SENATE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 1602

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  DECEMBER 8, 2020

      The Senate Transportation Committee reports favorably and with committee amendments Senate Bill No.1602.

      As amended and reported, this bill requires the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission to expand the driver’s license knowledge examination to include questions regarding distracted driving issues.

     In addition, under the provisions of this bill, it is a violation for a motorist to talk or listen to another person, text message, or send an electronic message on a hand-held wireless telephone or electronic communication device while temporarily stopped because of traffic, a traffic light, a stop sign, or otherwise.  However, the bill provides that it is not a violation for a motorist to talk or listen to another person, text message, or send an electronic message on a hand-held wireless telephone or electronic communication device when the vehicle has been pulled over to the side of or off of the road and has stopped in a location where the vehicle can safely remain stationary.

     The committee amended the synopsis of the bill and made grammatical corrections.