Walking While Texting Could Carry Jail Time As A Punishment In New Jersey - Daily Mail
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NJ – Walking while texting could mean jail time under New Jersey proposal. The measure could lead to fines of up to $50 or 15 days’ imprisonment as state lawmaker warns of the dangers of ‘distracted walking.’ Experts say distracted walking is a growing problem, as people of all ages become more dependent on electronic devices for personal and professional matters. They also note pedestrian deaths have been rising in recent years. In 2005, 11% of all US fatalities involved pedestrians, but that number rose to 15% in 2014. The rise in deaths coincides with states introducing bills that target pedestrians and/or bicyclists. For instance, a bill pending in Hawaii would fine someone $250 if he or she were to cross the street while operating an electronic device. Similar bills have failed in states including Arkansas, Illinois, Nevada and New York. “Thus far, no states have enacted a law specifically targeting distracted bicyclists or pedestrians,” said Douglas Shinkle, transportation program director for the National Conference of State Legislatures. But he added that “a few states continue to introduce legislation every year”. The measure recently introduced by New Jersey assemblywoman Pamela Lampitt would ban walking while texting and bar pedestrians on public roads from using electronic communication devices unless they are hands-free. Violators would face fines of up to $50, 15 days imprisonment or both, which is the same penalty as jaywalking.
The penalty for being an idiot who cant walk and text at the same time should be whatever horrible mishap occurs to them. You walk out in the middle of the street with your head down looking at your phone and get hit by a car? Your punishment is getting hit by a car. You fall into a fountain walking with your head buried in your instagram? Your punishment is that you’re now inside a fountain. We dont need to penalize everyone here. Just the fucking idiots who cant do 2 things at once. Certain people like myself can multi task and walk while text. Head up, down. Up down. Type, press send, look up. Repeat.
As for the rest of today’s show: Easter egg hunt devolves into chaos, India says calling your spouse “fat elephant” is grounds for divorce, teachers want to cancel algebra because its too hard, chick who misses her cruise ship tries to swim out to sea to catch the boat.
