Huntington Lawmaker Says Law Will Keep Drivers Safe

(Long Island, N.Y.) Assemblyman Jim Conte (R,I,C,WF-Huntington Station) is pleased to announce that legislation he advocated for in the Assembly, which prohibits ‘texting’ while driving was signed into law by Governor Paterson. Assemblyman Conte noted that this legislation follows the lead of the Nassau and Suffolk County Legislatures, which banned texting while driving earlier this year.

“Nassau and Suffolk counties led the way in enacting this important public safety legislation and I am pleased I could do my part in helping to prohibit this unsafe driving practice at the state level,” said Conte. “I am confident that this law will help make state roadways and highways safer by reducing distractions for drivers, especially younger ones.”

A father of teenagers, Assemblyman Conte is well aware of the enormous amount of time young adults spend sending text messages to their friends and is concerned that many teens don’t think twice about texting while driving and the hazards they pose to themselves and other motorists, a fact that spurred him to push for the measures enacted on the state level.

Assemblyman Conte noted that the law also puts added safeguards in place to protect our youngest and most inexperienced drivers by imposing additional restrictions on junior licenses.

Violation of the statewide texting while driving ban carries a fine of up to $150.