New law would see hefty fines for things like driving while drinking coffee

TRENTON, NJ - Are you ready to face a four-hundred dollar fine, for drinking coffee while driving?

A bill making its way through the New Jersey legislature takes distracted driving to new heights.

"If it saves lives, it could save your own life or someone else's as well."

Texting and talking on your phone is already illegal, but Assemblyman John Wisniewski wants to go even further.

He wants to ban things like eating, grooming and even drinking non-alcoholic beverages.

Wisniewski said, "Driving distractions cause over 400,000 injuries each year and over 3,000 fatalities. These are injuries and fatalities there are easily preventable."

Violators would face fines in the hundreds of dollars.

"I mean, I think it's a little excessive."

Repeat offenders could even lose their licenses.

Many New Jersey drivers say Wisniewski's proposal goes too far.

"You're just taking a cup and drinking like this like I'm talking to you, or eating...I don't think it affects your ability to keep your eyes on the road," one driver said.

"That's ridiculous. Four hundred dollars?" another driver said.

Similar bills introduced in the past have failed--mostly because lawmakers couldn't agree on how severe they should be.

Utah and Maine are the only two other states with highly-restrictive distracted driving laws.