US News

BLACKVERRY DANGEROUS BEHAVIOR

State transportation officials are “encouraging unsafe behavior” by drivers by providing the technology to check traffic conditions on their cellphones, a lawmaker charged yesterday.

“It puts the motorists in danger,” said Assemblyman Felix Ortiz (D-Brooklyn), who was one of the architects of the bill that bans yakking on cellphones while driving.

“The DOT should not be encouraging people to download that [information] into their BlackBerrys. People need to be serious about concentrating on driving.”

The state Department of Transportation has lined roadways with cameras that allow drivers to check on real-time traffic on the Internet at informny.mobi.

But the agency recently upgraded the system, allowing drivers to access the information on their cellphones, BlackBerrys and other handheld devices, which Ortiz said could tempt some motorists to check the ‘Net as they’re driving.

“I can see [drivers] trying to figure out if the BQE, Belt Parkway or Triborough is jammed on their BlackBerrys,” Ortiz said.

The public can now access cameras trained on Long Island, and Queens will come online this week. Cameras in Brooklyn and The Bronx will be upgraded in the next several months.

patrick.gallahue@nypost.com