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Monday, March 3, 2008
States now criminalizing cell phone, texting in cars
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
New Jersey, which four years ago became one of the first states to pass a law making it unlawful for a driver to talk on a hand-held cell phone while driving, has now moved to the next level. The “Garden State” has given police the power to stop a driver if he or she is using a cell phone or a hand-held communication device to send a text message. The police no longer need to have some other, legitimate reason to stop a driver (such as driving dangerously) in order to cite him or her for “improper” cell phone use. All the police officer now needs is to see you using that communication device while driving, and Bam! you get pulled over, ticketed and fined.
The new law magnanimously allows a driver to use the cell phone for an emergency, but anything short of that will subject him or her to a citation if caught.
For Nanny States like New Jersey and the few other states that have done this, the fact that it is already unlawful to drive dangerously or cause an accident if you drive negligently — for whatever reason, including using a cell phone and being thus distracted — is not relevant. The goal is to criminalize — and double-criminalize — more and more behavior, in order to control the citizenry and oh yes, by the way, bring in more revenue for the state.
Isn’t it great to live in a free country?
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