Skip to main content

License, registration and cell phone, please: New NJ bill targets talkers and texters

Police Officer: ‘License, vehicle registration - and cell phone’If you ever use your cell phone while driving, you might want to pay close attention to legislation being considered in New Jersey.

Never – huh?  Well, just keep it in mind for that friend of yours because if it passes it would allow police in the Garden State to check your cell phone at the scene of an accident.  

According to a CNN report, legislation proposed by New Jersey State Sen. James Holzapfel would allow police officers to confiscate a person’s cell phone if they have “reasonable grounds” to believe the driver was talking or texting when the wreck occurred.

The report goes on to note that officers would be required to return the phone back after checking the history to see if the driver might have been using the cell before the wreck.

“A lot of your accidents are happening due to distracted driving,” said Fair Lawn Police Sgt. Brian Metzler told CNN affiliate News 12, as reported by the news network.

In most cases, however, it’s difficult to prove it Sgt. Metzler told CNN.

“They’re just going to say they’re not paying attention: ‘Were you on the cellphone?’ ‘No, I wasn’t the cellphone’ and it ends right there.”

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of New Jersey said the legislation is in clear violation of constitutional rights.

“Our State and Federal Constitutions generally require probable cause before authorizing a search, particularly when it comes to areas that contain highly personal information such as cellphones,” Alexander Shalom of the ACLU-NJ told CNN. “The legislature cannot authorize searches unless there is probable cause, therefore the bill is likely susceptible to a constitutional challenge.”

In the interim, the bigger question is will New Jersey’s move prompt other states to consider similar measures.  

What do you think? Does New Jersey’s proposed legislation sound like an effective tactic in the war against distracted driving? Sound off in the comments section below.

Marcus Amick
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Marcus Amick has been writing about the world of cars for more than ten years and has covered everything from new automobiles…
Alpine sale: Up to $160 off speakers and subs for your car
alpine speaker sale crutchfield march 2024 car and amp setup on table

If you’re looking to kit your car out with some superior speakers or a subwoofer, Crutchfield is the place to go today. Right now, there’s a huge sale on Alpine subwoofers and speakers with nearly 50 different items forming the sale. As there are so many options, the best idea is to hit the button below to see what’s around. If you don’t know where to start though, read on while we take you through some great items in the sale.

What to shop for in the Alpine sale
Buying the best aftermarket car speakers are important for anyone who spends a lot of time on the road and is currently dealing with a mediocre sound system. One good starting point in the Alpine sale is the 2-way speakers for $104 instead of $130. You get two 2-way speakers with a polypropylene/glass fiber/mica woofer with a specialized rubber surround. There’s a one-inch silk dome tweeter with speakers able to handle up to 80 watts RMS with 240 watts peak power. The grilles aren’t included but the factor ones should be fine for most purposes.

Read more
Mercedes to trial humanoid robots for ‘low-skill, repetitive, demanding’ jobs
Apptronik's Apollo robot at work in an auto plant.

Humanoid robots have been coming on leaps and bounds in recent years, and some major companies are starting to take note.

Mercedes-Benz, for example, has just entered into an agreement with Texas-based robotics specialist Apptronik to collaborate on identifying applications for highly advanced robots that the auto giant could deploy. The deal will involve a trial that will see Apptronik's Apollo humanoid robot work alongside Mercedes' human workers on the factory floor.

Read more
Hyundai Ioniq 9: price, release date, range, and more
Hyundai Ioniq 9 Front

Hyundai has been at the forefront of EV development for a while now, largely thanks to the success of the crossover-sized Hyundai Ioniq 5. But the company is readying another new EV that could be even more popular than the Ioniq 5 -- or at least more desirable in the U.S., the land of big cars.

The upcoming Ioniq 9, previously set to be called the Ioniq 7, will be Hyundai's take on an electric SUV. It will be to Hyundai what the Kia EV9 is to Kia. It will have three rows and carry over design elements from the Ioniq 5.

Read more