Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today marked the one year anniversary of the state's strict law to prevent distracted driving by announcing that law enforcement officials issued more than 20,000 tickets to motorists for texting-while-driving violations since the law took effect on July 12, 2011, four times as many than the previous year.
The law put in place by the Legislature and signed by the Governor last year 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 was increased from two to three points. In the year before the law was passed, New York law enforcement officials issued 4,569 tickets for texting-while-driving violations.
"The major increase in tickets issued for texting-while-driving violations since this law went into effect demonstrates its usefulness in helping our law enforcement authorities crack down hard on distracted driving," Governor Cuomo said. "Using a handheld device while driving puts other motorists in danger and can lead to tragic consequences. These tickets should send a resounding message to all drivers: keep your eyes on the road and your hands on the wheel. I thank the State Police and local law enforcement for their dedication to ensuring the safety of the people of the state of New York."
Recent research has shown that motorists who use handheld electronic devices while driving are four times more likely to be involved in a crash. The behavior of such drivers can be equivalent to the behavior of drunk drivers at the threshold of the legal limit of .08 BAC. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration attributed more than 3,000 deaths last year to distracted driving, calling it a dangerous epidemic on America’s roadways.
A county by county breakdown of tickets issued before and after the law is below:
COUNTY
TICKETS ISSUED 7/12/10- 7/12/2011
TICKETS ISSUED 7/12/2011-7/12/2012
ALBANY
75
539
ALLEGANY
5
14
BRONX
91
900
BROOME
22
103
CATTARAUGUS
10
45
CAYUGA
9
76
CHAUTAUQUA
23
130
CHEMUNG
27
92
CHENANGO
4
40
CLINTON
16
73
COLUMBIA
5
54
CORTLAND
22
85
DELAWARE
1
18
DUTCHESS
59
324
ERIE
226
1,418
ESSEX
6
10
FRANKLIN
5
27
FULTON
5
21
GENESEE
8
50
GREENE
11
16
HAMILTON
1
HERKIMER
11
52
JEFFERSON
12
73
KINGS
540
3,234
LEWIS
4
31
LIVINGSTON
23
50
MADISON
19
75
MONROE
110
687
MONTGOMERY
17
45
NASSAU
162
505
NEW YORK
807
3,714
NIAGARA
73
214
ONEIDA
38
126
ONONDAGA
797
479
ONTARIO
8
87
ORANGE
67
292
ORLEANS
8
OSWEGO
14
46
OTSEGO
7
61
PUTNAM
22
75
QUEENS
401
3,334
RENSSELAER
21
163
RICHMOND
157
205
ROCKLAND
69
151
SARATOGA
42
326
SCHENECTADY
18
69
SCHOHARIE
4
9
SCHUYLER
3
4
SENECA
8
41
ST LAWRENCE
12
265
STEUBEN
14
108
SUFFOLK
185
908
SULLIVAN
5
32
TIOGA
13
67
TOMPKINS
20
139
ULSTER
54
246
WARREN
15
166
WASHINGTON
10
21
WAYNE
6
74
WESTCHESTER
148
720
WYOMING
3
18
YATES
2
TOTALS
4,569
20,958
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today marked the one year anniversary of the state's strict law to prevent distracted driving by announcing that law enforcement officials issued more than 20,000 tickets to motorists for texting-while-driving violations since the law took effect on July 12, 2011, four times as many than the previous year.
The law put in place by the Legislature and signed by the Governor last year 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 was increased from two to three points. In the year before the law was passed, New York law enforcement officials issued 4,569 tickets for texting-while-driving violations.
"The major increase in tickets issued for texting-while-driving violations since this law went into effect demonstrates its usefulness in helping our law enforcement authorities crack down hard on distracted driving," Governor Cuomo said. "Using a handheld device while driving puts other motorists in danger and can lead to tragic consequences. These tickets should send a resounding message to all drivers: keep your eyes on the road and your hands on the wheel. I thank the State Police and local law enforcement for their dedication to ensuring the safety of the people of the state of New York."
Recent research has shown that motorists who use handheld electronic devices while driving are four times more likely to be involved in a crash. The behavior of such drivers can be equivalent to the behavior of drunk drivers at the threshold of the legal limit of .08 BAC. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration attributed more than 3,000 deaths last year to distracted driving, calling it a dangerous epidemic on America’s roadways.
A county by county breakdown of tickets issued before and after the law is below:
COUNTY
TICKETS ISSUED 7/12/10- 7/12/2011
TICKETS ISSUED 7/12/2011-7/12/2012
ALBANY
75
539
ALLEGANY
5
14
BRONX
91
900
BROOME
22
103
CATTARAUGUS
10
45
CAYUGA
9
76
CHAUTAUQUA
23
130
CHEMUNG
27
92
CHENANGO
4
40
CLINTON
16
73
COLUMBIA
5
54
CORTLAND
22
85
DELAWARE
1
18
DUTCHESS
59
324
ERIE
226
1,418
ESSEX
6
10
FRANKLIN
5
27
FULTON
5
21
GENESEE
8
50
GREENE
11
16
HAMILTON
1
HERKIMER
11
52
JEFFERSON
12
73
KINGS
540
3,234
LEWIS
4
31
LIVINGSTON
23
50
MADISON
19
75
MONROE
110
687
MONTGOMERY
17
45
NASSAU
162
505
NEW YORK
807
3,714
NIAGARA
73
214
ONEIDA
38
126
ONONDAGA
797
479
ONTARIO
8
87
ORANGE
67
292
ORLEANS
8
OSWEGO
14
46
OTSEGO
7
61
PUTNAM
22
75
QUEENS
401
3,334
RENSSELAER
21
163
RICHMOND
157
205
ROCKLAND
69
151
SARATOGA
42
326
SCHENECTADY
18
69
SCHOHARIE
4
9
SCHUYLER
3
4
SENECA
8
41
ST LAWRENCE
12
265
STEUBEN
14
108
SUFFOLK
185
908
SULLIVAN
5
32
TIOGA
13
67
TOMPKINS
20
139
ULSTER
54
246
WARREN
15
166
WASHINGTON
10
21
WAYNE
6
74
WESTCHESTER
148
720
WYOMING
3
18
YATES
2
TOTALS
4,569
20,958
