Governor Andrew Cuomo is proposing to ban drivers from using their handheld electronics behind the wheel, even if the car is standing still.
It’s illegal to use a hand-held cellphone or text while driving in New York State, but drivers can sneak a look at their screens while stopped at red lights or in traffic. It’s up to a $200 fine for a first offense, plus a $93 surcharge.
In the governor’s written “State of the State” legislative program, there’s a proposal to close that loophole. You’d have to pull the car off the road and park it to text or chat. It doesn’t say how it would handle smartphone navigation apps.