Cleveland, Albany say no to texting

Cleveland has become the latest big city to prohibit text messaging by drivers. Meanwhile, Albany County, N.Y., has prohibited texting behind the wheel. Both bans come in reaction to a perceived lack of action at the state level. Cleveland's City Council also called on Ohio's lawmakers to adopt a similar ban on driving and texting. The lead legislator on the Albany plan, Christopher Higgins, called texting while driving "an epidemic in this country." The Cleveland ban takes effect 90 days after the (supportive) mayor signs the legislation. Fines range from $150-$500. The Albany County ban … [Read more...]

Texting legislation hot at local level

Cities and counties around the nation are scrambling to adopt bans on text messaging, tired of waiting for state legislatures to act on what is almost universally perceived as a highway menace. (Post updated for correction; original post from March 27, 2009) In one New York county, a local legislator said simply: "The state is not acting fast enough." New York’s swarm of local traffic legislation against text messaging and use of handheld phones usually is credited to a similar lack of urgency in Albany. A Philadelphia ban on use of handheld cell phones while driving is near enactment. A … [Read more...]

New Mexico: Cell phone laws, legislation

New Mexico had the most distracted drivers in the nation for the third straight year, according to federal traffic numbers. There were 195 deaths linked to distracted driving in the latest reporting year, 2021, the NHTSA reported in April 2023. New Mexico's men accounted for most of the fatalities linked to distraction. Almost half of the state's roadway fatalities were blamed on distraction. New Mexico also had the most distracted drivers in the nation during the 2-year period of 2019-2020, federal traffic safety numbers show.  The state's texting & driving law outlaws typing on … [Read more...]

Hawaii: cell phone laws, legislation

Cell phone, text messaging news: Honolulu has barred pedestrians from viewing handheld (or portable) mobile devices while crossing a street. Fines: $15 to $99 depending on number of previous infractions. The City Council vote was 7-2 and the mayor signed off on the ordinance in late July 2017. There were 114 convictions between October 2017, when the law took effect, and July 2018. "Sometimes I wish there were laws we did not have to pass -- that perhaps common sense would prevail," Mayor Kirk Caldwell said. "But sometimes we lack common sense." Officials cited the rising number of accidents … [Read more...]