New York Drivers Shocked After Hearing About ‘No-Touch’ Rule

A viral TikTok claims New York just passed a new “no-touch” driving law, but that’s not exactly true. Here’s what’s really going on.

A viral post about a "no-touch" law in New York is leaving many confused.

This rumor has some truth to it, but it's also somewhat misleading.

What Is The No Touch Law In New York State

Canva

The "No-touch" law started confusing drivers in New York this summer. That's because a new distracted-driving law went into effect in Pennsylvania in June.

For all the news that the Hudson Valley is sharing, make sure to follow Hudson Valley Post on Facebook, and download the Hudson Valley Post Mobile App

That law, called Paul Miller’s Law, makes it illegal to use a handheld phone for any reason while driving, even if you’re stopped at a red light, in Pennsylvania.

Paul Miller was killed in a 2010 crash caused by a driver reaching for their phone. Since his death, Miller’s mother has pushed nationwide for stricter distracted-driving laws.

When the Pennsylvania law hit the news, TikTok and Facebook posts claimed 31 states, including New York, passed the same rule that day. According to Snopes, that’s “mostly false.”

While many states already have hands-free laws on the books, only Pennsylvania enacted a new one in June.

New York Already Has No-Touch Law

Canva

New York did not just pass a new “no-touch” law. But that doesn’t mean you can grab your phone behind the wheel, either. The rumor was labeled “mostly false" by Snopes because nothing has changed here in New York.

The Empire State already bans drivers from using or holding any portable electronic device while behind the wheel. That means you can’t talk on a handheld phone, text, browse the web, check email, take photos, or even play games while driving.

Alert: Residents On Edge As Purple Warnings Appear Across New York

This means you can get a ticket for distracted driving if you're caught touching your phone in the car in New York. Even when stopped at a light.

Below are the penalties in New York if you are ticketed for distracted driving.

Price You'll Pay If Caught Texting/Talking While Driving In New York

Nothing Has Changed In New York

Canva

The “no-touch” law has actually been a law in New York for years. So the message still stands for New Yorker, put the phone down when driving.

Keep Reading:

How Many Points Do You Lose On Your License If Caught Speeding, On Your Phone, More

The 10 Tiniest Counties in Upstate New York By Size

The 10 Tiniest Counties in Upstate New York By Size!

New York State is big, wide, vast, and beautiful. This gallery looks at the smallest of Upstate New York's counties.

Remembering that there are 62 counties in the Empire State, the very smallest ones are the boroughs of New York City, where their size can be counted in blocks an neighborhoods. But in the counties of Upstate NY we see a wide variety of land sizes.

This gallery looks at the ten smallest, but just step back a moment and put it all in perspective. Yes, these are small ones, but we also have some counties in Upstate NY that are gargantuan in size.

This is a fun piece of trivia. The smallest state in the United States (by land) is Rhode Island with just 1,214 square miles to it. And...there are 18 counties in Upstate NY that are largest than that whole state!

Do you live in one of the smallest counties in our state?

Gallery Credit: Chuck D'Imperio