In October, texting at a crosswalk in Honolulu will get you fined

Honolulu pedestrians might want to begin placing their telephones away once they’re crossing the road later this yr. Earlier this week, the town handed Bill 6, an ordinance that enacts fines towards anybody crossing “a road or freeway whereas viewing a cellular digital system.”

On Thursday, Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell held a news conference at one of many metropolis’s busiest intersections, the place he stated the measure was a reminder for “individuals to make use of widespread sense as they stroll round this lovely metropolis, [and] in order that they don’t grow to be one other statistic.” According to Reuters, there have been greater than 11,000 accidents stemming from distracted pedestrians between 2000 and 2011.

The town turns into the most important within the US to undertake such a measure, which bans pedestrians from crossing a street whereas taking a look at a cellphone, textual content messaging gadget, pager, PDA, laptop computer pc, online game, or digital camera, though audio units are exempt. The invoice additionally offers exemptions for first responders on the job and anybody making an emergency name to 911. Hawaii already bans the use of hand-held electronic devices while driving.

The invoice, which fits into impact on October 25th, levies a positive of $15 to $35 for a primary offense, $35 to $75 for a second within the span of a yr, and $75 to $99 for a 3rd time.

The invoice has earned pushback from residents, who complained about authorities overreach. An editorial in The Star described lawmakers as an “exasperated mother or father telling silly youngsters to not do silly issues that tempt demise,” and that folks already do silly issues which might be towards the regulation.



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