Bob
12-10-2008, 12:47 AM
State Police say distracted driving is the number one cause of all car crashes. Eleven to two, with two absent, the Schenectady County Legislature passed a law Tuesday night banning texting while driving in the county.
First, they heard from the public, including the Schenectady County Clerk, who runs the DMV office there.
"I believe this proposal has a great deal of merit, especially with the many young drivers who are developing their skills on the road," said Clerk John Woodward.
"We're seeing an upward trend in text-messaging. More and more people are doing it," said one resident at the public hearing.
If you're caught texting and driving, that's a $150 fine. In New York state, Westchester, Nassau and Suffolk counties have already passed similar bans.
But one Republican member of the Democrat-led legislature said this issue should be handled at the state level. Seven states have passed state-wide bans.
"Madame Savage would like to stop the people from texting. I submit the people would like to stop Madame Chair Savage from taxing," said County Legislator John Suhrada.
"The seat belt law, the helmet law, the cell phone ban. None of those started at the state level through the wisdom of our state lawmakers," said County Legislator Gary Hughes.
"Like many pieces of legislation, they start at the local level and I think we may see state legislation going forward. But I think it's a good idea and there's a lot of public support for it and we shouldn't wait until somebody else acts, and we hope by taking this action, we will save lives," said County Legislature Chair Susan Savage.
The law will take effect in March.
First, they heard from the public, including the Schenectady County Clerk, who runs the DMV office there.
"I believe this proposal has a great deal of merit, especially with the many young drivers who are developing their skills on the road," said Clerk John Woodward.
"We're seeing an upward trend in text-messaging. More and more people are doing it," said one resident at the public hearing.
If you're caught texting and driving, that's a $150 fine. In New York state, Westchester, Nassau and Suffolk counties have already passed similar bans.
But one Republican member of the Democrat-led legislature said this issue should be handled at the state level. Seven states have passed state-wide bans.
"Madame Savage would like to stop the people from texting. I submit the people would like to stop Madame Chair Savage from taxing," said County Legislator John Suhrada.
"The seat belt law, the helmet law, the cell phone ban. None of those started at the state level through the wisdom of our state lawmakers," said County Legislator Gary Hughes.
"Like many pieces of legislation, they start at the local level and I think we may see state legislation going forward. But I think it's a good idea and there's a lot of public support for it and we shouldn't wait until somebody else acts, and we hope by taking this action, we will save lives," said County Legislature Chair Susan Savage.
The law will take effect in March.