Could New Jersey outlaw texting while walking?

NEW JERSEY (FOX 5 NEWS) - Walking down the street and texting on your phone -- most of us are guilty of it as some point or another but imagine getting a $50 ticket for it. That's what a lawmaker in New Jersey wants to do.

The law treats texting and walking the same way as jaywalking. And it points to a study by William Patterson University health professor Dr. Corey Basch.

Basch says most of those distracted walkers were on their headphones, oblivious to any warning noise from traffic signals or speeding emergency vehicles.

Assemblywoman Pamela Lampitt is sponsoring the bill. In addition to that $50 fine, violators of the texting and walking law could also get up to 15 days in jail.