Could Distracted Walking Fines Be Coming To Illinois?

Do you text while you're walking because that soon could be breaking the law in Chicago?

I see it all the time. People texting and walking at the same time. They don't pay any attention to what is going on. The walking texters run into things like street signs, doors, and other people. They will even go into the road without looking and almost get run over by cars. It's really dangerous.

Are you guilty of doing it?

According to timeout.com,

"Pedestrians could face fines ranging from $90 to $500 for using their cell phones while crossing the street, under a proposal introduced today by two aldermen in Chicago."

How would it work?

"The ordinance would empower police officers to issue tickets to pedestrians for “distracted walking” in intersections—defined as “cross[ing] a street or highway while using a mobile electronic device in a manner that averts their visual attention to that device or that device’s activity.”

I wonder if that means they will have police officers positioned at busy intersections to issue these tickets? I don't think this would be the best use of their time.

I do think it will get passed because it's just another way for the broke city to make money. You know once Chicago approves it, the rest of the state will follow.