Excellent idea. Also apply the driver cell phone law to bicyclists.

It is not simply about limiting cell phone use in the crosswalk, but about educating people on how to use the crosswalk correctly. When approaching a crosswalk, STOP, look both ways. If you see an approaching car, do not proceed until the car has stopped. Once in the crosswalk, hustle across the street, the best you can. Pretty much common sense, but it is surprising how many people do not do this.

How about enforcing laws already on the books, you know, the ones about pedestrians in crosswalks having the right of way? Too often, drivers don't even look to see if there's someone in the crosswalk before they blow through stop signs. My family likes to go for walks, we have a close call just about every other time, and I've never seen any local enforcement. Oh, and we're talking to each other, not on our cell phones, though I've found that taking photos of drivers who are flouting the law often motivates them to stop.

You can't legislate common sense, this is just another typical nanny state law to protect people from themselves. Pedestrians and vehicles cross paths in many places besides crosswalk, do we make a law for all those scenarios as well, where does it end? I would rather law enforcement resources focus on texting/held-held calling by vehicles drivers because I see them all the time. Do the politicians have any data that shows texting in crosswalks is a major contributor to the increase in pedestrian deaths?

Is there no behavior trivial enough to escape the scrutiny of the state?

The state would have a valid basis for trying to regulate behavior that could seriously harm others, but the basis for this contemplated rule is to enable pedestrians to evade being hit by cars or bikes who have a duty to avoid pedestrians. People should be entitled to take risks to themselves that don't materially affect others.

Art,
And what happens when the driver swerves into another car or pedestrian trying to avoid the idiot on the cell phone.

Btw supes, the law should apply to crossing the street anywhere, whether in a crosswalk or not. Not being the usual case.

That should gave said Gary instead of Art.

We have thousands of laws on the books that aren't enforced now. What makes anyone think this will be. No more feel good laws.

Per the article below, pedestrian deaths in California actually fell 11% between 2014 and 2015, and there seems to be no data to show a direct link between distraction from a cellphone on the part of the pedestrian is what is driving pedestrians deaths nationwide. Per the data I found with a simple web search, 72% of pedestrian fatalities happen at night, and 34% of pedestrian deaths happen when the individual was legally drunk. We have public drunkenness laws already, seems like we can start enforcing those more to reduce pedestrian fatalities. Why not pass a law that says a pedestrian walking at night must have reflective clothing and blinking lights? Distracted driving results in increased vehicles accidents and fatalities, wouldn't it stand to reason that it could also result in increased pedestrian fatalities?

Web Link

Nanny state run amok.

If someone crosses the street outside a crosswalk, we already have laws for that.

If someone crosses the street inside a crosswalk but against a red light, we already have laws for that.

If someone crosses the street inside a crosswalk with a light, they should be able to cross, REGARDLESS what is in their hand.

If a vehicle hits a pedestrian in a crosswalk, we already have laws for that.

If there's been an increase in drivers hitting people in crosswalks, then its time to punish bad drivers.

This is an issue targeting the wrong behavior.

Car driver using cell phone vs pedestrian using cell phone and the pedestrian uses every time. Laws banning car drivers from using cell phones are rarely enforced, so why not target the victims instead?

Last post should say "pedestrian loses every time"

"why not target the victims instead?"

Ah, 'target' the victim...Nice. Using your logic, women that wear miniskirts should be ticketed and fined to discourage that choice, because otherwise they might get raped.

Fines/punishment should be imposed on those that are in possession of a lethal weapon and are in a position for their poor actions to have dire consequences on OTHERS.