New Jersey Imposes Tough Penalties for Distracted Driving
Summer road trip season is here, and if you drive to the Northeast from another region, or the other way around, you will probably pass through New Jersey. Every state has different road signs; in our generation, this break in the monotony was enough to liven up the mood between rounds of “99 Bottles of Beer on the Wall,” but our kids do not look up from their devices until we specifically tell them to behold the New Jersey roadside signs. More importantly, the traffic laws differ slightly from one state to another. 49 states specifically ban the use of cell phones in particular or handheld electronic devices in general, but each state has its own formal definition of distracted driving and its own set of penalties for distracted driving infractions. If you have been injured in an accident caused by a distracted driver, contact a South Jersey distracted driving lawyer.
What Counts as Distracted Driving in New Jersey?
Pennsylvania has Paul Miller’s Law, which bans the use of handheld electronic devices such as cell phones while operating a motor vehicle, even when it is stopped at a red light. This summer, New York became the most recent state to implement a “no touch” law, where you get a ticket if your hands make contact with your phone for any reason while you are driving. Meanwhile, New Jersey has its own distracted driving law.
In New Jersey, as in Pennsylvania, the definition of distracted driving includes interacting with your device while the car’s transmission is shifted into drive, even if you are stopped at a red light. You must be parked in a parking space or pulled over on the road shoulder to use your phone. New Jersey law makes an exception for emergency situations, where it is legal to use your phone while operating your car, as long as at least one hand is on the steering wheel at all times. The following situations count as emergencies that warrant using your phone while driving:
- You or someone nearby is at the immediate risk of being the target of a crime such as robbery or assault, and you are calling 911.
- You are reporting a medical emergency or car accident, whether or not you were involved in the accident.
- You are reporting a suspected incident of drunk driving.
Your Rights If You Get Injured in a Distracted Driving Accident
Because of New Jersey’s no fault insurance rules, personal injury protection (PIP) insurance is almost always the first place you file a claim after a car accident, regardless of who is at fault. You should file a claim with the at fault driver’s liability insurance policy to cover the vehicle repairs, while PIP pays for medical bills arising from the accident.
Contact Monaco Law About Distracted Driving Accidents
Contact Monaco Law PC in Marlton, New Jersey to discuss your distracted driving accident case. We are a New Jersey and Pennsylvania wrongful death and personal injury law firm serving Atlantic County, Bucks County, Burlington County, Cape May County, Camden County, Chester County, Cumberland County, Delaware County, Gloucester County, Mercer County, Middlesex County, Monroe County, Montgomery County, Philadelphia, Ocean County, Salem County, Susquehanna County and all of New Jersey.
Source
northjersey.com/story/news/new-jersey/2025/06/12/nj-distracted-driving-laws-exceptions-penalties/84112949007/
