New Jersey Could Ban Manual GPS Devices in Cars

June 22, 2009

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

New Jersey has already taken cell phones and text messaging out of drivers' hands. Violators of the law would face the same $100 fine per offense that applies to improper cell phone use.

Democratic State Assemblyman L. Harvey Smith has introduced a bill that would “prohibit the manual operation of a global positioning system (GPS) device or similar navigation device by the operator of a moving motor vehicle.” If passed, the ban would be the first of its kind in the nation.

Under the proposed law, drivers would be allowed to only use voice-activated systems to program the devices while a vehicle is in motion. Although this feature is becoming more common, devices that offer it typically cost significantly more than ones that don’t. For example, Garmin’s least expensive manual-input device retails for about $199, while a voice-activated unit, the Nüvi 855, has as a suggested retail price $499.

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