NJ Town Tickets For Texting While Walking
20 People Hit By Cars In Fort Lee In 2012

Updated: Friday, 11 May 2012, 7:20 AM EDT
Published : Friday, 11 May 2012, 7:19 AM EDT

FORT LEE, N.J. - Texting while driving is a crime in New Jersey, but what about texting while walking?

Police in Fort Lee, Bergen County, say if you are caught texting while walking you could face a fine.

They say pedestrians are constantly putting themselves at risk of being hit by cars because they don't pay attention while they are walking.

So far this year, 20 people have been hit by cars in Fort Lee.

Police say they handed out pamphlets warning people about the crackdown.

In the last month and a half, 117 tickets have been issued. The fine is 85 dollars per offense.

FOX's Christine Persichette breaks down the crackdown in this video report.

I'm sure you've heard of jaywalking, right?

Well, as it turns out, people who text while walking are notorious
jaywalkers. Gasp!

A New Jersey town bent on generating revenue, er, I mean,
protecting people from themselves is now ticketing people for
texting while walking to prevent them from jaywalking.

I'm still trying to figure this one out, did they pass a city
ordinance making 'texting while walking' an offense? Or is this
some sort of pre-crime measure?

Whatever it is, it is ridiculous...

Banning freedom: New Jersey town cracks down on texting while walking