CHICAGO (WBBM/IRN) - This seems to be the year for distracted driving laws...but now some Illinois officials want to put restrictions on walking while distracted.
Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White says his priority is to see that state lawmakers pass penalties for driving while distracted, but he says the proposal to ban the use of a cell phone while crossing the street was his idea.
Newsradio 780 talked to people walking along Michigan Avenue this morning and asked them what they thought about the ban.
"Are we a free society or what…you can’t do anything anymore," one pedestrian said. Another was too distracted while talking on his phone to stop and discuss the ban.
The bill sponsor, State Rep. Ken Dunkin (D-Chicago), has been roundly criticized for introducing the measure. White says it’s still a good idea, but he’ll push for a bill that only bans texting or chatting in the street in bigger cities in Illinois, such as Chicago and Aurora.
In Chicago it is illegal to talk on the phone while using a cell phone, however the measure is under scrutiny.
A class-action lawsuit filed against the city claims that people were illegally ticketed, because the City of Chicago never put up signs warning motorists about the law.
Drivers are fined $75 per talking while driving violation, and $200 if someone who is talking on a cell phone is involved in an accident. The city earned about $2 million from fines.
It is unclear how much walking talkers/texters could be fined if a ban is in fact passed.
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04/02/2008 2:40PM
Walking, talking and texting a crime?
What do you think?
04/02/2008 3:37PM
Just Nuts
Our lawmakers should worry about the important things (balancing the budget), not creating more useless laws!
04/02/2008 4:58PM
Sure but how about
outlawing lawmakers that think about these laws while crossing the street?
04/02/2008 5:51PM
your typo
In Chicago it is illegal to talk on the phone while using a cell phone, however the measure is under scrutiny.
wow
04/02/2008 5:54PM
Politicians in the state make me sick
This state is in dire financial trouble and they want to talk about placing restrictions on pedestrains? Soon they will want to mandate the manner in which we take a crap!
04/02/2008 7:49PM
Way to much time
Spent getting his name in the paper instead of doing the real job.. I was April 1st??
04/02/2008 8:55PM
Walk and Talk
It is most annoying and I can not tell you how many times I have seen someone walk and not look because they are talking or texting . I am sure I am guilty of walking and talking but try to be alert as I cross the street, could get hit by someone on cellphone in car not using a headset. BUT all that being said, for the love of Mike or Pete, there are 30,000 kids getting killed a year in US by handguns, think we have other things to spend time and energy on, not another law that won't be enforced.
04/03/2008 10:23AM
How realistic is this?
I do agree that walking and talking on a cell phone or texting is a safety issue for pedestrians, however creating a law against the use of cell phones while crossing the street seems too extreme. How realistic does this sound? Imagine a situation where 8 people are crossing Michigan Ave. talking on their cell phones. Is a police officer really going to try to stop each person and issue a ticket? This extra mindless responsibilty placed on police officers keeps them away from dealing with more serious crimes. Having a cell phone is a right and responsibility that everyone is entitled to. I think it is in the place of cell phone companies to address safety issues when selling their product. Lastly, Illinois lawmakers need to be concerned about more important issues like education and healthcare.
04/03/2008 5:30PM
B. S.
don't they have better things to do like catching gangs and drugs and people selling guns to kids and murder. COME ON ARE YOU SERIUOS
04/04/2008 9:59AM
Pay no attention.....
Pay no attention to me man behind the curtain....
Half the kids do not get a high school degree despite billions spent on education, dozens are killed each year due to neglect by social programs despite millions spent..., Mayor Daley is making a move on Grant Park, despite decades of legal precedent...
Oo, Ooo, Oooo I have a great idea. Lets make texting cameras and place them everywhere so the politicians can get more money to build airports that no one wants and to buy baseball stadiums to make billionaires richer. Yeah, thats the ticket.
I thought that when Bernie Stone left, the dumb legislatives ideas were gone...
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