Major US city bans smartphone use by pedestrians while crossing the street
The new legislation was passed recently and will take effect starting October 25. Pedestrians found guilty of using their smartphones while crossing the street after that date will be fined between $15 and $99, depending on how many times they've been caught by the police breaking the law.
According to Caldwell, the new legislation is supposed to protect pedestrians too addicted to their smartphones from being hit by cars while crossing the street.
We hold the unfortunate distinction of being a major city with more pedestrians being hit in crosswalks, particularly our seniors, than almost any other city in the county.
Obviously, there are people who argue that the new law issued recently in Honolulu would infringe on personal freedom and is too intrusive. They recommend instead that the citizens be educated about “responsible electronics usage.”
Things that are NOT allowed: