Honolulu bans people from texting while crossing the street

Honolulu on Thursday became the first major city in the United States to make it illegal for people to look at their phones and other electronic devices while walking across the street.

The bill will take effect on Oct. 25, and also bans people from peering down at digital cameras, pagers, and laptops. The first time a person is cited, they'll be fined up to $35, and it goes up from there to $75 for a second offense in the same year. "Sometimes I wish there were laws that we didn't have to pass — that perhaps common sense would prevail," Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell said, "but sometimes we lack common sense."

The bill was introduced by a council member who told BuzzFeed News high schoolers in his district were concerned about their peers paying more attention to their phones than their whereabouts while walking along busy streets.

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