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Senator · Senate District 5
History
- Referred to transportation
- Returned to senate
- Died in assembly
- Referred to transportation
- Delivered to assembly
- Passed senateVote 57–3
- Amended on third reading (t) 998b
- Advanced to third reading
- 2nd report cal.
- 1st report cal.129
- Print number 998a
- Amend and recommit to transportation
Show 1 earlier action
- Referred to transportation
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Relates to the use of portable electronic devices while driving
In Assembly Committee · Transportation · Sponsor Harvey Weisenberg
Full text
The text isn't available here yet. Check nysenate.gov.
Sponsor's memo
BILL NUMBER:S998B
Title of bill
An act to amend the vehicle and traffic law and the insurance law, in relation to the use of portable electronic devices while driving
Purpose
This legislation would make the texting while driving offense a primary violation.
Summary of provisions
Amends subdivisions 1 and 2 of section 1225-c to clarify the definition of using a hand-held mobile device.
Amends subdivision 6 of section 1225-d of the vehicle and traffic law, as added by chapter 403 of the laws of 2009 amending the vehicle and traffic law to strike language that prevents texting while driving from being a primary violation of the vehicle and traffic law.
Amends the Vehicle and Traffic Law and the insurance law to include a cell phone safety component to the Department of Motor Vehicles pre-licensing course.
Justification
The explosion of the popularity of texting created a new driver distraction that can lead to tragedy. Texting while driving increases the chance of getting into an accident. A person simply cannot drive attentively when searching for the needed letters or symbols for texting.
According to studies done by AAA, any activity that takes a driver's attention off the road for more than two seconds can double a driver's risk of a crash. According to Zogby Poll, 66% of people between 18-24 send text messages while behind the wheel. A Harris Interactive poll found that 91% of Americans think that driving while texting is as dangerous as drunk driving. The seriousness of this growing problem mandates that the texting and driving law be a primary violation in New York State.
This legislation clarifies the current law in reference to use of a hand-held mobile device to assist law enforcement in enforcing the provisions of this section. The bill also includes provisions requiring a cell phone safety component to the Department of Motor Vehicles pre-licensing course.
Legislative history
Similar to S.6114-A of 2009/10
Fiscal implications
None.
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.