Remember the lady who walked off the pier, because she was so distracted by walking and texting? Yup, she had to be rescued from the choppy waters of Lake Michigan and soon became nationwide news. So ridiculous! Unfortunately, we all know that lady is not alone in her idiocy. Plenty of people continue to take to the streets while staring down at their smartphones, putting both their own and drivers' lives at risk.
So some authorities have had enough and are cracking down -- by ticketing texting walkers! Cops in Fort Lee, New Jersey (a highly trafficked town right by the George Washington Bridge into Manhattan) have been handing out $54 jaywalking tickets to 117 pedestrians who they've caught texting and jaywalking at the same time. And the police chief sounds pretty self-assured of his decision to keep it up.
He calls texting while walking "a big distraction. Pedestrians aren't watching where they are going, and they are not aware." And the move isn't just preemptive -- it's a reaction to a worrisome trend. Already three pedestrians have been killed this year in car accidents in the area. I'm pretty sure these incidents aren't unique to Fort Lee. They're a growing issue all across the country.
More from The Stir: New Cars That Read Texts Out Loud Could Save Your Life
A recent study even found that texters are 60 percent more likely to "veer cluelessly off their route" than non-texters, so obviously, they're more likely to get into danger. So why shouldn't they have to pay for their irresponsible behavior?
Of course I get how tempting it can be to start multi-tasking, scrolling through emails and texts as you're waiting at an intersection, but the minute the white pedestrian sign flashes and you head into the street, it's a whole new ballgame. Those who refuse to believe so and think they can somehow still be well aware of what's going on around them are being totally dense. They deserve to be slapped with a ticket for their infraction. It's not only in the public's best interest, but their own.
Here's the local news story out of Greater NYC ...
What's your take -- is a ticket for texting and walking going too far or perfectly legit?
Image via Jhaymesisviphotography/Flickr
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Comments 27
You can't fix stupid.
What in hell is so damn important you have to text and walk or text and drive. What can not wait till you sitting or standing still for a few seconds.
What do you possibly need to be texting that is worth a risk or walking out in traffic, falling down stairs, running into a walk or fountain.
What could not wait what was so immporttant you could not stop and text?
Just curious. Tell me please I really would love to know what was so damn important it could not wait 1 possible second and btw where were you going that you had to be there and could not stop to text? hm?
Your what walking to work and are late and texting that hot girl/guy? it could not wait 1 more second?
It what every one thinks... That your a looser who is sexting and can not stop.
I think so
Saphira, suppose that text was an emergency message? perhaps that person got a message from an active duty spouse that they haven't heard from in months. I get messages from my kids' school, the doctor, and yes, my active duty husband. Don't assume that just because a person is texting that it's not important, or that it's so unimportant that it can wait. Sometimes it can't.
more laws is never the answer. laws cannot force people to have common sense, and they mostly affect those of us who do.