New York will become the first state to ban the use of hand-held cell phones in vehicles when Gov. George Pataki signs a bill approved Monday by the state Assembly.
The ban is scheduled to go into effect Nov. 1, with fines of up to $100. Police will issue only warnings during the first month, and until the end of February, violators can get their tickets dismissed with proof of purchase of a hands-free cell phone system.
According to the Associated Press, lawmakers decided to pass the legislation after a recent independent poll found that 85 percent of voters in the state favor such a ban.
Bans have been proposed in approximately 40 states, but until now, Connecticut was the only state to even get a bill through one house of its legislature. At least a dozen localities have established bans in the last two years, and at least 23 countries bar drivers from using hand-held cell phones, according to the Associated Press.
Opponents of such laws say more study is needed, that the law will be largely unenforceable, that education would be a more effective way to address the issue, and that it doesn't make sense to single out cell phones as opposed to other types of driver-distracting activities, such as eating or putting on makeup. (See "State Leaders Say Cell Phone Legislation Premature."
The ban is scheduled to go into effect Nov. 1, with fines of up to $100. Police will issue only warnings during the first month, and until the end of February, violators can get their tickets dismissed with proof of purchase of a hands-free cell phone system.
According to the Associated Press, lawmakers decided to pass the legislation after a recent independent poll found that 85 percent of voters in the state favor such a ban.
Bans have been proposed in approximately 40 states, but until now, Connecticut was the only state to even get a bill through one house of its legislature. At least a dozen localities have established bans in the last two years, and at least 23 countries bar drivers from using hand-held cell phones, according to the Associated Press.
Opponents of such laws say more study is needed, that the law will be largely unenforceable, that education would be a more effective way to address the issue, and that it doesn't make sense to single out cell phones as opposed to other types of driver-distracting activities, such as eating or putting on makeup. (See "State Leaders Say Cell Phone Legislation Premature."
0 Comments
See all comments