Honolulu mayor signs ban on texting while crossing street

Law pushed by high school students takes effect from October 25 this year

The mayor of Honolulu has enacted a law under which pedestrians caught looking at phones while they cross the street will have to pay fines, according to UPI.

Mayor Kirk Caldwell held a signing ceremony for the "distracted pedestrian" law, which takes effect from October 25.

The text of the law, which was passed by the City Council in a 7-2 vote earlier this month, makes it illegal for pedestrians to "cross a street or highway while viewing a mobile electronic device."

The devices covered by the law include cellphones, tablets, laptops, pagers, and video game devices.

Pedestrians will still be allowed to talk on their phones while crossing the street and to look at their electronic device screens while safely on the sidewalk.

"Sometimes I wish there were laws we did not have to pass, that perhaps common sense would prevail," Caldwell said during the ceremony. "But sometimes we lack common sense."



Caldwell said the ordinance, which he said is believed to be the first of its type in the nation, was needed due to Honolulu having the "unfortunate distinction of Honolulu being a major city with more pedestrians being hit in crosswalks, particularly our seniors, than almost any other city in the country."

The law requires police to witness an offence to make an arrest, which would lead to fines of $15 to $35 for a first offence, $35 to $75 for a second offence, and $75 to $99 for a third offence.

Local officials said the legislation was first tabled by a group of local high school students.

"These high school groups were concerned for their peers being distracted while crossing the streets and looking at their phones instead of looking both ways," Councilman Brandon Elefante told CNN.