N.J. bill bans cell phone use, texting by public transit operators
Bill stems from the commuter train crash in Chatsworth, Calif., in which it was determined that the train operator had been sending and receiving text messages just before the crash occurred.
On Monday, the New Jersey state Senate Transportation Committee advanced a bill (A407) that would prohibit transit bus or train operators from using cell phones or other wireless devices or texting while the vehicle is in operation.
The bill was approved by the Assembly in February, njtoday.com reports, and was introduced after the Metrolink crash in Chatsworth, Calif., in which it was determined that the operator of the train had been texting just before the crash occurred.
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