NJ proposes smoking ban while driving

[Ukraine Train]

leave it to PRNJ...

ASSEMBLY, No. 4306

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

211th LEGISLATURE

INTRODUCED JUNE 27, 2005

Sponsored by:
Assemblyman JOHN F. MCKEON
District 27 (Essex)
Assemblywoman LORETTA WEINBERG
District 37 (Bergen)

SYNOPSIS
Prohibits smoking while driving.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.

An Act prohibiting smoking while driving and supplementing chapter 4 of
Title 39 of the Revised Statutes.

Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New
Jersey:

1. a. Smoking by an operator of a moving motor vehicle on a public road
or highway shall be unlawful. For the purposes of this act, "smoking" means
the burning of a lighted cigar, cigarette, pipe or any other matter or
substance which contains tobacco.
b. Enforcement of this act by State or local law enforcement officers
shall be accomplished only as a secondary action when the operator of a
motor vehicle has been detained for a violation of Title 39 of the Revised
Statutes or another offense.
c. A person who violates this section shall be fined no less than $100
nor more than $250.
d. No motor vehicle points or automobile insurance eligibility points
pursuant to section 26 of P.L.1990, c.8 (C.17:33B-14) shall be assessed for
this offense.
e. The Chief Administrator of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission
shall develop and undertake a program to notify and inform the public as to
the provisions of this act.

2. This act supersedes and preempts all ordinances of any county or
municipality with regard to smoking by an operator of a motor vehicle.

3. This act shall take effect on the first day of the seventh month
after enactment, but the Chief Administrator of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle
Commission may take such anticipatory actions in advance of that date as may
be necessary for the timely implementation of this act.


STATEMENT

This bill would prohibit smoking while operating a motor vehicle. The
bill defines smoking as the burning of a lighted cigar, cigarette, pipe or
any other matter or substance which contains tobacco.
Under the bill, enforcement by State or local law enforcement officers
would be accomplished only as a secondary action when the driver has been
detained for a traffic violation or another offense. The penalties for
violating any provisions of this bill range from $100 to $250.
The bill specifies that no motor vehicle points or automobile insurance
eligibility points pursuant to section 26 of P.L.1990, c.8 (C.17:33B-14)
would be assessed for a violation. The bill would also require the Chief
Administrator of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission to develop and
undertake a program to notify and inform the public of its provisions.

[USP45usp]

The bill defines smoking as the burning of a lighted cigar, cigarette, pipe or
any other matter or substance which contains tobacco.

So, I guess if you're smoking crack, weed, meth or a clove ciggarette than you're good to go

Wayne

[Sindawe]

So, I guess if you're smoking crack, weed, meth or a clove ciggarette than you're good to go

No, there are already laws baring the consumption (here smoking) of cocaine, cannabis and methamphetamines, it just would not fall under THIS law unless the those items are mixed the tobacco.  Of course, one could make up their own mixture of say, dried cat nip flowers and bearberry berries (reputed to have mind auditory effect on the smoker).

Still, this strikes as yet ANOTHER attempt by the Nannystaters to control others.

[garyk/nm]

Purpose?
If it is some sort of safety thing, then also ban eating, drinking, cellphone use, listening to music, rolling BJs  and everything else which distracts the driver.
Also remember that seatbelt infractions in many places started out as secondary actions, and now we've got "click it or ticket". What's next, "Snuff it or Cuff it"?

[USP45usp]

I hate to ask this, what what does this mean?

rolling BJs

Or should I just go back into my corner?

Wayne

[Gun Runner]

Also remember that seatbelt infractions in many places started out as secondary actions, and now we've got "click it or ticket".

Ah yes, "we can't pull you over for it but if you're alrady pulled over we can write you a ticket".  Now suddenly they can pull me over for it.  Probably because it makes fishing expeditions that much more plausible.

I hate to ask this, what what does this mean?

rolling BJs

Do you know what a "BJ" is?  When a man and a woman love each other very much...  Anyway, in the car, while you're driving.

[Guest]

Purpose?
If it is some sort of safety thing, then also ban eating, drinking, cellphone use, listening to music, rolling BJs  and everything else which distracts the driver.

Thats because its not about safety, its about controll. Cigarettes are unpopular and the voter generally doesnt mind if the rights of smokers are being vioated cause they are fundamentally bad people (its "the truth" afterall). Government controlls always target unpopular groups before they start to expand, gun owners, smokers, flag burners are all folks that the majority of people dont relate to and thus are easy targets.

[K Frame]

"I hate to ask this, what what does this mean?



rolling BJs"


You're driving behind someone, a man driving, and a woman passenger.

Her head suddenly disappears into the general vicinity of his lap.

And he starts swerving left and right.

[SteveS]

Is there any evidence that suggests that smoking while driving is dangerous to other drivers?  When I am driving, I am more worried about people that are eating a 3 course meal and driving with their knees than I am about smokers.

[Monkeyleg]

I've seen people do everything while driving: eating, shaving, putting on makeup, reading the paper...I even saw a woman driving on the Chicago bypass at 70mph in heavy traffic close her eyes to rest for a minute or so!

One thing that I will admit makes smoking while driving more distracting now is the location of the ashtrays in cars. For decades the ashtray was positioned so that one only needed to extend the arm straight out to reach it. Now ashtrays are an option, and often located at the bottom of the console. On my wife's PT Cruiser, we both have to bend far down to reach it, which means taking eyes off the road for several seconds. I've adapted by waiting until I reach a stoplight or until I'm in a clear area on the expressway before dumping the ash.

[Guest]

I Propose the citizens do a campaign to get on the ballot a *Law*   that all Politicans in NJ, no matter how small or Great - are NOT allowed sex,smoking,drinking,  driving, piloting, any travel by conveyance ...until...

They read COTUS and BoR and choose to abide by these.  They choose to follow COTUS and BoR they get to do whatever of the aforementioned they choose. They don't - well maybe going cold turkey will allow voters to vote in replacements that will.

Then we go Nationwide on this dealie.

[Ben]

rolling BJs"

Heh, we used to call it "bobbin' " back when I worked in the scalehouse at the county dump. When the boss would be driving down the entrance road on his way back from lunch in the County Bronco, his secretary's head would "bob up" a couple hundred yards from the scalehouse. I guess he never figured we'd use the binoculars they put in there to see what he was up to....

[Sindawe]

rolling BJs

Shades of The World According to Garp!

[Modifiedbrowning]

I always heard the term "Road head" to decribe a rolling BJ.

[Standing Wolf]

It might require the use of less paper of the People's Republic of New Jersey were to list the activities that are still not prohibited.

[atek3]

Wow, NeuJersey, just when you thought the fascism meter was pegged at the redline, they come up with more garbage to inflict in Jerseyites.

atek3

[Nathaniel Firethorn]

First, PRNJ should ban legislating while stupid.

- NF

[DustinD]

You're driving behind someone, a man driving, and a woman passenger.

More women should learn to drive with only their left leg on the peddles.

[InfidelSerf]

I wish I could have snapped a picture of this guy driving west on 435(major interstate loop 70MPHposted)  awhile back.. he had a full newspaper displayed out in front of him and about every so often he would flip the top down.. verify he hadn't wrecked or caused a major pile up and then go on with catching up on his current events

That's why IF we ARE going to have traffic cops then they should be equiped with large rubber tire strapped mad max machines and just take out the idiots that think they can everything under the sun AND drive  :p