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Tougher Texting-While-Driving Law Has Loophole You Can Drive An SUV Through
By
John Del Signore
Published Jul 13, 2011
Modified Jul 13, 2011
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By
John Del Signore
Published Jul 13, 2011
Modified Jul 13, 2011
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Fun fact: While it's long been illegal for drivers to use handheld electronic devices while behind the wheel, this was a secondary traffic offense, which meant that a driver had to be stopped for another violation in order to receive a ticket. That changed yesterday, when Governor Coumo signed legislation that makes it a primary traffic offense, punishable by a fine of up to $150. At a dramatic signing ceremony at the Javits Center yesterday, Cuomo, flanked by state troopers, two squad cars, and an enormous electronic traffic sign, compared using a car to "driving a two-ton missile." It's a step in the right direction, at least until Cuomo gets that Hummer Defense Shield built.
"This will be enforced aggressively," Cuomo said before signing the bill into law, making New York State one of 27 other states nationwide with this kind of "distracted driving" law. The new guidelines explicitly prohibit holding an electronic device and "composing, sending, reading, accessing, browsing, transmitting, saving, or retrieving electronic data such as e-mail, text messages, or webpages." It also specifically prohibits "viewing, taking, or transmitting images."
Drivers are even forbidden to play games, and will now be forced to focus on the boring old road. Thankfully, there's a loophole: The law does not penalize drivers using a handheld electronic device that is affixed to a surface or using a GPS device that is attached to the vehicle. As one dissatisfied Streetsblog commenter points out, "This law is feeble. Drivers can velcro their phones to the dashboard or even the steering wheel and keep texting away. Somebody will probably invent an Ipad holder that goes in the middle of the steering column."
Tagged
distracted driving
driving while texting
governor cuomo
texting
John Del Signore
Originally from the Albany area, John Del Signore has called NYC home since 1995. In addition to his thousands of meticulously-crafted bespoke blog posts for Gothamist, his writing has also been published in The Awl, Deadspin, The Nervous Breakdown, and performed at The Brick Theater in Brooklyn.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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