Politics & Government

New Law Increases Penalties For Texting While Driving

Cuomo signs new law aimed at distractions for young drivers.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed new legislation Monday aimed at preventing texting behind the wheel in New York State — especially among teens. 

The legislation stiffens penalties, including increasing the number of points a driver receives on their license if they're caught in violation.

Cuomo announced at the end of May that this summer would see increased enforcement of existing texting laws by state troopers on New York's highways.

That enforcement is on top of an increase in distracted driving tickets between 2011 and 2012 of more than 200 percent. 

During the bill-signing Monday, Cuomo noted that over the last decade, texting and distracted driving had become a larger problem for drivers even than drinking, and that young drivers were disproportionately impacted because of their reliance on texting as the primary mode of communication.

"No parent should have to experience losing a child at the hands of a text message," the governor said in a statement in May. 

Cuomo spent a portion of the bill signing ceremony Monday talking directly to young drivers.

"We want young drivers to know right away: this is not OK," Cuomo said. "We know [the cell phone] is a big part of your life, we know it's an appendage attached to your body — not when you drive a car. ... Inattention and inexperience can be a death sentence."

One of the penalties aimed squarely at young drivers? A no-tolerance policy that provides the same penalties for distracted driving as for speeding or reckless driving. The new law can revoke a license for up to six months for an offense that happens twice in a six month period. 

What do you think? Good law? Overkill? Share your thoughts in the comments.


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