New Jersey town bans texting while walking [updated]
The statewide ban on texting while driving wasn’t enough for one New Jersey town, according to The Huffington Post. After 74 crashes involving pedestrians in 2011, three of which were fatal, Fort Lee, New Jersey passed a new law earlier this year that fines walkers $85 who do not stop prior to texting. “It’s a big distraction,” Fort Lee Police Chief Thomas Ripoli said. “Pedestrians aren’t watching where they are going and they are not aware.” Since the law has been in place, Fort Lee police have issued more than 117 tickets. New York State Senator Carl Kruger has attempted to bring a similar ban to New York, which would also prohibit talking on the phone or using iPods while walking or running, however Kruger has been unsuccessful thus far.
UPDATE: According to MSNBC, there is no ban on texting while walking in Fort Lee, although there is a $54 jaywalking ticket, of which more than 117 tickets have been issued.
Read [Huffington Post] Read [MSNBC]
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