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After a day-long ticket blitz, the NYPD issued 9,016 tickets to drivers using their cellphones—all this in spite of the cops essentially warning people earlier this week that they'd be out in force.
The NYPD says that on an average day, they hand out 500 tickets to drivers with cellphone in one hand and the other on the wheel (hands-free cellphones are allowed, except for taxi drivers; last year, the NYPD issued 195,579 tickets). And the fine is $120—hello, seven-figure city revenue! But NYPD spokesman Paul Browne said, "The intent was not for revenue," it was to ending the "widespread ignoring of the prohibitions against using [non-hands-free] cellphones while driving."
Still, the Staten Island Advance noticed some drivers who were openly on their cellphones while crossing the dangerous intersection of Hylan Boulevard and New Dorp Lane: "It was hard to miss the worker in the white Bobco Construction van. He came through the intersection twice -- talking on his phone both times. He even answered the phone when the Advance called a cell phone number posted on the truck."
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I think this will have to be repeated more than a few times before people stop using their cell phones while driving. I still see people driving phone in hand.
It looks like the blitz wasn't that effective during the one day it was in effect. Have all those ticketed people never heard of bluetooth?
The stupidity of this law is not the distraction but the one handed driving while talking. So if a person has only one arm or anyone else driving with one hand while talking with a handsfree should also be receiving this ticket correct? Why are we not seeing that happening. Because it's stupid to try to associate one handed driving and talking on a cellphobe. That's why. Either ban all cellphones while driving with or without handsfree because of distraction, or get rid of this insane one handed driving while talking law.
Huh?
The law says you can talk on your phone while driving as long as you're not holding it and using handsfree so that apparently both hands are on the wheel. So if someone is talking on their handsfree but only using one hand to drive are they not doing exactly the same thing as the ones getting ticketed? The crime then seems to be the one handed driving while talking. So a one armed person or anyone driving one handed and talking should be guilty anytime they drive and speak. When this law was being discussed that one handed premise was the rationale, not the fact that handsfree devices gave you the same distraction because it's the yammering on the call that causes accidents not the physical act of driving one handed. This is a stupid law as is written. What's so hard to figure out about that?
rcltrh,
Try breaking the pills in half. Good luck.
LOL. Actually I don't have a problem with the cellphone law as I rarely drive. But it's all the ranting by the nypd and legislators about how dangerous talking while holding the phone is hence all the tickets whereas isn't it just as dangerous to be driving while on a handsfree device. Seriously has anyone done the research? My point is simply if driving holding the phone is dangerous, why not holding a drink, a bagel, your damned dog, or anything else that is currently lawful even while talking on a handsfree phone. Maybe I do need a pill. LOL.
And by the way, if you haven't figures out yet I DISAGREE with the law and thinks just another revenue generator. I don't think people should get tickets for talking on the held phone and not get then talking on handsfree. Holding the phone isn't the problem.
Clearly the law isn't perfect, but it's a good start. If the law banned any cellphone use while driving, it would be difficult to catch those who do use bluetooth.
So I'm okay with this approximation. If it helps save a life, great. I've seen drivers talking on their hand-held cellphones completely oblivious to their surroundings and only because of good defensive driving on the part of nearby drivers have accidents been avoided.
What's the "except" for taxi drivers? I'm not familiar with it.
I'm all for additional crack-downs and would include ANY talking on the phone by cab drivers. I am so tired of cabbies chatting and weaving all over the road. I've also noticed a lot more speeding and cabbies ignoring a hail because they're too distracted by their phones.
On a more dire note, my colleague was dragged by a cab last week (I was with him) because the cabbie was too busy talking on the phone while and didn't notice that we weren't totally in the car. Thankfully he was not injured but we were very close to the open door hitting a parked car, which would have swung back on him and definitely cause major injury.
I would like to add to the rider's bill or rights the provision that the driver NOT take phone calls.
"I would like to add to the [taxi] rider's bill or rights the provision that the driver NOT take phone calls."
It's already against the TLC's Driver Rules for a driver to use "a telephone" (how it's worded, so it covers hands-free as well) unless "legally standing or parked." The penalty is $200 (so regular drivers are getting off cheap) and two points on the hack license.
If I ever end up in Brooklyn again after a cabbie misses the turnoff for West St while on his cell phone, I'm charging the cabbie for my time.
I own neither a car nor a cell phone. I'm not laughing over this, but I approve.
This is good for everyone, even the person getting the ticket.
I believe that hands-free cellphones are allowed for regular drivers but not for taxi drivers.
From what I can find, it's not clear to me:
http://www.nydmv.state.ny.us/dmvfaqs.htm#cell
Vague Brochure...
Snippet of the Law
Me, I think this has more to do with revenue, but if it makes people be more careful, it is a good thing.
Sounds like $1M in tickets. Unfortunately, that will go to paying court fees and other administrative costs. But, its a way to close the budget gap. They should be out every other Friday, until they get less than 300 drivers at a time.
"What's the "except" for taxi drivers?
That's not state law, but there's a Taxi and Limousine Commission rule banning cab drivers from using any cell phone.
That's a good thing. I've asked Taxi's to get off the phone while driving and been refused.
Occasionally, they get off the phone when I ask if they want a tip.
It's amazing what can happen when laws are enforced.
I, for one, eagerly await the day when our robot overlords take over. Then people won't have the option of breaking laws. Gab all you want -- one-handed, two-handed, no-handed. The car will know where it's going, and it won't speed, run lights, make illegal turns, operate while intoxicated, cut off other drivers, bicyclists, pedestrians, etc. Human nature will not change anytime in the foreseeable future. The only way to make sure traffic laws are obeyed is to take control of cars away from humans.
every time i get in a cab the driver is always chatting away on the phone in urdu or creole. when i step in and tell them the directions, i have to repeat them over and over bc i seem to be interrupting their oh-so-important phone calls and they have no time to pay me attention. i would give anything to understand urdu -- i wonder how many terrorist plots are planned from these cabbie cellphones.
I cant stand drivers (pictured above) who need to hold a cellphone with their right hand up to their left ear. Not only is it the easiest way to get a ticket (harder for cops see the phone if its in your right hand up to your right ear) but its the most dangerous way to drive while talking on the phone.