LITTLE VALLEY - A pair of proposed Cattaraugus County laws are considered by some as a way of reducing dangers in the county, while others have questioned whether they are evidence of government regulating a bit too much.

Legislators will hear the public's views on a proposed law that would ban texting while driving during a 3 p.m. public hearing June 24.

Sponsored by Legislator John Padlo, D-Olean, he said he had hoped the state would pass its own proposed law prohibiting texting. When it was stalled, however, he decided to work on one for the county himself. The proposal is not the first of its kind, said Padlo, who said, about 10 other counties in New York State have already passed similar bans. Having heard of fatalities allegedly involving one driver texting, he said he thinks the law would help insure safety, especially amongst youth drivers.

"Now is the time to do it," said Padlo about it being graduation/prom time when youth may be making plans when behind the wheel. While doing research about the proposal, Padlo said, he found that about 20 percent of drivers aged 18-years-old to 60-years-old say they have either read a text or texted while driving.

A teacher at Ellicottville BOCES, Padlo said he asked students in his class what they thought about his proosal. Not only was he surprised to learn about 75 percent of youth thought it was a good idea, but, he said, he also learned many of their parents text while driving.

If he has his way, that will cease, as a $150 fine will be the penalty for texting and driving under his poposal, which, he thinks can be enforced the same as a state one that prohibits cell phone use while driving. Padlo said one can usually tell if another is texting as they may swerve or you can notice them using a phone to text. He said he does not mean for the law to be a money maker, but, rather for people to know of the dangers of being distracted from driving for more than the few seconds it usually takes to send a text message.

"It's time consuming," said Padlo, who said, "that time should be devoted towards driving."

Cattaraugus County Public Health Director Barb Hastings also hopes recommendations from the county health board will breath new life into another proposal that would ban smoking in vehicles when children are present.

The law, proposed by Legislator William Sprague, D-Yorkshire, states the legislature finds it "essential to ensure the welfare of our children by acknowledging the fact that second-hand smoke is detrimental to people's health, specifically children who may be unable to avoid second-hand smoke inhalation."

"The best way to avoid the harmful affects of second-hand smoke, without restricting the individual rights and freedoms granted under the Constitution of the United States of America, is to ban smoking in automobiles, a place where second-hand smoke inhalation can be avoided, and where ventilation is insufficient."

The proposal needed to pass three committees on which legislators sit before a vote could be taken by all lawmakers. It passed the first but stalled in the second committee, reports Mrs. Hastings. That is when the county health board offered recommendations in hopes of it being reconsidered. Eliminating fines as penalties is one such recommendation the health board made.

Mrs. Hastings said she would prefer the law be in place as an educational tool to deter people from exposing children to second-hand smoke, rather than having financial penalties associated with the law.

"It's one more avenue that may make a difference," she said, adding, "it takes a variety of efforts to change people's behavior" and not just one law, policy or tax. The law, however, would let people know that legislators are telling the public it is not right to smoke around children in cars.

She said research shows children exposed to second-hand smoke have an increased risk of developing asthma, or having asthma attacks if they already have the illness. It can also cause ear infections, respiratory infections, damage blood vessels, increases risk of heart disease, cause lung cancer, sudden infant death syndrome, reports health department information. A second recommendation of the health board's is to put a timeframe' on the law so it can be tried, rather than not allow for it to be implemented.

Mrs. Hastings does not see the law as governmental infringement.

"The intent is to reduce exposre to second-hand smoke," she said, adding a fine-free law would allow the message of its dangers to be spread. She therefore hopes the change will allow legislators to reconsider the proposal.