New Jersey to Consider Banning Drivers from Operating GPS

[proudNMAmember]

[replacer_a]
New Jersey to Consider Banning Drivers from Operating GPSA New Jersey state lawmaker wants to make it a crime for drivers to touch the screen of a satellite navigation device in a moving vehicle. Earlier this month, state Assemblyman L. Harvey Smith (D-Hudson) introduced legislation to expand the state's existing prohibition on using a cell phone behind the wheel.
"This bill would amend current law to also prohibit the manual operation of a global positioning system (GPS) device or similar navigation device by the operator of a moving motor vehicle," the official summary for A4064 explains. "The bill would allow the operator to use a voice-activated GPS device."
Motorists pulled over for the newly created offense would face a $100 fine without license points. A has been adopted in Spain's legislative body with penalties of 100 euros (US $140) with points.
While no vote has been taken on Smith's idea, such bill introductions can sometimes reflect a national trend. In 2005, a bill introduced in the New Jersey legislature more broadly worded proposal to ban GPS operation while driving went nowhere. Now the idea is law in Arkansas, California, Louisiana and Maine with three dozen states considering adopting similar bans.
A copy of the legislation is available in a 25k PDF file at the source link below.
Source: to ban smoking in cars carrying children (New Jersey Legislature, 6/8/2009)

[proudNMAmember]

What next, you can't walk across the street w/ out getting a ticket? Doesn't New Jersey have a law that states you can't flip anyone off? People from NJ need to put a stop to this madness.

[hockey005]

yea this will never pass

[category4]

I bet it does pass, if not I bet the vote is close.

[proudNMAmember]

I thought the whole GPS system was started by the govt? Here again leave it to the 2 party system to screw up us gadget enthusiasts rights.

[category4]

You caab still use it, just can't touch the screen while driving. If you want to change the destination you will have to stop to do so.

[Roadghost]

This is getting out of hand. Free country? I think not.

[category4]

This is getting out of hand. Free country? I think not.

"Free" have you looked at your pay stub lately. I hardly call that "free".

[Eloi]

I call this trend '' Safety Talibans '' ...

Too much law is like no law ....it is Chaos !

[Motor On]

You caab still use it, just can't touch the screen while driving. If you want to change the destination you will have to stop to do so.

Until too many idiots pull out into 70MPH traffic from 0MPH, enough of those accidents and stopping to do so will warrant a 2nd $100 fine to get the gov more $$$ in the name of "safety"