Results tagged “texting”

The NYC Transit bus driver who struck and killed 22-year-old Seth Kahn last week is probably regretting some previous Facebook status updates. Following the accident last Wednesday, it came out that Jeremy Philhower had been suspended previously for texting and updating his Facebook while on the job.

Following the death of 22-year-old Seth Kahn, who was struck by a city bus on West 53rd and 9th last week, there's some talk about bus drivers texting while on the job. The driver in this particular incident was Jeremy Philhower, who had been suspended for texting and updating his Facebook with disparaging comments about his riders while behind the wheel. Last Wednesday, when he hit Kahn, was his first day back on the job — if NYC Transit concludes that he could have prevented the accident, they could file charges and fire him.

Last Wednesday morning a 22-year-old Seth Kahn was struck and killed by a bus while crossing the street at West 53rd Street and 9th Avenue. Area residents noted that the intersection was dangerous, one being hit there just two months ago. Now the Daily News reports on the bus driver's history.

NYC Transit is investigating an incident where a passenger photographed an X5 bus driver texting while on the FDR Drive and Gowanus Expressway. The passenger told Staten Island Advance, "He must have texted three or four times. I remember there was one instance on the FDR where he rolled into the right lane but quickly corrected himself. It was pretty frightening. We had a full bus...and even he wasn't wearing his seatbelt. I really don't get it."

Move over, NYPD 24-hour cellphone use-while-driving ticket blitzes—tomorrow, the NY State's ban on texting while driving goes into effect. But, the AP points out, "The new law, however, is considered a secondary offense, meaning the driver must have committed a primary offense -- such as speeding, disobeying a traffic signal or other violation -- in order to receive a ticket." Fines can be up to $150; the law doesn't apply to GPS or handsfree phone use.

Since 12:01 a.m., the NYPD has been doing this crazy thing whereby they enforce the law, issuing tickets to drivers using portable electronic devices in one of their regular 24-hour sting operations. And one driver we know has already gotten nailed. The scofflaw, who asked to remain anonymous, was shocked to find that he was being ticketed for what the cop perceived as sending a text message. But he wasn't texting, ociffer!

On November 1st, a new law banning texting or using electronic devices like iPods and laptops while driving goes into effect in New York State. But Senator Chuck Schumer announced yesterday at one of his patented Sunday press conferences that he's pushing for a nationwide ban on texting. Schumer cited data showing that text-messaging while driving has resulted in almost 100 teen deaths over the last five years in the city and on Long Island.

The U.S. Department of Transportation is holding a "Distracted While Driving" Summit, which will give recommendations for better road safety in the day of texting and more. DOT Secretary Ray LaHood said, "We can really eliminate texting while driving. That should be our goal." How, it's unclear—the NY Times has a story on road warriors who turn their cars into offices and email while zipping down highways. One such driver said, "It’s an adrenaline rush. It’s the buzz we all get of trying to do everything you can in business." Also, what about when you use your cell phone to find parking spaces?

Yesterday, Governor Paterson signed a bill that bans texting while driving. Now driver will be prohibited from texting or using electronic devices like iPods and laptops—or else they'll be fined $150; the ban also extends to reading the devices and sending images while the vehicle is moving. Governor Paterson said, "The risks associated with texting while driving are well documented. As we learn more and more about just how dangerous this practice can be, I urge all New Yorkers to drive with caution and get in the habit of putting their cell phones away while driving to protect their own lives and the lives of others." The Elmira-Star Gazette adds, "The new law also includes measures aimed at making teens safer drivers. It requires 30 additional supervised driving hours before new drivers can take a road test and reduces from two to one the number of passengers under 21 allowed in a vehicle with a new driver when a supervising adult is not present." The dangers of texting while driving are the centerpiece of that distressing video from Wales, showing young women in a terrible crash (video after the jump).

Round Two of the NYPD's smackdown on drivers using cell phones for phone calls, texting and emails fell short of the over 9,000 tickets that went out during March's one-day sting. But the city almost certainly cracked the seven-figure mark once again during Thursday's 24-hour ticket blitz, issuing 7,432 tickets at $130 a piece ($200 for cab drivers). Could a 15% drop mean that New Yorker drivers have begun to curb their cellphone usage? Or are they just paying closer attention when the NYPD publicly alerts them to the fact that thirteen times as many tickets will be given out that day? A Daily News writer gives a account of getting nailed for using her Blackberry while driving by Ground Zero on Thursday, taking us through the play-by-play of what getting a ticket is like: "I handed over my license and registration, sat patiently for a few minutes, then took my lumps without saying a word."

An NYPD officer has been suspended without pay after being charged with roughing up his girlfriend earlier this week. 24-year-old Roberto Pagan was arraigned yesterday after the altercation took place Wednesday night at Hylan Boulevard and Tysens Lane in the New Dorp section of Staten Island. A source tells the SI Advance that at around 8:30, Pagan and his girlfriend "exchanged heated words over what he was texting" before he then allegedly began choking her and punched her in the eye. Pagan is relatively new to the force, having been on for around 18 months. At his arraignment for misdemeanor charges of assault and attempted assault, a judge ordered that the Graniteville native turn over all firearms—including his his police weapon. His girlfriend was treated for bruises at Staten Island Hospital before being released

Check it out, the State Senate did something! Look at them go up there in Albany, passing bills and not locking each other out of the Senate chambers: Just yesterday they voted 57-1, all by themselves, to pass a bill prohibiting drivers from text messaging or using any electronic devices—including iPods—while their cars are in motion. The bill's been a long time coming (a similar version was passed by the Assembly a while ago) and it will become law in November once Governor Paterson lowers his head to paper and signs it. Drivers caught violating the law will be hit with a $150 fine, but it could only be imposed as a secondary offense, when a driver gets pulled over for another violation. Still, some motorists approve; Dave St. Bernard tells the Post, "Sometimes I text and drive. I'm sure it is dangerous, but you get complacent sometimes as a driver. You think you can handle anything on the roads that comes your way." Lawmakers were motivated to pass the bill in part by a horrible accident in 2007, when an SUV driven by a texting teen collided with a tractor trailer in Ontario County. But when will government do something about texting while walking?

Continuing the "OMG, SRSLY" story of the Staten Island teen who fell into an open manhole while text messaging, 15-year-old Alexa Longueira has been speaking with the media about her ordeal. Apparently DEP workers left the the open manhole to retrieve some orange cones—and it took a little too long for them to return. She told WCBS 2, "It was just really gross and it was shocking and scary. Because of their careless mistake I got hurt... Regardless of whether I'm texting or not if there was a cone there I'm gong to see a big orange cone. I walk that sidewalk every day, I don't expect a big hole there." So, if there was a big orange, she TOTALLY would have seen it while texting, instead of the manhole, right?

A social studies teacher at an upstate high school was arrested for allegedly sending explicit messages—like "naked pictures please" and "these are so hot give me some more baby"—to a 16-year-old student. And apparently the Newark Valley High School teacher had already been warned by the principal not to contact the girl! John M. Puglisi, 29, was "charged with one count of using a cell phone in an effort to engage someone younger than 18 in sexual activity. " He also reportedly bought the girl the cell phone. Earlier this week, the Post had an article warning peoples about the dangers of teen "sexting," reporting, "A nearly naked 15-year-old Manhattan girl bent over in front of a mirror, put a camera between her legs and, click, sent a photo of her nude backside to her boyfriend - who then had no problem forwarding the pics to The Post." It's unclear whether a clicking noise for the camera phone would prevent teens from making bad decisions.

A state senator from Long Island is proposing that texting on one's mobile phone while driving should be illegal. It's already against the law to talk on a phone while one is driving. Studies have shown that that is about as distracting as being drunk behind the wheel. One can only imagine how distracting texting--which involves digital manipulation and reading, versus simply talking--could be in comparison.

Miguel Matias called 911 yesterday morning to confess to police that he had strangled his daughter. He lied, however, about where he placed her body. The 34-year-old building superintendent told cops that he killed the 14-year-old girl because she wouldn't stop texting or instant messaging a boy, and that he then dumped her body in the woods. When police searched the Bronx building where he worked, however, they found the partially burned body of a girl shoved into the building's basement boiler.