Pedestrians, utknuvshis in their gadgets during the transition of the loaded streets of new York, may face a fine of $250 thanks to a new bill.
The Senator from new York John Liu introduced a bill in the Senate after last year the assistant to the speaker of the Assembly state of new York Felix W. Ortiz was unable to win the support of the Committee in respect of this bill.
The new bill will prohibit the use of any «portable electronic devices» at that time, as a person crossing the road. Such devices can be mobile phones, pagers, electronic notebooks, laptops, electronic toys or «any other electronic device used to input, send, receive or read text for present or future communication.»
The use of gadgets will only be allowed in cases where a person tries to contact emergency services.
Those who are caught for illegal use of the device, will be fined from $25 to $50. After the first penalty amount may grow to $50-100 for the second offense and up to $50-250 for third.
Police, firefighters, law enforcement officials and emergency services personnel can use the gadgets on the «official duties».
New York lawmakers are thinking about fining people for texting while crossing the street pic.twitter.com/DO9RCW1xy5
— TicToc by Bloomberg (@tictoc) May 18, 2019
Senator Liu explained to The Guardian: «the Bill does not prohibit talking on the phone. We are talking about those gadgets that need to hold in front of you… you can wait 5 seconds until go to the other side of the street.» But Marco Conner from the nonprofit organization Transportation Alternatives, said: «most road fatalities involved drivers. This hidden blaming the victim».
In 2018, Felix Ortiz used Twitter to defend his position. «I introduced a bill that would make it illegal for pedestrians using phones while crossing the street. Inattentive walking is a hazard for pedestrians and drivers.»
However, many criticized the bill and said that it is shifting the blame on the victim.
Lew also acknowledged the possibility of discriminatory policy, but said that the punishment is not the main purpose of the bill, and the law can be applied selectively. «I want to help the people of new York to remember what they should and should not do to wait 5 seconds!» he added.
