Friday, May 11, 2012

Fort Lee cops ticket texting pedestrians



We all know you shouldn't text while driving, but in Fort Lee, N.J., you also shouldn't text while walking. If you're caught doing it in the street you could get a ticket.

Cops say some of the biggest jaywalking culprits are people who text and walk.

"It's a big distraction," Fort Lee Police Chief Thomas Ripoli said. "pedestrians aren't watching where they're walking, they're not aware."

Fort Lee police are stepping up patrols and are on the lookout for dangerous walkers: people who aren't paying attention and aren't following the rules of the road. And they're not hard to find.

Police say before they put their foot down and started handing out tickets they distributed fliers warning dangerous walkers to think before they walk. But with the increase in technology they say there is an increase in distracted walking. More than 20 pedestrians have been hit by cars so far this year in the borough.

Chief Ripoli said this crackdown is all about safety.

In just the past month and a half, police have issued 117 tickets for jaywalking.

Some people said they'll pay the fine and that it may not stop them from texting while walking.


By: MyFoxNY.com

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