New York Ban on Texting-while-Driving Takes Effect

New Yorkers: Put the BlackBerry away if you’re behind the wheel.

New York’s law against texting while driving went into effect Sunday.

The new law forbids the use of mobile devices for reading, typing and sending text messages while driving.

The ban on texting while driving comes with fines up to $150. It was already illegal in the state to talk on a cell phone while driving.

The U.S. Transportation Department reported that 5,870 people were killed and 515,000 were injured last year in crashes connected to driver distraction, often involving mobile devices or cell phones.