New York State Gov. David Paterson on Aug. 26 signed a law that forbids the use of handheld devices for reading, typing and sending text messages while driving. The law goes into effect Nov. 1.
Text messaging while driving already is illegal in Alaska, California, Connecticut, Louisiana, Minnesota, New Jersey, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, Washington and the District of Columbia. Six additional states – Arkansas, Colorado, Illinois, New Hampshire, North Carolina and Oregon – have legislation in place that will prohibit text messaging by Jan. 1, 2010.
The American Trucking Associations is supporting text messaging legislation in Congress provided it does not inadvertently prohibit the use of truck cab fleet management systems.
