Governor Cuomo's Traffic Safety Committee to study TEXTALYZER Bill
July 26, 2017
Chappaqua, NY - According to a December 2016 report by The Institute for Traffic Safety Management and Research, 12 people were killed in New York State and 2,784 people were injured in cell phone crashes between 2011 and 2015.
During that time, 1.2 million tickets were issued for cell phone violations. A total of 217,021 tickets were issued for cell phone violations in 2015, down 16 percent from 2011. Of the tickets given in 2015, 39 percent were for texting.
Senator Terrence Murphy has been in the forefront of legislation to reduce fatalities and injuries on our roads and highways by employing Textalyzer technology for several years. In 2016, he sponsored S6325A, legislation providing law enforcement to for the use of mobile telephones and portable electronic devices while driving after an accident or collision.
Today's announcement by Governor Cuomo directing the Governor's Traffic Safety Committee to study "Textalyzer" technology substantiates the importance of Senator Murphy's groundbreaking legislation.
"I am pleased that the Governor has embraced the idea that Textalyzer technology can be a vital tool for law enforcement agencies," said Senator Murphy. "As the Committee gathers its information, I am certain they will discover what I already know - that Textalyzer technology can save lives."
Ben Lieberman has been a staunch advocate for Textalyzer technology since he lost his 19-year-old son, Evan, in a 2011 collision caused by a distracted driver. A Chappaqua resident, he has been working closely with Senator Murphy and Assemblyman Felix Ortiz to implement Textalyzer legislation named in honor or his son, and serves as the President of Alliance Combating Distracted Driving and Co-Founder of Distracted Operators Risk Casualties.
Referring to Governor Cuomo's announcement, Mr. Lieberman said, "This is great news. Presently we are battling both distracted driving and bad information. Having a detailed evaluation is exactly what is needed. I think this will give a greater understanding of the growing problem and highlight how meticulously privacy is going to be protected."
The Governor's Traffic Safety Committee and its member agencies will work with member agencies, advocates, legal experts, and other stakeholders to gather information about the impact of Textalyzer technology. Topics to be studied include constitutional and legal issues associated with the use of Textalyzer technology; implementation and use of technologies in other jurisdictions; and statutory amendments necessary for the application and use of Textalyzer technology in New York.
The Committee will also hear from advocates who support this technology along with other stakeholders and issue a report on their findings.