Distracted Walking Is Now Illegal in One California Town

Texting while walking makes you a slower and more distracted pedestrian, whether you realize it or not. Now, one small town in California is enforcing legislation that encourages people to put away their phones before stepping outside. As Business Insider reports, being charged with “distracted walking” in Montclair, California can land you with a three-figure fine.

The law went into effect in the Los Angeles suburb on January 3 and recently made headlines after city officials came out in defense of it. They claim that the increased use of cell phones, especially among younger people, presents a public safety issue on the roads.

Anyone who talks on their phone, looks at their phone, or has headphones on while crossing the street is breaking the new rule. The law excludes people making 911 calls, on-duty first responders, and people with hearing aids. Fines start at $100 for the first offense and rise to $200 for the second, then reach $500 for every offense after that.

Other places, like Honolulu, Hawaii and Stamford, Connecticut, have enacted similar laws, but experts are still skeptical of how effective they actually are. Research shows walking while texting isn’t necessarily the scary public safety hazard it’s made out to be, and that distracted drivers and urban street plans that prioritize cars over pedestrians are much bigger problems. Regardless of whether the law reduces accidents, it might at least make walking a little less annoying for pedestrians, even if they’re guilty of texting on the go themselves.