State increases penalty for driver texting

FINGER LAKES—Effective June 1 the penalty for a driving while texting conviction increases from three points to five points against a motorist.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced the change, Friday, May 31.  According to the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles, a driver’s license is suspended after accumulating 11 points total during an 18 month period.
In addition, the governor has directed the New York State Police to increase enforcement of the texting-while-driving ban during the summer starting now. This will mean more checkpoints and troopers patrolling on the roads across the state throughout the summer when more drivers are on the road.
Cuomo also proposed new penalties for texting-while-driving for young and new drivers.  Under current law, probationary and junior licenses are suspended for 60 days for violations such as speeding, reckless driving, or following too closely behind another vehicle. Such licenses are revoked for six months (for probationary licenses) or 60 days (for junior licenses) if there is another violation within six months of the license being restored.
The governor’s proposed legislation will impose the same penalties on drivers with probationary and junior licenses for texting-while-driving that they now receive for speeding and reckless driving: 60-day suspensions for first convictions and revocations of 60 days (for junior licenses) or six months (for probationary licenses) for subsequent convictions within six months of the time a license is restored after suspension.