Fort Lee Texting While Walking Ban: Police to Issue Tickets (VIDEOS)
A new law passed in Fort Lee, New Jersey will allow police officers to ticket individuals who are texting and walking at the same time.
Police in Fort Lee believe that texting has become a serious problem, and not just those who are texting while driving. In a new initiative, law enforcement officials will now be able to ticket those who are walking and texting after police have stated that those individuals are putting themselves in danger.
"It's a big distraction. Pedestrians aren't watching where they're going. They're not aware," Fort Lee Police Department (FLPD) Chief Thomas Ripoli said at a news conference.
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Police stated that they had tried to send out warning about walking and texting, but simply weren't being heard.
"More than 20 pedestrians have been hit by cars so far this year in the borough," Fox news reported. "In just the past month and a half, police have issued 117 tickets for jaywalking."
This isn't about control or earning revenue according to the police department, but rather about the safety of pedestrians. While some find the new rule to be just a bit funny, others say that texting and walking is no joke.
One Michigan woman, Bonnie Miller, walked straight off of a pier because she was too busy texting while walking.
"I can't let pride get in my way of warning other people to not drive and text or walk and text. It's quite dangerous," Bonnie Miller told ABC 57, a local television station in South Bend, Indiana after the incident.
"The humiliation," Miller said after her husband and another bystander jumped after her when it appeared she was not staying afloat. Firefighters and the Coast Guard soon arrived. "You don't know how many people are laughing at you."
Miller won't be the first to be humiliated in such a way. A number of You Tube videos demonstrate that texting and walking isn't always the best idea.
