New York legislature passed a watered down bill on texting. Basically one can’t be stopped and ticketed for it unless there is another reason for a stop, such as speeding, reckless lane change, etc. Look at the story/video in the New York Times which discusses the law in England, where texting drivers can be jailed in extreme circumstances, such as causing death of others on the road. Texting by car and truck drivers causes thousands of wrecks and needless deaths annually.

Lawyers- Which State’s Laws apply?
July 11, the New York Fourth Department Appellate Division Court ruled a lawsuit in Lankenau v Boles (CA 13-01300), on a conflict of laws involving a tractor-trailer crash involving New York driver defendants. The question of whether New York’s common law seat belt rule applies to an accident