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Gov. Cuomo delivered a stern message to motorists yesterday: DETAI — when it comes to texting and driving, Don’t Even Think About It!
The governor signed into law one of the toughest measures in the nation banning the use of hand-held devices while behind the wheel.
“This bill will save lives — period,” Cuomo said during a bill-signing ceremony at the Javits Center.
The law makes using a hand-held device a primary offense, authorizing police officers to stop and ticket drivers they see texting or fumbling with a hand-held electronic device.
Under previous law, cops could only issue a traffic violation for “distracted driving” if they pulled over the motorist for a different offense.
The law, which goes into effect immediately, issues three points against a driver’s license for using a hand-held device while driving, up from two points. A motorist could lose a license for racking up 11 points in moving violations over 18 months.
A texting motorist also faces a fine of $150.
Cuomo warned that drivers merely caught holding a hand-held device will still get slapped with a ticket.
“If you’re holding the device in your hands,” he said, “the presumption is you’re using it.”
In a poignant moment, Cuomo was joined by family members of Tian Sheng Lin. Lin, a delivery man, was mowed down in Brooklyn last September by a distracted teen motorist who was texting while driving.
“I think the law is justified because it will be safe and make every household safe. It could save lives,” said Lin’s wife, Zhang Xiu Ying, who choked up when Cuomo signed the law.
“I think there’s nothing I can do, but I do want to send this message,” she said.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported that one of every six fatal accidents in 2009 was caused by distracted driving. Twenty percent of crashes that resulted in injuries involved drivers using hand-held devices.
The law does not penalize drivers using an electronic device or a GPS that is fixed to a surface inside the vehicle.
Also exempted are motorists trying to contact police or other emergency services.