The Mantua Township Police will be participating in the statewide “U Drive, U Text, U Pay” campaign to crack down on distracted driving.
The state constitutes the following as distracted driving: using phones, eating and drinking, talking to passengers, grooming, reading (including maps), using a handheld navigation system, watching videos and adjusting a radio, CD or MP3 player.
First offense is a fine between $200 and $400, second is $400 to $600, third or any subsequence offenses are $600 to $800, three points on a license with a possible 90-day license suspension.
According to the New Jersey Division of Highway Traffic Safety, distracted driving accounts for more than 804,000 accidents from 2011 to 2015.
The Mantua Township Police urges residents to use common sense and to not use any devices or anything that would take their eyes or attention off the road.
