According to
MobileCrunch, the state of New York has enacted a 100 percent ban on texting while driving. So whether you are new to driving, a bus driver, or a seasoned veteran, police officers can now issue you a fine of up to $150 for driving while typing on your mobile device.
New York is not the first state to enact such a ban, actually not even close; but what is fairly unique to New York's ban is that it is a secondary enforcement law, which means you can't be pulled over just for texting. An officer must have a primary reason, such as speeding or swerving, to pull you over, and then if they discover that you have been texting while driving they can issue you a fine. Many other states in the U.S. with similar bans allow officers to pull you over simply for texting while driving.
In other news, the
New York Times recently did a study which revealed that about 97 percent of Americans believe texting while driving should be illegal. To take it one step further, 50 percent of those polled stated that the punishment for texting while driving should be as severe as drunk driving.
If you would like to find out if your state has any phone related bans in effect, check out
this table constructed by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. It has a complete breakdown of everything you need to know before hitting the road with your iPhone in your state. If you don't like analyzing tables, they also have a
simple map that is relatively effective as well.
So what do you think? Should texting while driving be illegal in every state?
