July 3, 2013 Distracted driving is currently a serious problem in New York, especially among young and inexperienced teen drivers. Data indicates that the number of Distracted Driving Accidents in the state grew by more than 100 percent between 2005 and 2011. In an effort to reduce the number of crashes, Gov. Andrew Cuomo recently signed a bill that will stiffen the penalties for motorists holding permits or junior licenses who are caught texting and driving in New York. According to a story released by WIVB 4 News, the new law states that the first time an individual is caught texting and driving, they will receive a 60 day license suspension. Every subsequent offense, permit holders will lose their driving privileges for six months, while junior license holders will not be able to drive for two months. Young drivers aren’t the only drivers facing stricter regulations on texting and driving. As part of the new law, all drivers who are cited for texting and driving will receive five points on their license instead of the current three. This makes the points for a texting offense the same as for a reckless driving offense. Troopers with the New York State Police say they will continue to focus their efforts on enforcement of the new laws. The Buffalo Personal Injury Lawyers at William Mattar Law Offices applaud the efforts made to keep New York’s highways free of motorists distracted by text messages!
Gov. Cuomo Signs Bill Creating Tougher Penalties for Texting and Driving