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Honolulu, Hawaii police will begin to write tickets for people caught using their phones or other electronic devices while crossing at a crosswalk:
Police in Honolulu will begin writing tickets for people who get distracted by their cellphones while walking in a cross walk Wednesday. Honolulu is the first major city in the country to pass such a law, citing a high rate of pedestrians being hit in crosswalks.
"Starting today, texting while walking in a cross walk can get you a ticket," Hawaii Public Radio's Bill Dorman reports for our Newscast unit. "In fact, a downward glance at a screen of any kind will cost you—a phone, a tablet, a video game."
Under the new law, the only legal reason for a pedestrian to use a cellphone while crossing a street or highway would be to call 911 to report an emergency.
Minimum fines for breaking the new law start at $15; for repeat offenders, the penalty ranges from $75 to $99. Higher rates — up to $100 for a first offense, $200 for a second, and $500 for a third — had been considered earlier this year.
Also at the City and County of Honolulu. Bill 6 (2017).
(Score: 1, Troll) by stretch611 on Wednesday October 25 2017, @08:40PM (5 children)
This is a stupid law. Just as the parent post said, they are trying to protect people from their own stupidity.
Driving laws are different... those laws protect otherwise innocent people from your stupidity. If someone's walking is impaired, chances are the only person they are going to end up hurting is themself. What is next prohibiting drunk people from walking in a crosswalk?
Now with 5 covid vaccine shots/boosters altering my DNA :P
(Score: 2) by Bot on Wednesday October 25 2017, @10:00PM (4 children)
Consider that you might be driving a car, stupid kid with cellphone starts crossing, you swerve and crash into incoming truck. Or some other delicious meatbag mashing.
Another aspect:
One clever guy I know said: "I don't use smartphone nor headphones when I am walking. If I have to, I stop, shoulders to a wall, raise it to eye level so I can see what's beyond it, and look around often".
The oblivious well dressed guy/gal looking down at the smartphone is "attack me" low hanging fruit.
Account abandoned.
(Score: 2, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday October 25 2017, @11:33PM
That's why it leads to tyranny.
(Score: 2) by frojack on Wednesday October 25 2017, @11:58PM
Attack me now, low hanging fruit?
There are other possible meanings for "beatbag smashing":
https://goo.gl/NJSpk1 [goo.gl]
No, you are mistaken. I've always had this sig.
(Score: 1, Touché) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday October 26 2017, @05:47AM
When driving, always go for the softest target. Kids are softer than trucks. The decision is obvious. Driver should be allowed to hit the kid with no liability incurred. In fact he shouldn't even have to wait around for the cops. The street cleaners can clean up the mess. Or just leave it there as a warning to the next idiot.
Mamas, teach your children about situational awareness, and they might survive to adulthood.
(Score: 3, Insightful) by stretch611 on Thursday October 26 2017, @01:30PM
You realize that if you are a driver and hit a pedestrian, you generally are off the hook unless you are breaking the law in some aspect which makes you at fault. (driving impaired, excessive speed, failure to yield -- which usually includes crosswalks)
Of course this does not mean that you will not be remorseful, but legally you are not held responsible if the pedestrian was an idiot.
People should be held accountable for the problems they cause, but penalizing them for being stupid is just enriching the ticketing agency's revenue.
IANAL... but I would say you have a good case to shift liability to a pedestrian if they act irresponsible and cause you to crash. Assuming you can prove it. (dash cam, multiple witnesses)
Now with 5 covid vaccine shots/boosters altering my DNA :P