Sent SMS in New Jersey while driving ? Blamed for accident

Strange ruling of a judge in New Jersey: One who sends a text message to his friend while the latter is driving, when the sender was aware of the fact that that the receiver is driving - would be charged in the event of an accident that occurred as a result, and the penalty will be imposed on him.

The decision , which already managed to cause a stir in the country, a judge ruled in a case against a young man of 17, who sent a year and a half ago a text message to his friend, when the latter was driving. The driver heard the buzz of an SMS which came in and looked in his cellular phone. As a result, he lost control of his vehicle and ran over a bicyclist passing by him - and wounded him.

The driver was brought before a judge discussing his case. During the hearing, the driver's lawyer claimed that the blame should be cast on his fellow – who sent the message – and not him. The curiosity kindled is incontrollable, he claimed.

During the judgment, the judge considered the arguments of the defendant and determined that indeed , if there is evidence that the one sending the message was aware of the situation of the receiver of the message, i.e. driving, the blame will fall on him and he will pay the fine imposed on the one who read the text message while driving...

"Tuvia chata veZigud mangid" , as the Gemora says. In the case of an accident, the sender will pay the expenses and insurance.

In the case at hand, the sender did not know that his friend was driving at the time, and therefore the blame was given only to the driver and not the other.

The ruling was received, as aforesaid, with astonishment. From now on, according to the standards of the justice of the court, a man would sit at home, will send a text message or will beep the Twitter innocently, and on a clear day he could receive at home a penalty and possibly an order for investigation.

'בחדרי' גם ברשתות החברתיות - הצטרפו!