New Jersey Could Ban Manual GPS Devices in Cars

New Jersey Could Ban Manual GPS Devices in Cars
Jun 22, 2009
GPS World
http://cp.gpsworld.com/gpscp/content/printContentPopup.jsp?id=3D605477=


A New Jersey legislator is hoping to ban in-car navigation systems that r=
ely on manual=20
input, reports Fox News.

New Jersey has already taken cell phones and text messaging out of driver=
s' hands.=20
Violators of the law would face the same $100 fine per offense that appli=
es to improper=20
cell phone use.

Democratic State Assemblyman L. Harvey Smith has introduced a bill that w=
ould =E2=80=9Cprohibit=20
the manual operation of a global positioning system (GPS) device or simil=
ar navigation=20
device by the operator of a moving motor vehicle.=E2=80=9D If passed, the=
ban would be the first=20
of its kind in the nation.

Under the proposed law, drivers would be allowed to only use voice-activa=
ted systems to=20
program the devices while a vehicle is in motion. Although this feature i=
s becoming more=20
common, devices that offer it typically cost significantly more than ones=
that don=E2=80=99t. For=20
example, Garmin=E2=80=99s least expensive manual-input device retails for=
about $199, while a=20
voice-activated unit, the N=C3=BCvi 855, has as a suggested retail price =
$499.

Well, why not?

Everything else is illegal in New Jersey, so why not this?

Some people like to say that Minnesota is "The State Where Absolutely
Nothing Is Allowed", but they've never lived in New Jersey.

--
Bert Hyman        St. Paul, MN        bert@iphouse.com

Is it still considered too dangerous for an adult to pump his own fuel?

--
Robert B. Peirce, Venetia, PA 724-941-6883
bob AT peirce-family.com [Mac]
rbp AT cooksonpeirce.com [Office]

Per Bert Hyman:

Once I stuck up a conversation on a New Jersey beach with a
tourist from Germany.

Referring to all the "This not allowed, that not allowed, don't
do this, don't do that..." signs posted on and around the beach,
her reaction was "What is this? Some kind of police state?"

And that's somebody from *Germany* where you'd think anything not
specifically allowed is forbidden.
--
PeteCresswell

Bert Hyman wrote:
ing
f its

Next they will ban radio and music players...

And then eventually passengers! :-o