Another measure aimed at cracking down on the use of cell phones while driving has been signed into law in New Jersey.

Instead of getting a traffic ticket, drivers who kill or injure someone while texting or talking on their cell phone could be sent to prison under the new law. It allows prosecutors to seek convictions for vehicular homicide or assault by auto.

Acting Governor Kim Guadagno signed the measure into law at a Statehouse ceremony.

“It is amazing to me that we have to sign a bill like this. It is amazing to me that people who wouldn’t dare get in a car and drink and drive, get in a car and text and drive. “

Angela Donato of Washington Township says her sister and nephew were killed when a driver distracted by his cellphone crashed into their car last year. She says that caused her family to change their driving habits.

 “We would always text and drive before, and we don’t text and drive anymore. You shouldn’t have to be personally affected by it, you shouldn’t have to lose someone in order to know that it’s so dangerous and nothing is worth losing your life over.”

Joyce Vence of Elizabeth says her mother was trying to cross the street when she was struck and killed by a driver who was talking on a cellphone. She wants people to be focused while driving.

 “You’re not even looking at the road when you’re texting and when you’re using a handheld cellphone which is already illegal you’re already breaking the law. So if you do choose to do that and you kill or seriously injure someone there has to be a penalty and now there will be.”

Assemblyman Paul Moriarty is one of the sponsors of the legislation. He says despite all the efforts to stop it, the problem of texting while driving keeps getting worse.

 “I don’t know whether this will be the final straw that gets people to understand that is bad behavior and dangerous behavior, but as the bodies pile up and people are injured and killed hopefully people are understanding they got to stop doing this.”