Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced that the New York State Police issued 816 tickets for texting-while-driving violations over the Thanksgiving holiday.
Approximately 330 of the tickets were issued as a direct result of “Operation Hang-Up,” an enhanced enforcement campaign that was conducted from November 23-27. The additional tickets were issued by State Police conducting normal patrol operations.
From January to June, a monthly average of 429 tickets were issued to motorists for using a handheld electronic device while driving. Since the new law was signed in July, at least 1,000 tickets have been issued each month.
“The more than 800 tickets issued in just five days further demonstrates the need for these stricter laws which focus on drivers who put others at risk by illegally using a hand-held device,” Governor Cuomo said. “I thank the State Police and local law enforcement agencies for cracking down on distracted driving during the holiday weekend to help protect New Yorkers and keep our highways safe.”
The Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee funded “Operation Hang-Up” through a Distracted Driving Enforcement Grant from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The grant enabled the State Police to focus patrol resources on the issue of distracted driving and supplemented their conventional traffic safety and enforcement efforts. Similar enhanced enforcement periods will be conducted in the future.
Joseph A. D’Amico, Superintendent of the New York State Police, said, “During this enhanced enforcement period, troopers ticketed drivers who ignored this new law and endangered their fellow motorists by using a mobile device while driving. We will continue to enforce the law and work to reduce distracted driving to ensure New York’s highways and citizens are safe.”
Barbara Fiala, Commissioner of the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles, said, “Operation Hang-Up is designed to send a clear message to drivers that New York State will not tolerate distracted driving that places other motorists in danger. Using a hand-held device while operating a motor vehicle is illegal, and through future enforcement campaigns we will continue to make sure our roadways are safe for all New Yorkers.”
Governor Cuomo signed a new law to strengthen enforcement of texting-while-driving violations in July. The law makes using a handheld electronic device for activities such as texting while driving a primary traffic offense, giving law enforcement the power to stop motorists solely for engaging in this activity. Additionally, the penalty for using a handheld device while driving has been increased from two to three points.
(YWN Desk – YWN)
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4 Responses
The Governor has a Taxpayer funded Limo with Driver, does not have to worry about getting a ticket, the rest us who work hard to make a living and to pay the salaries for the Governor (and for all other politicians) just sometimes have to talk/text while on the road, there is no other alternative if you can’t afford a Limo with Driver, so the state and Local governments have found another way to balance the budget with the pockets of Drivers, if Toll’s and Gas is not high enough.
Simon01
I guess you forgot about the girl who killed a Chinese man a few months back in Brooklyn due to texting.
HELLO SIMON, who cares what type of car or who is driving him around? We are talking about TEXTING and PHONE calls, the worse type of DISTRACTED DRIVING.
We will never induce our children and spouses to drive properly if our only motto is to BASH THE POLICE.
This has nothing to do with politics, ticket quotas, or the price of gas. No price can be put on risking human life. You are permitted to talk on your phone all you want, as long as you use a speakerphone, earphone, or similar device. As this article mentions repeatedly, it is HANDHELD devices that are illegal. You can even get bluetooth accessories today that read you your text messages.
If you cannot survive without texting for the length of your car trip, then you do not deserve to have a license. You are a danger to everyone else.
It is terrible that hand-held cellphones have been against the law in NYC for years (only texting was recently added,) but morons like you think they know better and continue to do it. As I walk, bike, or drive around the city every day, I too frequently see idiots that miss lights, fail to stop or yield, or do other dangerous things because they are too distracted by their illegal handheld cellphone use. And unfortunately this includes frum people too.