A new proposed law in New Jersey would make texting while walking an offense punishable by up to 15 days in jail or a $50 fine.

New Jersey Assemblywoman Pamela R. Lampitt introduced the bill last week, arguing it was intended to keep people safe. "Distracted pedestrians, like distracted drivers, present a potential danger to themselves and drivers on the road," she said. "As people's behaviors change so must our policy." She cited recent data showing increases in the number of pedestrians using cell phones who were injured by automobiles.

The Washington Post summarized some of these growing concerns:

"New Jersey had the 10th highest pedestrian fatality rate nationwide in 2014 — at 1.88 per 100,000 — according to the Governors Highway Safety Association. New Mexico, Florida and Delaware had the highest rates. New Jersey has had 33 pedestrian deaths in 2016, and had 170 in all of 2015.

"Nationwide, there were as many as 2 million pedestrian injuries related to cell phone use in 2010, and pedestrian deaths tripled between 2004 and 2010, according to the GHSA."

"This is an intoxicant," Dr. John D'Angelo, head of emergency medicine at Trinitas Regional Medical Center in Elizabeth, N.J., told nj.com. "It's worse than alcohol or drugs for drivers and pedestrians. They're less aware (of what's going on around them)." Indeed, few deny the impairment often caused by using cell phones while trying to perform other activities. At least one study has shown increased impairment, specifically, while texting and walking, though that same study found users became more cautious as a result.

Lampitt's bill would impose the same penalty that comes with jaywalking according to nj.com. "An individual crossing the road distracted by their smartphone presents just as much danger to motorists as someone jaywalking and should be held, at minimum, to the same penalty," she argued.

Though Lampitt's legislation would allocate 50 percent of revenues toward education some feel the proposal goes too far:
Some cities are trying to make it illegal to text and walk at the same time. Hello government - I'm not as dumb as you think I am.

— Jennifer (@JLDuplessie) March 19, 2016

"What are you in jail for?"
"Texting and walking."

?!??!!?

— Jennifer (@JLDuplessie) March 19, 2016

Mustafa Gatollari, a New Jersey resident, highlighted the possibility that, like many rules meant to keep people safe, the proposed law could simply result in inflated revenue for the state:

"And I get that the law is meant to protect people or whatever, but I can just imagine some a**hole cop picking on a group of teens standing outside of a strip mall texting their friends, and slapping them all with $50 tickets so they can make their quotas," he wrote.

Similarly unpopular bills have largely been defeated. CNET explained:

"New York, Illinois, Arkansas and Nevada have also seen legislators try (and fail) to enact laws against texting and walking. In Hawaii, a bill has been proposed that would fine pedestrians $250 for crossing the street while using an electronic device. Fort Lee, New Jersey managed to occasionally embracetexting and walking under its 'dangerous walking' laws."

In New Jersey, Lampitt's bill has not yet been scheduled for a vote. She acknowledged the bill's small chance of passage, saying, "If it builds awareness, that's OK."

What kind of world do we live in when texting zombies face harsher penalties than pedophiles and murderous cops?

I would like texting or talking on a cell phone illegal in certain public places... Like nice restaurants.

Curb your kids & your communication device !

I'm not seeing where anyone passed or suggested the passage of a law like this. You know somewhere where murder is only punishable by a $50 fine?

Afghanistan...

I don't know where there's proof of that, but assuming for the moment that it is...

does Afghanistan also have a fine of more than that for texting while walking?

To prove your concern valid, you need both to be true in the same place.

valid concern? your valid concern is how they typed it rather than they are doing it?...

Many states are having to create ways to generate revenue,
to make up for losses in covering ObonzoCare.

Politicians and government employees propose and pass stupid crap constantly.

There's a statute in the books like you have to maintain control of your vehicle and drive to the right on mountains in Nebraska.

There are laws like you can't pretend to have sex with a buffalo in a bar in oklahoma, you can't do your own hair without a license, nor can you walk backwards while eating a hamburger.

And the ever popular no spitting on sidewalk laws.


The same one we always have.

Government employees have to pretend they are fixing a problem in order to justify their jobs, salaries, eventual raises, and power.
Can't have them just do their government job part time, mostly just butting heads to keep stupid laws from passing and not getting a lot done, and have a real job the rest of the time, they've got to be busy busy busy doing something "for the children!" or some crap.

You are claiming with this thread, that texting while walking was now punished more harshly than murder (i.e. a $50 fine).

I asked you to say where this place is, and you said Afghanistan.


That means that you are claiming that Afghanistan punishes texting while walking more harshly than murder.

So please, back up your claims, or admit that you are indulging in hyperbole (i.e. wild exaggeration for effect), and nothing else.

my claims? are you saying i wrote the article? why do you always try to turn the point of ANY article to your pointless liberal sidesteps that has nothing to do with the article?