Nassau County Launches Program to Combat Distracted Driving

Nassau County officials recently launched a new pilot program to address distracted driving.

The program, announced by Nassau County Executive Edward P. Mangano and County Legislator Rose Marie Walker, with the Nassau County Traffic and Parking Violations Agency (TPVA) and local Police Department, will be addressing distracted driving by "changing behavior and enhancing pedestrian and vehicular safety," according to a press release from the County Executive's office.

Under the law, drivers convicted of using a cell phone or other portable electronic device will receive 5 points on their license, but violators will have the chance to change their behavior rather than receive points.

Violators can plead guilty to a lesser charge (4 points and $283 fee) and waive their appeal, while still paying their full fine on the date of disposition.

Their court case will be adjourned for about 4 months and within the first 10 days, they must register to have a device installed in their car, at their own cost of $125, which will prevent the unlawful use of any electronic device by the driver.

The device will be monitored and will generate a report, to then be presented on the adjourned court date.

If the report is found satisfactory by the TPVA, the original plea will be reduced to a plea of guilty to vehicle traffic law and a no point violation will be substituted.

The fine previously imposed and paid will remain the same. If the report is not submitted, or deemed unsatisfactory, the original plea will be entered and 4 points will be placed on the motorists’ license.

“Texting-While-Driving jeopardizes the lives and safety of innocent people,” Mangano said. “With mounting technologies, distracted driving has become even more prevalent and this educational pilot program seeks to change driver behavior.”

The National Highway Safety Administration has reported that since 2012, distracted driving was the cause of 18 percent of all fatal crashes and that a motorists using an electronic device is 23 times more likely to be in crash, according to a press release from the County Executive's office.

The Nassau County Traffic Safety Board reports that crashes related to texting-while-driving increased in the County from 87 in 2014 to 112 in 2015, according to the release.

A total of 8,000 violations were issued in Nassau County for distracted driving by law enforcement agencies in 2015.