In September 2009, David and Linda Kubert were riding their motorcycle in Mine Hill, NJ when they were struck by an 18-year-old driver. The couple each lost a leg to amputation. Driver Kyle Best "received summons for using a cell phone without a hands-free device, careless driving and making an unsafe lane change." Best had been receiving text messages from his girlfriend, Shannon Colonna, and the Kuberts were trying to hold her liable for causing the grievous crash. However, today a judge ruled that Colonna could not be sued. more ›

Earlier this week a woman became the latest humiliating statistic in the War On Twexting. Bonnie Miller was texting and walking simultaneously on a pier in Michigan on Monday when she walked right off of the edge and fell into the water (she's okay!). Sadly, the incident wasn't caught on film, so cannot be added to the expansive video library of archival footage documenting the Texting Zombie for future generations to gaze upon, confused. Because in the future, there will be no Texting Zombies—our War On Twexting will eventually eradicate this method of multitasking, right? We need to believe. more ›

Remember last month, when a cyclist was really pissed that another cyclist locked in his bike, so he made a video about it? Well, apparently that same guy, Casey Neistat, has a penchant for making videos about small-scale street annoyances, and he's back with a new one focused around the hidden dangers of texting while walking. more ›

It's been nearly two years since New York State banned texting-while-driving and two months since Governor Cuomo signed a stricter law that categorized texting as a "primary traffic offense," making it easier for the police to pull over drivers for texting (and especially—we hope—sexting). Not only does the offense carry a penalty of two points on a driving record and a $150 fine, it also causes worried drivers to send mistaken texts while trying to conceal their phones from the cops (which, obviously, causes actual accidents). more ›

After several fatal car accidents in recent years, NY has been trying to crack down on texting-while-driving. And now, the State Senate has passed a bill which will make it infinitely easier for police to pull over people for the offense. Which means no more romancing while driving, as well. more ›

The NYPD is almost halfway through its 24-hour crackdown (it started at midnight) on drivers who are using cell phones. Here's what NY's Finest had to say about the effort: more ›

In 2007, Brooklyn Sen. Carl Kruger proposed a ban on talking on cell phones, texting or listening to music through headphones while crossing the street. And though for three years most people have thought the idea is crazy, he's using the recent tragic case of Jason King as an example. King was hit by a truck on the Upper East Side, and investigators believe he was listening to his iPod while crossing the street. Kruger said, "We have people who are literally dying in the street." However, he has lost some support. more ›

First catpacks, and now solar garbage cans... what can't Park Slope deliver? According to FIPS, some "Big Belly solar powered garbage cans are going to be installed in various spots along Fifth Avenue. They are apparently each outfitted with a solar powered trash compactor, which reduces the need to empty them as much." more ›

Though Jenn Sterger lost her opportunity to file a lawsuit against Brett Favre for sextual harassment while he was a Jet, the now-former QB's seductive endeavors will not be going unpunished. He's already been fined $50,000 by the NFL for his misconduct, and now two massage therapists have filed a suit against Favre and the New York Jets, claiming they lost their jobs with the team after complaining about sexually suggestive texts they received from him. They also say the Jets fostered "a hotbed of sexual harassment, sexism and inappropriate behavior." more ›

And the great Brett Favre Sextgate saga continues! When we last left you, Favre had allegedly asked Jets sideline reporter Jenn Sterger for a video of her masturbating, and Sterger wasn't quite sure whether she was going to sue. The results of the NFL's investigation into the incident were handed to NFL commissioner Roger Goodell three weeks ago, and Goodell says any decision on discipline will be coming "soon." But Sterger's lawyer is accusing the NFL of giving Favre preferential treatment! more ›

According to the LA Times, cell phone confiscations within the California Department of Corrections has jumped almost 7,000 from just three years ago, and among the prisoners caught with phones is none other than serial killer Charles Manson. Manson was caught calling and texting numbers in California, New Jersey, Florida and Canada. California DoC spokeswoman Terry Thornton said, "I don't know, but it's troubling that he had a cellphone since he's a person who got other people to murder on his behalf." Maybe he was just excitedly texting that "Helter Skelter" is finally on iTunes. more ›

According to a new study from Opera Software, just 44% of Americans ages 18-27 have used their cell phones to ask someone out on a date. By comparison, 84% of both German and Chinese kids had done so. Well yeah, when you've been banned from sexting all that's left is romance. more ›

Finally, a use for texting that doesn't involve sexting, car accidents, or acquitted rapists: A teen and his grandfather were literally trapped in the mud Wednesday night when their canoe capsized after duck hunting in the Hudson River's Tivoli Bays. Thomas Mulvaney, 17, and Christopher Hoffman, 73, were dripping wet and stuck without a way to get out, and their phones weren't able to make calls. But Mulvaney was still able to text for help, and they were saved after three hours. The Dutchess County sheriff's office said the pair "started to have the onset of hypothermia. There was a definite risk of life-threatening issues," while Hoffman said, "Without that cell phone of his, we would have been in deep shit." more ›

The 7 train motorman caught texting on the job by a straphanger has reportedly turned himself in to transit officials and has been removed from his post. In the video, the motorman is seen texting with one hand while the other is on the train's controls, all while the train is in motion. He only occasionally looks up, and doesn't stop texting until he realizes he is being recorded. One viewer previously told NY1 "It's dangerous and it's not safe. It's just like if you're driving a car, you shouldn't do it. I don't think you should be driving a train and doing it either." more ›

We're not entirely sure why city workers don't realize there is an army of citizen reporters waiting to post videos of their unlawful antics on the Internet, but it's about time they were made aware. City transit officials are investigating the case of a 7 train motorman caught texting while driving the Queens-bound train on Friday morning. An anonymous straphanger caught video of the motorman on his phone, who quickly stopped once he saw he was being recorded. The straphanger told NY1, "I was a bit perturbed to see that the driver of the train was text messaging and his eyes were on his cell phone and not at all on the tracks." more ›

This week, Timothy West was acquitted of all charges related to the rape of a 21-year-old Applebee's waitress in Ozone Park. And then he was shipped right back to prison, where he is serving out a seven-year prison term for an attempted burglary in another case. The Daily News was able to get a jailhouse interview with him and ask about the attempted rape charges: "I never raped her and the jury saw that. I don't know why she'd say that, but it's not true. I have sisters. My mother raised me. I would never disrespect a woman like that. It's just wrong." more ›

We were surprised yesterday when Timothy West, the man who was accused of breaking into the Ozone Park home of an Applebee's waitress, raping her twice at knife-point, and then later texting her for a date, was acquitted of all charges. This was despite the fact that the waitress had convinced West to call her, and got him to apologize for the crime on the phone, which was recorded by police and later played for jurors. It turns out that the jury flat out didn't believe the waitress's story. more ›

There comes a time in every great unsubstantiated sext messaging controversy when the pursuit of truth falls to the wayside, and the buxom, corset-wearing vultures swoop in for a piece of the media pie. And we're ok with that, because every time another person alleges to have seen grandfather Brett Favre's naked penis in a picture message, a Green Bay Packers fan gets their wings. more ›

In Queens court yesterday, jurors heard the tape of the Applebee's waitress setting up her alleged rapist after he texted her for a second date. "Yeah, what's goin', girl? Some police to my sister's crib all lookin' for me...So, you mad at me?" Timothy West asked his victim. She confronted him about breaking into her parents house in Ozone Park, raping her twice by knife-point: "What do you mean, I'm mad at you? Of course, you know, I don't know you like that, and just over here, raping me and everything with a knife in your hand. Damn! What you gotta say about that?" more ›

New York's ban on texting while driving went into effect last November, with drivers facing up to a $150 fine for what is considered a secondary offense. However, that hasn't stopped drivers from hitting up their phones behind the wheel, as numerous accidents have shown. Now, the Highway Loss Data Institute is saying texting bans may be making texting-related accidents increase. more ›

Since the Mets' season is effectively over, pitcher Francisco Rodriguez headed to court today to surrender on charges of violating an order of protection for his girlfriend. See, a judge orders you not to contact your girlfriend after (allegedly) punching her dad, contact includes text messages like "Your parents are manipulating you like a marionette." more ›

Despite recent news to the contrary, texting isn't always bad. In fact, it won one East New York teen $50,000 at the National Texting Championship. Brianna Hendrickson, who is 13 and has been texting since 4th grade, has been nicknamed the "Michael Jordan of Texting" (yes, that's a thing now) and won the championship by texting a verse of "Old McDonald" in 60 seconds. And while there are worse things you can win money for, we still can't get over the fact that this is now considered a talent. Well congrats, kid, it's all downhill from here. more ›

Now that everyone feels nice and safe about the roads after the crash caused by texting in Brooklyn, the MTA reports that they've caught 178 bus drivers texting, and 14 for eating or reading while driving just this year. And depending on their records, some of the drivers were merely "reprimanded" rather than suspended or dismissed. more ›

The family of deliveryman Tian Sheng Lin, who has been declared brain dead after being struck by a texting teenage driver, says they're not ready to take him off life support yet. His daughter told ABC 7, "I hope he could wake-up because we still need him." But the family's lawyer, whom they hired to sue 19-year-old driver Nechama Rothberger, says the situation looks grim. He told the Daily News, "It would take a miracle, but the family is still hoping for recovery." Though it's no comfort for Lin's family, there is hope that the incident may motivate legislators to enact harsher punishments for drivers too busy texting to pay attention to the road. more ›

Tian Sheng Lin, the 53-year-old deliveryman struck by texting teen Nechama Rothberger as she was driving down Avenue P Sunday night, has been declared brain dead at Kings County Hospital. Rothberger was charged with misdemeanor reckless driving and using a mobile phone while driving, but at her arraignment last night her lawyer said she "didn't hit him intentionally. It was merely an accident." Oh, well that changes everything! Investigators found a half-written outgoing message on her phone. more ›

A Brooklyn teenager has been arrested after she struck and critically injured a 53-year-old delivery man. Nechama Rothberger was driving down Avenue P near East 17th Street around 11:45 p.m. when she slammed into Best China Restaurant deliveryman Tian Sheng Lin, who was riding a motorized scooter. Rothberger was distracted because she was texting. more ›

Here in America, we want to text however and wherever we damn please. While driving, while falling down manholes, whatever. But some fancy shmancy British scientist is trying to tell us our brains can't handle texting while walking. Look, just because your accent makes you sound smarter on TV doesn't mean you can tell us what to do. more ›