TEXTING WHILE WALKING COULD BE OUTLAWED IN NEW JERSEY

A New Jersey assemblywoman is proposing “distracted walking” legislation to ban texting while walking in New Jersey. Pamela Lampitt, D-Burlington, Camden, wants to ban pedestrians on public roads from using electronic communication devices unless they are hands-free. Violations would carry the same penalties as jaywalking, with $50 fines and/or 15 days in jail. Statistics show that pedestrian deaths have been rising steadily since 2005. Lampitt says the National Safety Council reports over 11,000 injuries across the country have been attributed to distracted walking incidents involving cellphones from 2000 through 2011.