Legislation & Lobbying
Proposed Illinois Bill Would Ban Street-Crossers from Text-Messaging
Posted Jul 28, 2008, 02:59 pm CST
By Martha Neil
Seeking to save pedestrians from themselves, Illinois lawmakers have been considering a new law that would ban them from walking and text-messaging or, apparently, otherwise using a cell phone while crossing city streets.
Under House Bill 4520, which was introduced early this year by state Rep. Ken Dunkin (D-Chicago), pedestrians could be fined $25 for doing so, reports the Chicago Tribune in a lengthy article slated for tomorrow's newspaper. The offense would be a misdemeanor.
Such multitasking puts both the texter and others at undue risk, Dunkin tells the newspaper. "This legislation is not laughable. On the surface it's like, 'Oh wow, what is this?' But it's becoming more and more of a common problem with people haplessly crossing an intersection and almost killing themselves."
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