Sex flicks road risk: Porn distracts driver
Daily News
By Jose Martinez

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It's tough enough keeping your eyes on the road and hands on the wheel.
Play a porn flick on a front-seat television screen and the task becomes more difficult - and illegal.

An upstate New York man recently found out how harsh the law can be when he was busted by Schenectady police for watching the triple-X film "Chocolate Foam" while behind the wheel.

But with more cars and sport-utility vehicles getting tricked-out with video-game units and DVD players, safety advocates worry about distracted drivers.

"It's absurd," said John Kaehny of Transportation Alternatives, a traffic safety group. "It's irresponsible, idiotic, anti-social behavior that puts other people's lives at risk."

State law bars vehicles from being driven on public roads if they are equipped with a TV screen visible to the driver.

"Motorists are distracted all too often while driving," said Joe Picchi, a spokesman for the state Department of Motor Vehicles. "Watching a movie or show of any type would be one of the worst types of distractions."

That hasn't stopped car-crazed New Yorkers from customizing their fancy rides with gadgets that can keep drivers and passengers amused.

Sheldon (Teflon) Harris outfitted his 2003 Range Rover with plasma screens that lower from the ceiling and a front-seat navigation system that doubles as a television. But he said he tries to keep his viewing content clean.

"It's your car. You bought and paid for it, so you should be able to watch what you want," said Harris, 24. "I don't know about porno, though. There might be children in the car behind you watching, and that's not good."

Andre Gainey simply had the misfortune of being caught in the act. The 35-year-old Clifton Park man was pulled over in February after a cop spotted him watching "Chocolate Foam." He was charged with public display of offensive sexual material and operating a vehicle equipped with a TV in the driver's view.

If fans of blue films feel the need for on-road action, they should feel safe in the back of a limousine, with screens well-hidden, said Jason Kirschner, who owns N.Y. Limo Coach, a Long Island limousine company.

"I used to keep porn under the seat," he said. "It's kind of common for guys on a bachelor party to want to watch that."

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