NJ.com reported in “New legislation would stiffen penalties in road rage incidents” on November 13, 2008 that the Assembly Judiciary Committee in New Jersey unanimously approved legislation that would make road rage a specific type of assault by auto and increased the punishment for anyone convicted under the law to a potential prison sentence to up to three to five years and fines up to $15,000. The measure (A1561), named “Jessica’s Law” for Jessica Rogers, 20, of Hamilton, New Jersey, who was severely injured in a road rage incident, after a driver chased down another motorist he felt cut him off, speeding through traffic and passing cars before catching up to the other car. Rogers’ car hit a pole and she broke her neck. She became paralyzed from the chest down. The road rage driver was sentenced to 6 months in the Mercer County Jail and 5 years probation. He was released after 3 months.
When charged with road rage, a person should engage an experienced New Jersey criminal defense attorney. Stiffer penalties and jail time does not always need to be the result for road rage. On June 3, 2006, Green Gulch Farm in California hosted Company Time. Everyone gathered to discuss how to integrate spiritual practice in daily life. The event began with standing meditation and stretching where participants became more aware of their bodies versus their minds. Road rage happens because in everyday life, though the body makes up 95% of the person, and the mind 5%, people spend more time focusing on their minds than their bodies with worries and other thoughts. When someone cuts another off on the road, it is easy to feel belittled especially when the person may already feel down in life after a bad day at work or a low score from school.
Next, participants at Green Gulch engaged in sitting meditation where they became aware of their sufferings, and learned to see thoughts when they arose but returned their focus to their breath versus getting entangled in the thoughts. Participants learned active listening by conversing with each member for 5 minutes on topics without interruptions. To have safety for honest discussions, each member kept discussions confidential, not repeating anything outside of the room, or repeating back to the person his/her statements at a later time. Courageous conversations allowed for openness to address problems and change rage to kindness.
The event was meant to instill spaciousness, allowing someday for everyone to practice becoming compassionate. Punishing people with stiffer sentencing or fines for bad situations could lead to more road rage.
When faced with allegations of road rage, engage a New Jersey criminal defense attorney who knows how to argue compassion to reduce prison time and penalties. Contact the Law Office of Jason Volet at (732) 503-8968 or fill out the form on the right.
