Wally - I expect hilarity about this...

NY1 said: Chatty Bus Driver better put down their cell phone, or risk having to hang up their uniforms. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority says a crack in the works for the New Year -- with tougher penalties for drivers talking or texting during their run. Under the zero-tolerance policy, a drivers first offense could coat them their job. The paper says the drivers can currently rack up several violations and even then would only be facing a suspension. New York Transit says over the last two years 650 cell phone violations were handed out to bus drivers. However these violations only led to the firing of 11 drivers. The new policy is set to go into effect January 12th, although it would likely face a challenge from the drivers union.

Bus Driver in NY get caught texting and they are fired

Sorry, but you have established a precedent. OK, maybe not hilarity, but I am actually curious about you perspective on this. We know you take your job seriously, but I remember in the past you mentioning getting hassled for taking an authorized lunch break by passengers who see you in a restaurant.

But in keeping with a light-hearted theme, does this mean I can expect less Car Town activity from you on Facebook?

Don't let that Taco Truck supply dry up Walldo

Part of my job involves cracking down on drivers using their cell phones. Originally it wasn't a big deal. A driver would get caught using a phone, they'd be suspended a few days and life went on. Of course it would become expensive after the first time because most of our discipline is progressive, meaning if you started with three days, it would double to six, the twelve and so on. A few things have changed in the last year or so. The Federal Gov't passed a law banning truck and bus drivers from using cell phones while driving, and we've become obssesed with texting. Now a simple call to bring home milk becomes watching videos of Japanesse tenticle porn. Because of the number of accidents, including a fatality we have had involving phones the unions for the most part side with the company and don't mount much of a defense unless the phone user has a sterling record and a damn good reason.

For the most part there is too much going on while driving a bus in a city and talking on the phone or worse, trying to type and drive adds to the distractions.

Unfortunately people are slow learners so I will pretty much always have a job.

On the bright side, my antique flip phone doesn't even have a camera, all my internet viewing is done at home so there will be loss of quality posts that i'm sure you all eagerly await.