that involves utensils.
In New Jersey things are slightly more complicated.
State
Assemblyman John Wisniewski, the chairman of the Transportation and Independent
Authorities Committee reintroduced a three-year-old bill that will impose
fines of up to $800 on drivers caught engaging in distracting behavior behind
the wheel.
Mr. Wisniewski’s bill does not ban drinking coffee,
eating or any other specific activity. It does, however, empower police
officers to issue a summons to drivers doing anything “unrelated to the
operation of the vehicle, in a manner that interferes with the safe operation
of the vehicle.”
Still, for some, Mr. Wisniewski’s bill poses an existential
threat. NJ.com headline: “Cops Could Soon Ticket You for Drinking a Coffee
While Driving in N.J.”
Critics of the bill are loud and persistent, arguing that
the state’s existing laws against careless or reckless driving are sufficient.
A few critics question whether police officers will take advantage of the
bill’s intentional vagueness to abuse their traffic-stop powers.
To Steve Carrellas, a longtime driver advocate who is the
head of the New Jersey chapter of the National Motorists Association, the
proposal is merely the latest of many “shenanigans” intended to squeeze drivers.
“This bill has the appearance of a money grab,” he said.
Mr. Wisniewski denied this, saying the fines were intended
to be a deterrent.
A survey of drivers in two mall parking lots in suburban New
Jersey listed the things they had seen other drivers do: reading a newspaper
draped over the steering wheel; watching a video; changing clothes; applying
makeup; reaching down to pick up dropped food; fist-fighting with a passenger.
“The next thing, they’re going to be outlawing sneezing or
coughing,” Vince Capano said. “Where does the line start?”Mr. Capano will probably not be happy to learn about another
New Jersey bill, introduced in March, that willpunish pedestrians caught using
their cellphones while walking along public roads with a fine.
