BILL NUMBER:S5656

TITLE OF BILL:  An act to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in
relation to the suspension of certain driver's licenses for violations
relating to the use of mobile telephones or portable electronic
devices while driving

Purpose of the Bill:  This bill would add convictions for
texting-while-driving and using a hand-held cell phone to the list of
violations for which probationary and junior license holders would
have their permit or license suspended for 60 days upon a first
conviction. For a subsequent conviction within six months of license
restoration, probationary drivers would have their license revoked for
six months and junior license holders would have their permit or
license revoked for an additional 60 days.

Summary of Provisions:

Section 1 of this bill would amend subdivision 1 of Vehicle and
Traffic Law (VTL) § 510-b to add convictions for traffic violations
committed under VTL §§ 1225-c (use of a mobile telephone) and 1225-d
(use of portable electronic devices) to the list of violations for
which a probationary license holder would have his or her license
suspended for a period of 60 days upon a first conviction and for six
months upon a subsequent conviction.

              

Section 2 of this bill would amend subdivision 2 of VTL § 510-c to add
convictions for traffic violations committed under VTL §§ 1225-c (use
of a mobile telephone) and 1225-d (use of portable electronic devices)
to the list of "serious traffic violations" for which a Class DJ and
MJ permit or license holder would have his or her license suspended
for a period of 60 days upon a first conviction and for an additional
60 days upon a subsequent conviction.

Section 3 of this bill provides for an immediate effective date.

Existing Law:  Currently, VTL §§ 510-b and 510-c provide for the
suspension and revocation of probationary and junior licenses upon
conviction of certain specified traffic violations but not upon
convictions related to the use of mobile telephones or portable
electronic devices

Statement in Support:  For young and new drivers who use cell phones
and text while driving, inattention and inexperience is a deadly
combination that puts themselves and others at risk. Currently, 43% of
teenage drivers admit that they regularly text while driving,
according to research released at a recent poster session of the
Pediatric Academic Societies.

Distracted driving is an increasing threat to highway safety. From
2005 to 2011, there has been an approximately 143% increase in cell
phone-related crashes in New York State. In 2011, there were 25,165
fatal and personal injury crashes involving distracted driving in New
York, compared to 4,628 caused by alcohol-related driving.

In July 2011, New York strengthened enforcement of
texting-while-driving violations by making the use of a portable


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. Since this law was passed, there has been a 234%
increase in the number of tickets issued for texting while driving in
New York State from 2011 to 2012.

This bill continues to build upon the State's efforts to improve
highway safety by encouraging young and inexperienced drivers to keep
their eyes on the road and their hands on the wheel.

Prior Legislative History:  This is a new bill.

Budget Implications:  The provisions of this bill would result in no
increase costs to the State.

Effective Date:  This act would take effect immediately.