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New Jersery moves to ban GPS use while driving

06/22/2009, 10:40 AM

By Drew Johnson

The state of New Jersey has already banned the use of cell phones without a hands free device and texting while behind the wheel, and using a GPS device could soon join the list. One New Jersey legislator has introduced a new bill that would make it illegal to use a non-voice operated GPS device while driving.

New Jersey’s L. Harvey Smith, a Democratic Assemblyman, has proposed a new law that would ban the use of manual GPS devices while driving. Those caught fiddling with their in-car navigation while on the move would be subject to a $100 fine.

Although the legislation sounds like a pretty good idea – most factory navigation systems don’t even allow drivers to input information while on the go – the measure is being met with some opposition. Some argue that even voice-activated GPS units should be added to the bill while others say the legislation is taking things a bit too far. Those against the bill question where the line will be drawn as the state seeks to eliminate every in-car distraction possible.

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06/22, 10:42 AM

posted by:

leftwingagenda

dumb

06/22, 10:46 AM

posted by:

05Z88Path

How about you just ban people from NJ from driving…they seem so bad at it anyway.

06/22, 10:52 AM

posted by:

S2L2SC

So if you have a built in GPS system that is a couple of years old and also controls the radio, AC, etc (BMW 7 series) your screwed?

06/22, 10:56 AM

posted by:

scratchy

someone who is dumb enough not to type the destination before leaving deserves to be punished. every male driver thinks he is invulnerable and he won’t cause an accident, but what about when some dumba$$ hits your kids with his truck while trying to figure out how to spell a street name ?

06/22, 10:58 AM

posted by:

scratchy

i hope they will ban this in Europe too. blowjobs while driving should be banned too, i know a guy who died while he got one, the poor hooked died with a c0ck in her mouth.

06/22, 11:06 AM

posted by:

ricky_b

I’d like to see what they write for the final proposal. What EXACTLY does he mean by “manual” GPS? Is it just units that require pressing buttons to input information? I admit that I kind of agree that people should pull over to input their destination (it’s too hard and dangerous to do while driving). BUT, you can’t (shouldn’t) legislate out GPS use. That’s just stupid. It’s not like cell phone where most anyone can get a handsfree set today.

06/22, 11:08 AM

posted by:

johnnycanuck

Thanks for sharing scratchy. Maybe his prick was so small she needed GPS to find it.

06/22, 11:10 AM

posted by:

Dwide Schrude

My factory nav system controls everything in my car so this could cause problems. It also doesn’t allow you to input new destinations whilst in motion. So the only thing this would take away from me is my radio, climate control and such. So might as well ban removing your hands from the ten and two position all together.

06/22, 11:14 AM

posted by:

mayer_ray_nagin

Your Nannyticians at work … telling you what’s best for you since 1933.

06/22, 11:15 AM

posted by:

bigs4610

the only way they would be able to ban use is to place restrictions on it while in motion.
If the GPS is in motion it wont allow user input

similar to those built into cars already

no big deal, but I agree with mayer_ray_nagin

stupid.

06/22, 11:22 AM

posted by:

strongbad

Why is fiddling with your good ‘ol RADIO OK, but everything else isn’t? If its been ok to use a radio with people channel surfing (espcially if you have satellite radio), why is GPS any different? I got brushed by a swerving car while on my motorcycle at a stoplight. He looked up at the very last second and missed me, and admitted that he was playing with his radio. I thought this guy was an IDIOT, but never once did I think that radios should be banned. Idiots are all around us, and I guess you can’t ban them.

Anyway, if GPS is banned, then so should radios, iPods, talking to people in the car, drinking coffee, smoking cigarettes. I live in NJ, and its way over regulated at this point.

06/22, 11:22 AM

posted by:

JakeK66

LOL – When will they ever enforce this law? It’s not like you’re holding it to your face like a cell phone. Maybe at night when it’s dark and the light shines on you – but really? If you have a built-in, you can’t tell me that a cop has anyway of knowing – or cares. You have to be driving erratically for a cop to notice you which you should get a ticket for anyway making this law just that much more meaningless.

06/22, 11:23 AM

posted by:

Long Dong Auto

What they ought to ban in NJ is moronic legislators that have too much time on their hands, all the while suckling the government teat at taxpayers expense. Here’s a tip, how about enforcing the basics, STOP at stop signs and redlights, use your signals, don’t tailgate, yield to oncoming traffic when making a left turn, etc., etc. One of the biggest problems in this state is the systemic corruption that starts at the lowest levels and travels right on up to the top. When your local police dept. hands out “PBA” cards aka “get out of jail free”, to their friends and family, when the police don’t obey and consider themselves above the traffic laws, what do they expect of the rest of the citizenry? It’s no surprise people don’t respect the law and adding more that can never be enforced is not going to solve the problem.

06/22, 12:18 PM

posted by:

mulletmaster

Yet another reason I think NJ sucks.

06/22, 12:28 PM

posted by:

Borat

BTW, blowjobs are perfectly legal in Garden State. While legislators are busy denying citizenry basic rights to find directions to where they need to go, they totally neglected their responsibility to even remotely balance the budget. The current governor purchased his seat for 50-60 millions (his senate seat was the most expensive in the nation almost 60 millions), the previous had to resign because of his gayness ( we have senior congressmen on banking commission who proud to have a filthy noodle in US Congress, why NJ governor got embarrassed?). The state has been one party state (like either Iran or China) for the past 4-5 years.

06/22, 12:58 PM

posted by:

christianboy10

Im wondering is it more dangerous than looking at a paper map which people been doing for years?

06/22, 1:31 PM

posted by:

Madcapp

That will never pass.

06/22, 2:09 PM

posted by:

moparsalesman1

WTF?! why dont they ban looking at your speedometer or blowing your nose or wait ban picking your nose while you drive? This is fu*%$ng stupid

06/22, 3:28 PM

posted by:

yarddog82abn

The more I hear what our politicians are proposing, the more I fill less confident on their ability’s to lead us in to a better tomorrow.

Not to put the Obama Nation on the spot. So far he’s trying, no one can salve 8 years of built up issues that our nation finds it self in today in 6 months. Not even “Chocolate Jesus”, and for the record he is just one man, he is not a religion.

That said, can we just fire politicians? And can we please start with California Governator Arnold?

06/22, 3:38 PM

posted by:

justagigilo85

Despite it being illegal to drive and talk on a cell phone without a hands free device for well over a year, I still see people chatting on their cells CONSTANTLY. Why bother drafting this bill?? While they’re at it, why not bother outlawing fiddling the radio while you’re driving?

Pointless f*cking law. This in no way help NJ drivers become “better.” I cringe the moment I get into my car; I hate having to share the road with these f*cking asshats.

06/22, 4:01 PM

posted by:

Dante_JoseCuervo

05Z88Path

-I second your motion, but how about we just ban NJ in general?

06/22, 4:55 PM

posted by:

smfic

It likely is just another “revenue generator”. I live in NJ and it is already illegal to have anything but EZPass on the windshield. I learned this the hard way, buy getting a ticket for “obstructed view” along with a ticket for license plate bracket covering up 1/4 of Garden State on the back license plate, and speeding a bit for a total of 3 tickets. The judge and prosecutor only cared about keeping the fines and were more than willing to get rid of points.
This would just give cops another ticket they could write. How do you “prove” that you weren’t adjusting your GPS? It’s the cop’s word against yours and 99% of the people will just pay the ticket rather than take off work, go to court, waste 3-4 hours just to pay the fine anyway.
I agree it is total BS.
Vote them all out of office!

06/22, 6:14 PM

posted by:

beatusmongous

For all those that have nav systems built in to their cars, I may have a solution for you:

Stay the hell away from New Jersey.

06/23, 1:22 AM

posted by:

sharpie

The title of the article “New Jersery moves to ban GPS use while driving” is MISLEADING.

Later in the article reads: “Those caught fiddling with their in-car navigation while on the move would be subject to a $100 fine.”

So the title makes one think it’s a general ban, but it’s really just a ban on fiddling with the system while driving.

Now that is still a little broad. Banning the PROGRAMMING of the GPS is fine, but mere fiddling with it is not warranted, considering that I “fiddle” with the system by muting it sometimes. The GPS also allows for entering “pit-stop” and that takes one click, far from programming it.

Also, many factory system has integrated radio control functions, so how is the cop going to be able to distinguish that, or is that also in the cop’s discretion as well? So yeah, this is an useless legislation.

06/23, 1:28 AM

posted by:

sharpie

Programming the GPS is closer to yakking on the phone without a hands-free device and texting. They require the user to get distracted for a prolonged period of time. On the other hand, “fiddling” with the GPS is closer to channeling surfing on the radio and turning on the AC.

 
 
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