Caroline
Source: Huffington Post
Author: Sara Gates
Pages: One
Main Idea:
Many states have baned texting while driving, even in California. But a new law has just been passed that has upped the ante in Fort Lee New Jersey. Those who are caught texting while walking will have an $85 fine placed upon them. Fort Lee police saw over 74 collisions last year from those who were texting while walking and three of those people were killed. The band was supported by Stock University who found that over 60% of people who were walking and texting could not walk in a straight line. This helped get the legislation to pass. The law went into effect around late March after a warning period to those who were texting and walking. To date there have been a total of 117 citations handed out. Some disagree with the studies and call them "absolutely not [true]" “[The study] is just to raise an awareness to this issue, that it does disrupt your ability to walk naturally," Lamburg told Long Island Business News. But this is no new idea, New York Senator Carl Kurger to try to get the same legislation passed since 2007 but to date he has been unsuccessful (although he wanted to ban iPods being used as well.)
Conclusion:
The ban seems very extreme to me. The government is trying to protect people which is good but honestly those who are texting while walking are posing only a threat to themselves. If they were going to keep this ban then they should only charge about $20 for the first offense or something because $85 is very steep for such a small infraction of the law.
We all know of laws prohibiting texting while driving, but I am surprised New Jersey has instituted a texting-while-walking ban. I guess I always assumed people could navigate while they were texting, though with such a substantial number of collisions that is clearly not the case. I agree with the spirit of this law, since it is obviously needed to keep people safe. Who knew texting could be so dangerous!
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ReplyDeleteIf driving while texting wasn't enough, a new hazard has came to the attention to citizens in New Jersey. Fort Lee New Jersey had recently outlawed walking and texting. Stock university ran studies and found out that over 60% of people that were not able to text and walk in a straight line. Police had reported over 74 collisions the last year and 3 ended in the lost of life. This law fines people $85 if they are caught walking and texting. I believe that this law is outrageous, unnecessary, and punishments are far too harsh.
ReplyDeleteIn New Jersey, they passed a law banning texting while walking because of the 74 collisions in the last year while walking. Those who violate the new law will be fined $85; they came to pass this law by comparing their normal walks to that of when they're texting. The results were that 60% were not able to walk in a straight line while they were texting. There had been a previous idea of getting rid of texting while walking in 2007, but was not looked back at until now.
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