As it is already illegal to use a cell phone while driving as it it.  It should all be covered under the same heading!!!!

Let's make a nother law that will not be enforced or pleaded down.

I agre with Ed.  The law already covers this.  It is illegal to use a cell phone while driving except with a hand-free capability.  I haven't yet figured how someone could text without using their hands.  Given that I see lots of people ignoring this law, why would anyone think that another one will achieve anything more?

I don't suppose our legislators could work on something  that actually will matter?

duhhhhhhhhh;  who voted in that lawmaker. i think they should increase the penality for that crime. theres enough distractions on the road that nobody should ever text. lets get together and make the roads a safer place.

what a complete waste of time and money, i hate this state.

Agree with all the posters. Wouldn't the thing to do be to increase the penalty for using a cell phone while driving (including texting)?

State Police in North Syracuse spoke about the driving and texting issue back over the summer. Click on the link below for the interview with one of our reporters and Jack Keller.

http://www.9wsyr.com/mediacenter/local.aspx?videoid=198168@video.wixt.com&navCatId=5

Everytime you turn aroun NY is making a new law about something, thank god I got outta this state!

NYS capitalizing on yet another stupid meaningless activity. Instead of educating people about being more cautious drivers and strengthening the drivers license process, lets just take their money. This ranks up there with the seatbelt law. NY, the nanny and communistic state. And not for nothing, but whether you are using a handsfree or not, you still have to look at your phone and effectively dial the number. Hands free and voice activated are two very different things. And whats with every police officer and trooper being on their cell phones while driving. Oh thats right, they are "professionals". The majority of them only hold a HS level education. Go NYS!!

Re: "whether you are using a handsfree or not, you still have to look at your phone and effectively dial the number". Many phones, mine included, have voice recognition built in and you don't need to look at the phone to dial.

Well it's absolutely ridiculous that you can text, but not talk on your cell when you're driving.  Of course it should be illegal!

basically... before ya know it you won't even be ABLE to have a cell phone on ya it will be ILLEGAL... i hate this state and all their desisons!

If they really want to stop distracted driving why don't they make women wear a gag when they are sitting in the passenger seat?

Thank you for the link shaunganley. Now that I have this info I agree with the proposed law.

first off police officers would have no way to enforce this law simply because it would be too difficult to determine whether or not an individual was in deed texting.

It all falls under common sense. What did you do before cell phones? If you can't wait til you get to to where your going to make a call or text, you have a problem. I personally like the ones in the store that have to make a call to tell someone they are looking at clothes or shoes, before cells, did you run to the pay phone to tell someone you were looking at items? Grow up and use cell phones when they are needed.

I know that it should be under the same law as talking on your cell phone while driving, however people out there need specifics because people always try to find a loop hole in everything. (Some things need to be spelled out) I think texting is more dangerous than talking on the phone while driving. I hate a new law every time we turn around too, but if we keep coming out with all these convenient new gadgets, there seems to be a law needed too; and if it can save some lives...it would be worth it. Maybe if people were more careful, they wouldn't have to make all these laws. Of course if we made a law about that, we may have to make laws like: no brushing your hair, putting on make-up, tuning the radio, eating, talking, etc. It's all dangerous, but we all do some of these things from time to time. Sorry it's so wordy.

I agree with Fyr116, people use their cell phones so much more than they need to. I personally hate when I used to work in a retail store and I had to wait for someone to get off their phone. that's rude!

it should be banned...... thats why theres people dying....... to many people talking on phones and texting, not watching the roads. i think they should be passed and banned fast before another parent has to hear the bad news that there child has been killed!!!!!! BAN TEXTING!!!!!!

make the fine $1000.00 not a $100.00 maybe then people will think twice about breaking the law  lol ya right

hello, if its illegal to use your cell phone while driving then it should be automatically illegal to text message!!  If you need to take your eyes from the road to text msg, then you're not watching where you're going--and if you kill some one while talking or text msging, you should be charged with murder because you chose to do something that ended a life!

What?! Are you telling me that when they banned people from talking on cell phones, they didn't ban people from texting them at the same time?! What kind of idiots run the show around here?