STATE BANS DRIVER TEXTING

No txting / drving:( .

On Sunday, a new state law took effect that bans text messaging and using personal digital assistants, computers and other electronic devices while driving.

"It's probably a better thing," Patricia A. Phelps, 20, Edwards, said while at the Salmon Run Mall food court Saturday. "It should help keep people from swerving all over the road."

"And not paying attention," added Rochelle N. Mazuroski, 20, Edwards.

The state Department of Motor Vehicles said the law will limit driver distraction and inattention. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that 25 percent of all police-reported crashes involve some form of driver inattention.

The state is the 26th state to eliminate, to some extent, the use of those devices while driving.

The ban is a secondary law, meaning that a $150 fine can be levied only if a driver is pulled over for appearing to break another law, such as speeding or running a red light.

Both Ms. Phelps and Ms. Mazuroski admitted they have a hard time not answering the phone or responding to a text message while they're driving.

"People are still going to do it," Ms. Mazuroski said.

Joshua Baker, 20, Carthage, said it wouldn't be a big adjustment for him. He and his family recently moved back to the north country because of a second assignment to Fort Drum.

"It was a state law in Hawaii or at least on base there, so I had to deal with it the whole time," he said.

Many teenagers and young adults interviewed by the Times agreed the new law likely wouldn't change behavior. Shastin E. Crobar, 15, Heuvelton, and Eliza G. Armstrong, 15, Heuvelton, said they have friends who text and drive, but they feel safe riding with them.

"Most of our friends are good at it," Miss Crobar said. "They can handle it."

Using a hand-held cell phone while driving was outlawed in New York in 2001, according to the Associated Press. Using global positioning systems, iPods and hands-free cellular phones is still legal.