New Jersey and New York are among several states that have banned texting while driving. Text messaging qualifies as using an electronic communication device, which is illegal under state statute 39:4-97.3. Violators face a possible fine.
But an article the New York Times this weekend raised questions about whether there could be even greater penalties in the future. The article discussed the British legal system's response to texting while driving through the case of a 22-year-old woman who was sentenced to 21 months in prison after her texting led to a deadly accident.
Closer to home, a New York Times - CBS News poll explored attitudes toward texting while driving. When asked if texting while driving should be illegal, 97 percent answered yes. Asked how severe the punishment should be, 50 percent said it should be punished "about the same" as drunk driving.
Meanwhile, texting continues to be a hot topic with regard to motor vehicle safety. Recently, President Obama banned federal employees from texting while driving. And this summer, a study by researchers at Virginia Tech found that texting while driving increased the risk of a crash or near-crash by 23.2 times.
Given the building public attention to texting while driving, it should not be a surprise it becomes a major focus of law enforcement.
