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Albany, NY - Senate Votes to Outlaw Texting While Driving |
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Published on:
Jul 16, 2009 at 05:50 PM
News Source: AP
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Albany, NY - The New York Senate has agreed to outlaw use of portable electronic devices to text, play games or surf the Web while driving.
Drivers could face fines up to $150 for using handheld devices or laptops to send text messages or read, view or transmit images or data. Fines could be imposed only as a secondary offense after a driver is pulled over for breaking another law. It's already illegal in the state to talk on a cell phone while driving.
The Assembly already approved the bill.
Meanwhile Republican senators late Thursday afternoon say Democratic leaders are still putting off a floor vote on a measure to reinstate mayoral control of New York City schools. Democrats say talks about revisions continue.
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Read Comments (12) — Post Yours »
1
Jul 16, 2009 at 06:27 PM Dov Says:
Really? Can we take showers while driving ?
2
Jul 16, 2009 at 06:22 PM Anonymous Says:
It should also be illegal to walk across a traffic intersection while texting, or to ride a bicycle, motorcycle or moped while texting. A few days ago a woman fell into an open manhole while texting while she was walking. She wasn't seriously hurt, but might have been if she had fell differently.
3
Jul 16, 2009 at 06:33 PM ....Curiositee Says:
isnt this against the first amendment of the Constatution???freedmom of speech or writing????does anyone know???
4
Jul 16, 2009 at 07:39 PM Anonymous Says:
“ isnt this against the first amendment of the Constatution???freedmom of speech or writing????does anyone know??? ”
whether it is or not, its just common sense that if you are the one driving, you should not be doing something which (a) ties up your hands and (b) distracts you from what you are doing. do you really need someone to tell you that when yu are driving your eyes should be on the road? if you do, then perhaps you should not be driving.
5
Jul 16, 2009 at 08:45 PM cp Says:
“ isnt this against the first amendment of the Constatution???freedmom of speech or writing????does anyone know??? ”
Are you serious? My right to be protected by stupid dangerous people texting while driving is more important than your "right to text."
6
Jul 16, 2009 at 08:33 PM Shloimie Says:
isnt this against the first amendment of the Constatution???freedmom of speech or writing????does anyone know???
I do not think they are limiting your speech or writing, they are insisting you do so in a way that is not dangerous to others. On might argue that your spelling needs limiting for the same reasons.
I beg all among us to personally limit or stop all illegal and/or dangerous use of cellphones while driving! There have been accidents, close calls and close calls that the driveris still not aware of because she was too busy talking on the phone to realize.
7
Jul 16, 2009 at 09:08 PM professor Says:
real dfficult to inforce--one can always claim they were dialing, which is legal.
8
Jul 16, 2009 at 10:22 PM Anonymous Says:
“ whether it is or not, its just common sense that if you are the one driving, you should not be doing something which (a) ties up your hands and (b) distracts you from what you are doing. do you really need someone to tell you that when yu are driving your eyes should be on the road? if you do, then perhaps you should not be driving.
”
BS - Unless they also legislate to make drinking coffee while driving illegal, or eating while driving illegal, that argument holds no water.
9
Jul 18, 2009 at 10:28 PM SS Says:
“ BS - Unless they also legislate to make drinking coffee while driving illegal, or eating while driving illegal, that argument holds no water. ”
Texting uses different parts of your brain and takes a lot more concentration than eating and drinking. It's a lot easier to eat and talk than it is to text and talk at the same time....plus you can't look at your phone and the road at the same time. So it seems like this law would prevent a lot of accidents if enforced.
10
Jul 19, 2009 at 09:24 AM A. Nuran Says:
“ isnt this against the first amendment of the Constatution???freedmom of speech or writing????does anyone know??? ”
No. It is well-established that your rights end when they are an immediate threat to the safety or rights of others. Your right to own a gun ends when you point it at innocent people. Your right to freedom of religion does not extend to sacrificing people to Offler the Crocodile diety. And your freedom of speech does not include using an electronic device in a way which makes you a danger to the life of everyone around you.
11
Jul 19, 2009 at 08:04 PM A. Nuran Says:
Professor, nothing's simpler than getting a Court order to check the suspect's phone records. At that point the cop adds "giving false statements to a police officer" to the list of charges.
12
Jul 19, 2009 at 09:43 PM Anonymous Says:
I am 10000000% for this law... Most of my work is done by phone, text and email and I never text while for a few years now since I came inches away from hitting someone because of it. Happy I didnt have to learn the hard way.
Its much worse than being on the phone... Get a bluetooth and talk all you want..
This should be enforced for cops as well. Cant tell you how many times I see cops just cruising around with their cell phones glued to their ears.