ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. - Governor Andrew M. Cuomo and Senator Patrick M. Gallivan joined together today in Orchard Park to sign legislation to strengthen the state’s law against texting while driving.
The bill, co-sponsored by Senator Gallivan (R,C,I-59th District), gives law enforcement the authority to pull over a motorist who is text messaging, e-mailing, transmitting images, or playing games while driving -- making it a primary traffic offense. Previous statute considered texting while driving a secondary offense, meaning police could only stop a texting driver if they had committed an additional infraction like speeding or failing to stop at a traffic signal.
“Today is about one thing – saving lives,” said Gallivan. “We have seen far too many tragedies caused by driving distracted to sit idly by any longer.