New York to Consider Fines for Distracted Walking

A state senator in New York thinks one way to lower the number of pedestrians killed every year is to penalize people who cross the street while looking at their phone.

1 minute read

May 20, 2019, 6:00 AM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Winter Pedestrians

Pepperer85 / Shutterstock

"A bill banning texting while walking has been introduced to New York’s state senate," according to an article by Erum Salam.

"If the bill passes into law, New Yorkers can expect to be fined from $25 to $250 if police officers catch them “using a portable electronic device while crossing a roadway”."

 John Liu, the state senator who authored the bill, is quoted in the article, as is a dissenting opinion from Marco Conner, the interim executive director of Transportation Alternatives.

At least two cities—Honolulu and Montclair, California—have already implemented similar prohibitions.

Friday, May 17, 2019 in The Guardian

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Close-up of "Apartment for rent" sign in red text on black background in front of blurred building

Trump Administration Could Effectively End Housing Voucher Program

Federal officials are eyeing major cuts to the Section 8 program that helps millions of low-income households pay rent.

April 21, 2025 - Housing Wire

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

April 23, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Ken Jennings stands in front of Snohomish County Community Transit bus.

Ken Jennings Launches Transit Web Series

The Jeopardy champ wants you to ride public transit.

April 20, 2025 - Streetsblog USA

Wide roadway in Austin, Texas at night.

How Project Connect Would Change ‘The Drag’

A popular — and sometimes deadly — Austin road will exchange car lanes for light rail.

45 minutes ago - The Daily Texan

Google Street View of wide roadway flanked by green trees in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Milwaukee Road to Get Complete Streets Upgrades

The city will reduce vehicle lanes and build a protected multi-use trail including bioswales and other water retention features on its ‘secret highway.’

1 hour ago - Urban Milwaukee

Side view of layers of grass and soil

Tackling Soil Contamination With Nature-Based Solutions

Los Angeles County residents and experts are turning to nature-based methods like bioremediation to address long-standing and fire-exacerbated soil contamination without resorting to costly and disruptive removal.

2 hours ago - Los Angeles Times