Suffolk County Outlaws Texting While Driving

Suffolk County on Long Island has become the first place in New York State where it's illegal to send text messages while operating a motor vehicle. Effective immediately, drivers spotted fiddling with their cell phones will face a $150 fine. Similar legislation has been passed in Nassau and Westchester counties but has not gone into effect, and a statewide law is still tied up in the legislature. In August, New York City Councilman David Weprin also introduced a bill that would make texting while driving illegal. The father of twin 16-year-old girls, Weprin said he was motivated by last summer’s fatal accident in the Finger Lakes, in which five girls in a sport utility vehicle died when the text-messaging teenage driver swerved into oncoming traffic.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By John Del Signore in News on September 17, 2008 10:07 AM

Comments [rss]

glob

You also can't search through your iPod, or change the radio station. And forget reaching over to use your winshield wipers, headlights, or turn signal.

"drivers spotted fiddling with their cell phones will face a $150 fine"

-"I wasn't sending a text message officer, I was reading one!"

babyhitler

I saw this asian dude do it at an intersection and then the light turned green and he was slowly inching up while texting. Dude's asian and he's texting. It's just a matter of time til he kills someone

Rocknrope

Nice one Zodak.

Next up on the ban list, no blindfolded magic tricks!

Rob T Firefly

Is this ban strictly for text messages, or does it include sending email as well?Emails are text messages.

zodak

omg 5-0 c me, brb

ianmac47

Is this ban strictly for text messages, or does it include sending email as well?

mocanlagunas

There are people stupid enough (see LA train crash and some others)... $150 is nothing. They should be, I don't know, lobotomized maybe...

ChampionOfTheSun

If you text while driving, you are beyond stupid. It's almost as bad as driving drunk, because you're not paying attention to the road. I'd like to see harsh penalties for it.

RoDogg

I think that picture says a thousand words. I believe women mostly do this compared to guys.

jennesy

Are people really that stupid to text while they're driving that we need to outlaw it? Talking on the phone with a hand-held device I can see (but don't agree with) - you can keep your eyes on the road. But texting? You need to look down at least once!