Autoblog

Woman sued for sending text message to driver who crashed

Jeff Sabatini — Wed, 09 May 2012 18:59:00 EST

Hiring a lawyer is like hiring a hitman. Except it's not against the law. A lawyer's job is to exert your will on your legal opponent - and on the legal system itself. So it should come as no surprise to see this evolution of distracted driving case law: The victims of a traffic accident have filed a lawsuit against both the motorist and the woman he was texting with when he caused the crash, according to the Huffington Post.

Let's just state for the record that we have no horse in this race, which is not unlike any other personal injury suit in which the plaintiff's attorney rounds up anyone and everyone that might be named as a defendant. The difference here, however, is that this is the first time we're aware of someone being accused of being an accomplice to the breaking of distracted driving laws and causing a crash without even being in the car.

The driver, Kyle Best, a 19-year-old at the time of the accident, has already pled guilty to three violations of New Jersey law, including using a mobile phone while driving, careless driving, and leaving his lane, according to the report. Best hit a couple on a motorcycle with his pickup truck, resulting in both the man and woman losing their left legs. At the time, Best was exchanging text messages with Shannon Colonna, according to phone records.

The couple's lawyer is arguing that Colonna knew she was texting Best while he was driving, and that her behavior is no different than if she had been having a conversation with him in the car, according to the report. Her attorney, however, maintains that she can't be liable for the driver's decision to read the text when it was not safe to do so and that she did not realize the dangers of texting while driving. The judge in the case is expected to decide whether Colonna can be included in the suit on May 25, according to the report.

Certainly this case is a complicated one, and could have broad ramifications on distracted driving lawsuits as well as further legislation on the issue. If the plaintiffs' attorney is successful in bringing the texting woman into the suit, we can certainly expect that lawyers in other states which have texting bans will follow their lead.

Woman sued for sending text message to driver who crashed originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 09 May 2012 18:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New Jersey adds "road rage" kicker to traffic violations

Jonathon Ramsey — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 11:01:00 EST

Filed under: Government/Legal, Safety

A Carnegie Mellon paper gauges that it would take 76 days to read all of the privacy policies for the companies you deal with, and that's before you get to the terms and conditions and other small prints. Judging how quickly states are adding new laws to their driving codes and swapping punishments, staying informed might also require a semester of reading pretty soon.

In honor of a woman who was paralyzed from the waist down as a teenager because of a road rage incident, New Jersey has just made Jessica Rogers' Law official. Rogers was a passenger when the driver of the car she was a passenger in went after another car that cut him off. Rogers' driver subsequently lost control and crashed.

The law upgrades the degree of a vehicular incident - from Disorderly Persons to fourth degree or fourth to third degree - if road rage is established as a factor. How will road rage be established? That will be up to officers and juries to decide. But short of obvious rage-worthy cases like the Oklahoma driver who pulled a gun after being honked at or the Alaska driver who fatally stabbed another, we see a lot of legal wrangling and plea deals plus big fines to go down to aggressive driving.

According to several sites of New Jersey trial attorneys, Disorderly Persons charges come with a maximum of six months in county. Fourth degree ups that to 18 months max, but things get serious at third degree with three to five years in the hoosegow and up to $15,000 in fines. Get ready for enforcement gymnastics, though, for as the wise defendant once said, "It ain't what you know, it's what you can prove."

New Jersey adds "road rage" kicker to traffic violations originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 25 Apr 2012 11:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NJ police in trouble after allegedly giving 100-mph escort to supercar club including NFL's Jacobs

Jonathon Ramsey — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 11:29:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Government/Legal, Safety, Videos

The facts are still coming in, but what is known is that on March 30 an armada of exotics, said to number from 25 to 30, was escorted by two New Jersey state troopers with their lights flashing down the Garden State Parkway at triple-digit speeds to Atlantic City. On top of that, all of the civilian cars had their license plates taped over. Among the drivers was supercar fan and NFL player Brandon Jacobs, recently of the New York Giants but now with the San Francisco Forty-Niners. According to NJ.com, Jacobs "told Rides Magazine in October that he often cruises with the Driving Force Club," a car club out of New York, but it isn't clear that this was a club outing.

One more established fact: someone has a lot of splainin' to do. Authorities began receiving complaints that very day, with one beginning, "I had the great pleasure today of nearly being killed by, not one, but two, Lamborghinis traveling in excess of 110 mph in a (New Jersey State Police) escorted 'caravan'...". Others wrote in to say that the cars were weaving across all three lanes and that an elderly driver was so shocked she almost ran off the road. One motorist even labeled it "Death Race 2012."

An NBC New York report indicates that Jacobs called a sergeant in the NJ force that he's friends with and requested the escort. That sergeant and another officer have been put on leave without pay, the station commander has been transferred while his role is investigated. And speaking of investigations, they're coming from everywhere, with even the state Attorney General looking into the matter. At least everyone involved can use history as a guide: police did the same thing on the same road with a different supercar group two years ago. Check out an NJ Today video on the story by scrolling below.

Continue reading NJ police in trouble after allegedly giving 100-mph escort to supercar club including NFL's Jacobs

NJ police in trouble after allegedly giving 100-mph escort to supercar club including NFL's Jacobs originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 24 Apr 2012 11:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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F1 race in New Jersey could be postponed

Noah Joseph — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 18:20:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Etc.

After years of doing without a grand prix in the United States altogether, Formula One is gearing up to return to these shores in a big way. The United States Grand Prix is set to take place later this year at the newly constructed Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas. And next year, the Grand Prix of America is scheduled to join the calendar in New Jersey, just across the river from Manhattan. But will the Jersey race be ready in time?

According to the latest reports, that second grand prix in the U.S. could be pushed off until 2014. This according to a quote attributed to Bernie Ecclestone, the man who orchestrates the commercial aspects of the sport - including where the races are held.

While he was at it, Ecclestone also reportedly indicated that the French Grand Prix will be back on the calendar within the next couple of years. But rather than holding it at Magny-Cours where it was held from 1991 through 2008, the renewed French Grand Prix - absent from the calendar every year since - will go back to the Paul Ricard circuit where it was held in the 70s and 80s (a track which Ecclestone just happens to own himself).

The arrangement will, according to reports, alternate year-to-year with the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa.

F1 race in New Jersey could be postponed originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 17 Apr 2012 18:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hundreds of new Saab models spotted rotting at New Jersey port

Jonathon Ramsey — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: Saab

One of the postscripts of the travails of Saab Cars North America (SCNA) is this, a couple hundred 9-3 and 9-5 sedans left to the unkindness of coastal winds at a New Jersey port facility. According to the poster at Found Our Own Road, there are 900 cars in this Asphodel Meadows awaiting the resolution of the company's fate.

Last we heard, SCNA is still fighting the involuntary bankruptcy filed in Delaware by its dealers and is trying to get the case moved to Michigan. Prior to that, SCNA had been trying to avoid the proceeding altogether in case a bidder was able to acquire the entire company.

While we wait to find out about that, you can head over to Found Our Own Road to see the rest of the photos of a Saab future that almost was.

Hundreds of new Saab models spotted rotting at New Jersey port originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 29 Mar 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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A PSA from ATS: Don't run red lights

Zach Bowman — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 14:06:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Safety, Videos

Abiding by traffic signals is perhaps the simplest rule of the road. Any preschooler can tell you what red light means, but that doesn't stop a staggering number of drivers from ignoring the lights altogether. ATS, a company responsible for manufacturing red light cameras, wants us to think a little harder about coming to a complete stop the next time we lose the right of way. The company says that more than 100,000 people are injured in collisions involving a driver who ignored a red light.

The video after the jump compiles a number of incidents in New Jersey involving inattentive or downright stupid drivers. Some of the clips feature near misses, while others involve scary collisions. Hit the jump to see for yourself, and remember to heed the traffic signal the next time you're behind the wheel.

Continue reading A PSA from ATS: Don't run red lights

A PSA from ATS: Don't run red lights originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 01 Jan 2012 14:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Grand Prix of America bringing F1 to New Jersey in 2013

Noah Joseph — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 15:33:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports

That things happen fast in Formula One is a given. But just how fast things can turn around is also liable to twist your head around at breakneck speeds.

While the United States has not hosted a Formula One grand prix since 2007, within two years' time it will once again host two. The first we already know about: the United States Grand Prix will join the calendar next season in Austin, Texas (of all places) at the purpose-built Circuit of the Americas. But after much anticipation, officials today announced a second grand prix to be held here in the U.S. along the banks of the Hudson River.

The race, officially to be known as the Grand Prix of America, will be held on a new 3.2-mile street course being carved out of the New Jersey towns of West New York and Weehawken, offering the New York skyline as a panoramic backdrop. The grand prix is currently scheduled for June 2013, when it is expected to draw upwards of 100,000 race fans.

Grand Prix of America bringing F1 to New Jersey in 2013 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 25 Oct 2011 15:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New Jersey back in the running for an F1 grand prix

Noah Joseph — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 17:30:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports

Racing fans eager for the return of Formula One racing may recall a proposal last year that would have seen a United States Grand Prix run in New Jersey, just across the Hudson from the Manhattan skyline.

The project went belly-up when local activists against turning Liberty State Park into a racing circuit pressured Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah Healy to put an end to it. In its place - or so it seemed - the return of the U.S. Grand Prix was moved to Austin, Texas, where America's first purpose-built F1 circuit is currently being constructed. One might have assumed that the Austin project won out instead of the New Jersey one, but if the latest report from The Wall Street Journal is anything to go by, it may be too early to count the Garden State out of this particular race just yet.

A new proposal is reportedly being considered to hold an F1 race across the New Jersey townships of Weehawken and West New York, which would still provide the same spectacular backdrop and quick access to and from the city. The project's financial backers are reportedly adamant that the race and all its related expenses be privately funded and require that no tax dollars be diverted towards its orchestration.

If it were to go through, the race would potentially be held in addition to, and not instead of, the race in Texas. It wouldn't be the first time that the United States held two F1 races: parallel grands prix - dubbed East and West - were held at Watkins Glen and Long Beach in the 1970s, while additional races were held as well in Detroit, Dallas and Las Vegas in the 1980s.

New Jersey back in the running for an F1 grand prix originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 03 Aug 2011 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Why New Jersey motorists still can't pump their own gas

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Tue, 30 Nov 2010 10:01:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Government/Legal, Safety

Ding! There goes the charming little reminder that your car is getting low on fuel, as most new cars come straight from the factory with an audible reminder that it's time to fill up. No big deal, right? Just takes a quick second to remember which side the filler is on, then you get out, unscrew the cap and insert the nozzle. Fill 'er up... couldn't be easier.

Unless you live in New Jersey or Oregon, notes The Wall Street Journal, where it's still illegal to pump your own gas. According to Bikram Gill, a businessman who bought up 26 gas stations in New Jersey, "Any idiot can do it." We know for a fact that there are idiots in all 50 states, and in 48 of them, those idiots are free to handle the somewhat volatile fuel themselves. In 1951, though, the Supreme Court of New Jersey decided it was too dangerous to allow just anyone to pump gas, suggesting that the process of refueling is best left to the professionals.

Predictably, there have been attempts to change the law. In 1988, a judge issued a ruling that it was unconstitutional to disallow Americans the right to pump their own gas, but it was later overturned by a court of appeals. And again in 2006, governor John Corzine attempted to put self-service stations along the Turnpike, but the voting public said 'No Thanks.'

And so it remains illegal to pump your own gas in Jersey. Of course, the next time it's raining or snowing or sleeting and you need to fill up, something tells us you'll understand...

[Source: The Wall Street Journal | Image: /\ \/\/ /\ C.C. 2.0]

Why New Jersey motorists still can't pump their own gas originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 30 Nov 2010 10:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Red license decals for teens has NJ motorists up in arms

Dan Roth — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 09:41:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Government/Legal, Safety

Teenagers in New Jersey feel even more singled out than their standard egocentrism engenders. New drivers in the state are required to purchase red decals for their license plates, letting other motorists and law enforcement know who's behind the wheel. Critics of the law say it also puts a big target on the car for anyone intending to do harm to young people. The stickers making easy prey for sex offenders is a big factor in the movement against the legislation.

While opponents of the law argue about the safety of teen motorists, supporters say they are also concerned for the well-being of youngsters. Backers of the law argue that bad actors can find teenagers in places like malls and parking lots as it is, and the law makes it possible for law enforcement to uphold the restrictions on younger drivers that are intended to keep them safe. According to The Wall Street Journal, many teens and parents are refusing to follow the law, opting to pay the $100 fine that may result if caught. Opposition has been gathering on Facebook and other social media outposts, and legislation to repeal the requirement has been introduced.

[Source: The Wall Street Journal - subs. req.]

Report: Red license decals for teens has NJ motorists up in arms originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 07 Jun 2010 09:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ecclestone reportedly working on bringing U.S. Grand Prix to New York

Noah Joseph — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 08:41:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports

While the New York Auto Show is under way at the Javitz Center, on the opposite side of the globe the Big Apple came up in an entirely different context. Speaking with Italy's sports journal La Gazzetta dello Sport during this past weekend's Australian Grand Prix, Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone revealed that negotiations are underway to bring a grand prix to the New York area.

Rather than running through the streets of Manhattan as had previously been rumored, Ecclestone's plan calls for the race to take place on the opposite side of the Hudson River in New Jersey. The plan, according to Ecclestone, could come to fruition as soon as 2012.

The last time an F1 grand prix was contested in the United States was between 2000 and 2007 when it was held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

[Source: Autosport | Image: geoftheref - CC 2.0]

Ecclestone reportedly working on bringing U.S. Grand Prix to New York originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 01 Apr 2010 08:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New Jersey drivers under 21 required to affix red sticker to cars *UPDATE

Eric Loveday — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 08:32:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Government/Legal, Safety

Should other drivers be aware that the vehicle they're tailing is piloted by someone under the age of 21? New Jersey thinks so and has become the first state to enact a law requiring drivers under 21 to affix a red sticker to both their front and rear license plates.

The law, called Kyleigh's Law in memory of a young driver killed by another young driver, will go into effect beginning in May, and the stickers can be purchased from the local motor vehicle department for $4.00.

The sticker program is not without its challengers. Some believe that it will call out undue attention to teenage drivers while others believe that teenage drivers could become the target of criminals or even sex offenders.

According to the state, the stickers will help local police to enforce the state's 11 o'clock curfew for young drivers and to enforce other laws specific to restricted license drivers.

Similar systems have been instituted around the globe - from the UK to Japan - for years, with varying levels of effectiveness. Whether the sticker solution will be widely adopted across the U.S. remains to be seen, but feel free to posit your own opinion in the comments below.

UPDATE: Drivers who have completed the 12-month provisional-license period will not have to display the decal even if younger than 21. Only those with provisional licenses or learner's permits will be required to display the red sticker. Once the driver obtains a regular driver's license, the sticker can be removed.

[Source: New Jersey Online , My Central Jersey]

New Jersey drivers under 21 required to affix red sticker to cars *UPDATE originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 25 Mar 2010 08:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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MADD angry at Flying Fish brewery for naming beers after NJ freeway exits?

Jonathon Ramsey — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Lifestyle

It is acceptable to name your alcoholic beverage after a moving vehicle so long as a car isn't the vehicle in question; e.g. Night Train Express wine and Warbird beer (How about Thunderbird? - Ed). In fact, it's frowned upon to give alcohol a name that can even be associated with cars. New Jersey craft brewer Flying Fish has attracted the attention of MADD, the NJ Turnpike Authority (NJTA), and the press for breaking the taboo with its line of beers named after exits on the New Jersey Turnpike.

The Exit 4 American Trippel was the first in the "big beer" series -- they come in 750-ml bottles -- part of "a multi-year brewing experiment to brew a series of beers as diverse as the great state of New Jersey." Exit 11, a Hoppy American Wheat Ale, will be coming later this month and is "a tribute to Woodbridge's exit, where the Turnpike meets the Garden State Parkway." Which must taste delicious...

MADD feels that "The combination of a roadway and advertising for any kind of a beer doesn't make any kind of sense." The NJTA wants to make sure no one thinks it's turned into a brewer. To address both issues each bottle of flying fish includes a disclaimer, "The New Jersey Turnpike Authority has no affiliation with the Exit Series. Both the Turnpike Authority and Flying Fish agree that you should never drink and drive." That hasn't quite quelled the controversy, but it does tell people two things they should already know.

[Source: Boston.com]

MADD angry at Flying Fish brewery for naming beers after NJ freeway exits? originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 15 Jul 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New Jersey bill aims to ban driver's use of GPS while driving

Jonathon Ramsey — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 12:04:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Government/Legal, Safety, Technology

Satellite navigation systems - click above for high-res image gallery

It is already illegal to manually use a cell phone for texting or calling while driving in New Jersey. A state legislator has aimed at the next in-car distraction: GPS devices. Democratic Assemblyman Harvey Smith wants a ban on manually programming GPS devices while driving. You would need to pull over to input your destination, or have a voice-operated unit. Punishment otherwise would be a $100 fine.

Probably every single one of us has had to drive defensively around someone who was obviously not paying attention to their driving. At this point, the question in New Jersey is how many activities are they going to ban? And what makes a GPS unit worse than an MP3 player or those folks who drive with their knees while they eat?

Another Assemblyman, John Wisniewski, had proposed a blanket ban on distracted driving in 2006 but that was passed over in favor of the cell phone-specific ban. New Jersey also already has a law against careless driving, which carries a $100 fine and two points on your license. Smith's proposed law would give New Jersey officers -- Smith is an undersheriff -- a specific behavior to target, but it all seems a bit scattershot in light of the copious distracting activities drivers engage in. Hat tip to Rich!

Gallery: Satellite navigation systems

[Source: Daily Record | Gallery Images: Getty]

New Jersey bill aims to ban driver's use of GPS while driving originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 21 Jun 2009 12:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Over 370 BMWs bound for New Jersey port damaged in shipping

Merritt Johnson — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 19:32:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., BMW

Click the image above for a high-res view.

The carrier M/V Courage tipped at the port in Jersey City on Friday causing damage to over 370 BMWs. The ship was loaded with new 3-series and 1-series vehicles, including new M3s. Around 70 of the damaged cars are reported to be total losses with others sustaining major damage. Word is that the M3s bared the brunt of the brutality. Extensively damaged cars will be crushed while those with minor damage will undergo repair at a receiving facility in Elizabeth, NJ, after which they will proceed onto dealers. Bimmers destined for European delivery customers were also on board, although it's not clear how those buyers will be handled in the wake of the incident.

This is a particularly harsh hit to BMW in terms of the new M3 and even more so for the owners awaiting their new V8-powered uber-coupes. We'd expect this unfortunately event will lead to an extension of the waiting period many potential customers will have to endure. It also means many dealerships are out of luck for a demo car. With the M3's competition coming on strong from the likes of Lexus, Cadillac and Mercedes one can only imagine this sort of setback might steer away a few potential buyers.

Thanks for the tip Carl!

[Source M3Forum.com]

Gallery: BMW M/V Courage Shipping Damage

Over 370 BMWs bound for New Jersey port damaged in shipping originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 14 Jan 2008 19:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Audi dealer lucky to be alive after being sandwiched by runaway rig, tour bus

Chris Paukert — Sun, 19 Mar 2006 11:30:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Etc., Safety, Videos, Hatchback, Audi

A New Jersey Audi dealer is counting his blessings after a frightening crash left him with surprisingly minor injuries. The crash happened when an overloaded, bald-tired 18-wheeler careened into Bryan Pacelli's lane crushing his Audi TT against a barrier, just in time for a charter bus to sandwich him from behind. The whole incident was captured in dramatic fashion by a dash cam mounted on the trailing bus.

Pacelli, 39, is expected to make a full recovery, and credits the TT with saving his life. When asked about his next vehicle choice, he says he plans on buying a bigger car. May we suggest something in an S4, Bryan?

[Source: KATU]

Video: Audi dealer lucky to be alive after being sandwiched by runaway rig, tour bus originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 19 Mar 2006 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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