What's happening
This bill prohibits pedestrians from using portable electronic devices while crossing a roadway, with exceptions for emergency situations and certain officials.
Why it matters
Aims to reduce pedestrian distractions. by making it illegal to use handheld electronic devices (phones, tablets, gaming devices, etc.) while crossing any roadway, potentially lowering the risk of accidents caused by inattentive walking.
Defines "use" and "device" broadly. , covering not just texting but also browsing, emailing, gaming, taking/transmitting images, or any activity involving communication or data on a portable electronic device, which means many common behaviors are affected.
Includes exceptions for emergencies and officials. , allowing device use only when contacting emergency services or when used by authorized personnel (police, firefighters, emergency vehicle operators) performing their duties, ensuring critical communications aren’t penalized.
Imposes escalating fines for repeat offenses. ($25 for a first violation, $50 for subsequent violations within 18 months), signaling a shift toward enforcement and public awareness rather than just education, which may influence public behavior and local law enforcement practices.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Ban Phones While Crossing
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to transportation
- Print number 1516a
- Amend and recommit to transportation
- 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.
Ban Phones While Crossing
In Senate Committee · Transportation · Sponsor John Liu
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
1516--A
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 15, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. ORTIZ -- read once and referred to the Committee on Transportation -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee
AN ACT to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to prohibiting a pedestrian from using a portable electronic device while crossing a roadway
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The vehicle and traffic law is amended by adding a new section 1158 to read as follows:
§ 1158. Use of portable electronic devices. (a) No pedestrian shall cross a roadway at any point while using any portable electronic device.
(b) For purposes of this section: 1. "Portable electronic device" shall mean any handheld mobile telephone, as defined by subdivision one of section twelve hundred twenty-five-c of this title, personal digital assistant (PDA), handheld device with mobile data access, laptop computer, pager, broadband personal communication device, two-way messaging device, electronic game, or portable computing device, or any other electronic device when used to input, write, send, receive, or read text for present or future communication.
2. "Using" shall mean holding a portable electronic device while viewing, taking or transmitting images, playing games, or, for the purpose of present or future communication: performing a command or request to access a world wide web page, composing, sending, reading, viewing, accessing, browsing, transmitting, saving or retrieving e-mail, text messages, instant messages, or other electronic data.
(c) Subdivision (a) of this section shall not apply to: 1. the use of a portable electronic device for the sole purpose of communicating with any of the following regarding an emergency situation: an emergency response operator; a hospital; a physician's office or health clinic; an
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD05834-03-9
A. 1516--A 2
ambulance company or corps; a fire department, district or company; or a police department; and
2. any of the following persons while in the performance of their official duties: a police officer or peace officer; a member of a fire department, district or company; or the operator of an authorized emergency vehicle as defined in section one hundred one of this chapter.
(d) A violation of this section shall be punishable by a fine of twenty-five dollars upon conviction of a first violation; upon conviction of a second or subsequent violation, both of which were committed within a period of eighteen months, such violations shall be punished by a fine of fifty dollars.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.