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Friday, July 17, 2009

Texting made illegal for drivers

The New York State Senate has banned texting while driving.

Drivers guilty of using an electronic device to text, access the Internet or play video games can be fined up to $150 under the new legislation.

The Assembly had previously passed the bill, which now goes to Gov. David Paterson for his signature.

It is already illegal to use a cellphone while driving in New York.

The bill also raises the requirements for obtaining a driver's license. Young drivers must have a learner's permit for at least six months under the new law, and must complete 50 hours of supervised driving before applying for a regular license.