Hefty Distracted Driver Fines Start In Red Bank, New Jersey
Officers from the Red Bank Police Department are giving us a big warning to pay attention while driving or they're going for our wallets. Distracted driving is a huge problem so Red Bank applied for grant money to launch the "UDrive, UText, UPay" law enforcement campaign again and it comes with hefty fines. It's no April Fools joke, on April 1st the crack down is on! The mission is to target drivers who drive distracted which apparently can mean many things. Here are some criteria for a distracted driving ticket, some of these surprised me:
• Using a cell phone or smartphone
• Eating and drinking
• Talking to passengers
• Grooming
• Reading, including maps
• Using a navigation system
• Watching a video
• Adjusting a radio, CD player, or MP3 player
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 2,841 people were killed in distracted driving crashes and an estimated 400,000 people were injured in in one year alone. New Jersey serves as one of eight states nationally to receive dedicated federal funds this year to tackle the issue of driver distraction.
The federal funding will be used for police overtime as well as a statewide campaign to raise awareness. Distracted driving fines in New Jersey will range from $200 to $400 for a first offense, and can lead to a license suspension after the third offense. So eyes on the road Bucko!
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