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TagsBY ANGELA DAIDONE
NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM
So far, walking and chewing gum is still allowed. But if you’re a diehard texter, you might want to stay out of Fort Lee if you plan on hoofing it anywhere.
The borough’s police said they will begin issuing jaywalking tickets to pedestrians who are caught texting while walking.
“It’s a big distraction. Pedestrians aren’t watching where they are going and they are not aware,” said Thomas Ripoli, chief of the Fort Lee Police Department, told ABC News.
The fine is a hefty one: $85.
More than 117 tickets have been issued for jaywalking violations since mid March, reports ABC.
Police said the borough has suffered three fatal pedestrian-involved accidents this year. The crackdown is designed to deter those who display “dangerous behavior while walking.”
Traffic safety organizations and AAA have long advised against driving while being distracted – i.e. cell phone use, texting, eating, etc., -- and many locations carry substantial fines for offenders. Last year, however, several states pushed for fines for distracted walkers and joggers who use their electronic gadgets.
