New York Bans Texting While Driving; Follows Executive Order for Federal Workers
Effective November 1, New York became the latest state to ban texting while driving. The new law specifically prohibits the use of mobile devices for reading, typing and sending out text messages while driving.
The law is a “secondary law;” that is, a driver must be pulled over for another reason in order to be fined for texting while driving. A driver can be fined up to $150 per violation.
In early October, President Obama signed an Executive order prohibiting some 4.5 million workers, including U.S. postal workers and military personnel, from texting while driving government vehicles, driving their own vehicles while on company business or using government-supplied devices while driving.
Colorado and North Carolina texting bans will take effect December 1, and Illinois, Oregon and New Hampshire will enforce their bans on January 1.
You should never do anything while driving; drinking, eating and any other activity that distracts you and otherwise takes your focus from the road, even for an instant, could create a dangerous situation, both for yourself and others.