New Jersey is a nanny state that doesn’t want its citizens to pump its own gas (union job) nor does it want you to be distracted while driving. Who does? It’s dangerous and has proven to be fatal at times. But the state legislature is considering a new bill that would ban doing just about anything while driving. That means no more coffee, soda, fast-food sandwiches, pretty much anything that would potentially distract a driver. 

The language of the bill is very broad and would leave open a wide range of interpretations:

This bill addresses the increasing problem of distracted driving. The bill specifically prohibits a driver from engaging in any activity, not related to the operation of the vehicle, in a manner that interferes with the safe operation of the vehicle. 

Here’s a breakdown of the fines:

• First offense — $200-$400
• Second — $400-$600
• Third and subsequent — $600-$800 and would include suspension of license for up to 90 days and motor vehicle points penalty at the court’s discretion.

The bill, sponsored by Democrat Assemblyman John Wisniewski, is meant to also strengthen the existing prohibitions of cellphone use while driving. The first section says any person operating a vehicle without a hands-free device is in violation. They are allowed to hold a phone (with one hand on the wheel) if they are reporting reckless driving, an accident, or fear for their safety in some way. The fines are the same as above.

But the new section bans any other activity unrelated to operating a vehicle. So that could include (though it's not stated) changing the radio station, looking at mirrors, staring at passing vehicles, taking a hand off the wheel to remove an obstruction from the eye, telling children to quiet down, talking to passengers, the list could go on and on — and get quite ridiculous. Not to mention the distractions attributable to the giant billboards and other roadside advertisements that plaster the highways. Those aren’t banned but could be distracting. Where will the line ultimately be drawn? That’s up to the state.

According to USA Today, Wisniewski insists he doesn’t want to punish drivers with the law but to “educate” motorists about not multitasking while driving. He modeled the law after one already passed in Maine.

In 2014, there were over 3,000 deaths due to distracted driving and hundreds of thousands of non-fatal crashes since 2010.