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Theres another reason not to text and drive or talk on a cell phone without a hands-free device while behind the wheel.Motorists caught doing so will soon face stricter penalties now that Gov. Andrew Cuomo has signed legislation making it a primary offense. That means law enforcement now has the power to stop drivers for engaging in such activity.In addition, the penalty has been increased for using a cell phone without a hands-free device. Motorists will now face three points on their license, rather than two."It's plain and simple," said Cuomo. "Distracted driving leads to tragedies that have affected families all across New York. The new law will help ensure that drivers keep their eyes on the road and hands on the wheel."
Illegal activity includes holding an electronic device and:
*Composing, sending, reading, accessing, browsing, transmitting, saving or retrieving electronic data such as e-mail, text messages or webpages.
*Viewing, taking or transmitting images
*Playing games
The law does not penalize drivers using a handheld electronic device that is affixed to a surface or a GPS device that is attached to vehicles. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 16% of fatal accidents in 2009 were due to distracted driving.
The new law goes into effect immediately. The monetary penalty for violation of the new law remains $150.
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