Texting while driving is the leading cause of fatalities for teen drivers, even more so than drinking and driving.

On average, texting while driving takes your eyes off the road for at least 4.6 seconds, which is enough time to go end zone to end zone on a football field.

I always used to remind my boys when they first stated driving about the dangers and deadly consequences from texting and driving. I'm still amazed by how many people still text while driving and talking on a handheld cell phone on our busy roadways.

Starting this Monday, April 1st, get ready to pay up if you're caught texting while driving or talking on your hand held cell phone, according to a report from NJ.com. New Jersey police are not fooling around here.

The three week "U Text. U Drive. U Pay" campaign will run through April 21st. First offense will cost you $200-$400 and your third offense could cost you up to $800 with points and a possible license suspension.

In 2018, police in the Garden State issued over 13,000 tickets for texting and driving and using a cell phone to New Jersey drivers.

Police in the following South Jersey towns will have additional patrols looking for distracted drivers and those foolish enough to text and drive. It's a good idea to just put down the phone and drive or, it could cost you big time.

  • Absecon 
  • Egg Harbor Township
  • Galloway
  • Hammonton
  • Hamilton
  • Northfield
  • Stockton University
  • Cape May Lower
  • Wildwood

 

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