County curbs texting while driving

LITTLE VALLEY, N.Y. (WIVB) - Prepare to pay if you're caught texting behind the wheel. Cattaraugus County has outlawed the driving distraction and other counties could soon follow suit.

Twelve states have already banned texting while driving, and so has our State Assembly, but the New York State Senate has not. So the counties are doing it themselves.

Cattaraugus County legislators aren't waiting for a state law. They voted overwhelmingly in favor of a law that will ban text messaging while driving in Cattaraugus County.

John Padlo of the Cattaraugus County Legislature said, "Let's not delay it another few weeks until the State Senate gets their act together. Let's go ahead and do it now."

Just last week, the Niagara County Legislature took the first step, toward passing a similar law.

Paul Wojtaszek of the Niagara County Legislature said, "I believe it's going to be enforcable. It's just a matter of people knowing what the law is and then abiding by it."

One study finds that 20 percent of drivers do it. Many are surprised it wasn't included in the original state cell phone law.

Holding it up to your ear has been against the law, but many people think looking down and pushing the buttons, which was legal, is even more distracting.

North Tonawanda resident Chuck Speaker said, "To me that's a no brainer. Nobody should be allowed to set one finger on that keyboard while driving."

North Tonawanda resident Mary Ellen McCabe said, "I agree with the law. I think that it's very difficult to text while driving. I couldn't do it."

Young Derek Lowden can do it, but usually only at red lights.

Even some of those voting for the ban were sceptical it can really be enforced.

James Snyder of the Cattaraugus County Legislature said, "I feel good about it. I feel warm and fuzzy about supporting, but it's not gonna work."

The new law does allow you text if your car is parked and out of traffic, or if you're texting emergency personel while driving, but anyone else and it carries a $150 dollar fine.

Wojtaszek said, "And there's always the person that's gonna get caught."

The Cattaraugus County law takes effect August First. Niagara County will have a public hearing July 28th, and then it probably would take effect in Niagara County by September.