Friday, September 28, 2012
Tuesday, June 5, 2012
New Jersey panel votes to hike texting while driving fines
ANDREW DUFFELMEYERTRENTON -- Drivers caught talking or texting on their cellphones in New Jersey may soon face increased fines and license suspensions under a measure approved by a Senate panel Monday. The Senate Law and Public Safety Committee voted 5-0 for the bill, which would increase fines from $100 to $200 for the first offense. A second offense would carry a $400 fine, while a third violation would mean a $600 fine.
Violators also could have their driver's licenses suspended for 90 days for the third and subsequent offenses, and they would receive three points on their driving records.
Fines would be used for a public education program.Sen. Richard Codey, the measure's primary sponsor, compared efforts to curb cell phone use while driving to past efforts to stop drunk driving, and he said current fines aren't enough to stop violations.
"Right now that's a slap on the wrist, and what we've got to do is a slap on the face," Codey said. "And this bill does exactly that and hopefully wakes up the public."
Codey pointed to a 2009 accident in Mine Hill caused by a texting driver as a reason for the bill. The driver was responding to a text message when his vehicle struck a couple riding on a motorcycle, which resulted in the husband and wife each losing a leg.
"This is a brutal, brutal thing that's going on on our roads throughout this state and throughout the country," Codey said.
New Jersey is among nine states and the District of Columbia that ban hand-held cell phone use for all drivers. It's also one of 35 states that bans texting for all drivers, along with D.C, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.
The Garden State further prohibits all cell phone use - including hands-free use - for school bus drivers and those with a learner's permit or intermediate license. Nineteen states and D.C. have similar restrictions for school bus drivers, and 30 states and D.C. have similar restrictions for teen drivers.
The bill now heads to the full Senate, where a similar measure was passed in 2010. An identical bill has been introduced in the Assembly, but has not yet received a hearing.
Sen. Donald Norcross, the chairman of the committee, said lawmakers may have to further increase penalties for talking and texting while driving if this bill doesn't result in safer roadways.
"This is a measured approach, but we might have to move it again if people don't learn," he said.
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(Copyright ©2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) Get more Politics & Elections »new jersey politics, distracted driving, texting while driving, politics & elections
Thursday, May 10, 2012
Woman charged with drunk driving after crash
Eyewitness NewsCLIFFSIDE PARK (WABC) -- A New Jersey woman is facing charges of driving drunk and crashing her car. The accident happened just after noon last month on Palisade Avenue in Cliffside Park.
Police arrested 50-year-old Janina Wojnarowska, of Passaic, after they say she slammed into the back of another car, injuring two people in that vehicle and a passenger in her own car.
Officers say they found a bottle of liquor in her purse.---
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(Copyright ©2012 WABC-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.) Get more New Jersey News »new jersey, passaic, accident, drunk driving, new jersey news
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
Groundbreaking texting while driving decision to be made
Matt Kozar, Eyewitness NewsMINE HILL (WABC) -- On an early September evening in 2009, David and Linda Kubert were riding along a windy road on their motorcycle in Mine Hill, New Jersey when they were sideswiped by a Chevy pickup that crossed double yellow lines. The driver, 19-year-old Kyle Best was texting. Both David and Linda Kubert lost their left legs because of the crash. They've since filed a lawsuit aimed not only at the distracted driver who hit them, but the person who was texting.
Attorney Skippy Weinstein is representing the Kuberts, and spoke on their behalf.
"What I found interesting was her testimony at depositions that this is what teenagers do," said Weinstein.He says Shannon Colonna, who was texting the distracted driver around the time of the accident is as much responsible.
Colonna's attorney - who filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit would not make a comment.
"In this particular case, as unique as this case would be, there were facts, there were time incidents that speak to the fact that she knew his schedule very well," said Skippy Weinstein, on why Colonna was liable.
People who live in the neighborhood where the crash happened seem skeptical.
"The texter has no idea where that other person is, whether they're driving home," resident Christine Megletti said.
A Superior Court judge will rule whether Colonna can be included in the lawsuit on May 25th.Weinstein's clients are now advocating for state legislation that increases penalties for illegal cell phone use while driving.
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