Effective this past Monday, November 4, 2013, New York’s Vehicle & Traffic Law has been amended to toughen the penalties on truck drivers and other commercial drivers who use their cell phones while driving. These license holders will no longer be permitted to use a mobile device to make a…
New York Assemblyman David Weprin has proposed a law banning smoking with children in the car. The bill stalled in the New York State Assembly last year, but will be reconsidered this August. The statute is designed to protect children from the dangers of secondhand smoke. If the law passes,…
The story is well known by now if you have followed the news over the last three months. On June 9, 2008, two year old Caylee Marie Anthony went missing in Orlando, Florida. Her Caylee’s mother, Casey Anthony, did not report Caylee missing. It wasn’t until July 16, 2008 that…
Those of us (and there are many out there) know that in the past, a New York traffic infraction for driving while speaking or texting on a cell phone involved a fine, but no points on your driver’s license. In the wake of the significant increase in distracted driving accidents,…
In November of 2009, Governor David Paterson signed into law a ban of texting while driving. However, the legislation was quickly criticized by highway safety organizations and local New York state law enforcement officials as it made texting while driving a “secondary offense.” Inotherwords, a motorist who violated the law…
New York Senator Kirsten Gillibrand is co-sponsoring a bill to require that teenagers be 18 years of age before they obtain full driving privileges. At present, when a teen turns 17 in New York and completes a driver’s ed class, he or she can obtain a senior license. According to…
Westchester County has enacted Local Law 12, 2008, which makes it illegal to compose, read, or send text messages while operating any type of motor vehicle, including automobiles, trucks, vans, and construction vehicles. The law will take effect on March 10, 2009. This is certainly welcome news to those of…