New Jersey appears to be rivaling its neighbor New York for the title of most obnoxious nanny state on the east coast.
State legislators are considering a bill that would ban “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.” Critics say the bill’s language is broad enough to include common acts such as eating breakfast or drinking coffee while driving.
The bill’s proponents says the goal is to crack down on distracted driving, which contributed to more than 3,000 fatal crashes in New Jersey in 2014, and 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,” said Assemblyman John Wisniewski, a Democrat who sponsored the bill, adding that the primary purpose of the legislation was to educate drivers, not punish them.
First offenders under the proposed law would face fine of up to $400, with multiple offenders facing fines of up to $800 and a 90-day suspension of their drivers license.
Some motorists were not impressed with these efforts to “educate” them on proper driving habits.
Lol lame RT @pzf: BREAKING NEWS: New Jersey is considering a bill that would ban motorists from drinking coffee and driving.
— Sally B. Shelly (@MULATTO_LOVE) August 8, 2016
Fuck that shit RT @pzf: BREAKING NEWS: New Jersey is considering a bill that would ban motorists from drinking coffee and driving.
— BernieNotNice (@B_TheRealest) August 8, 2016
@NECralph If drinking coffee while driving will cause you to get an accident, the problem isn't the coffee, it's your driving ability.
— Miles McQuiggan (@MilesMcQuiggan) August 6, 2016
