Crossing streets while using phone might help repair roads

Crossing the street while using “mobile electronic devices” could soon help the CNMI raise the funds it needs to repair roads. A House of Representatives committee has now approved a bill that intends to penalize pedestrians who cross streets while thumbing through their smartphones.

Rep. Joseph “Lee Pan” Guerrero (R-Saipan) through House Bill 21-51 is looking to impose fines on pedestrians who are caught crossing the road while they use handheld devices or mobile electronic devices that “causes impairment.”

The bill, if passed into law, will fine a person no less than $25 and no more than $50 for their first offense. Their second offense within one year will result in a fine of no less than $50 and no more than $100, while the third and succeeding offenses within the same year of the first offense will result in a fine of no less than $100 and no more than $150.

Seventy percent of the collected fine will be deposited in a revolving fund that is separate from the general fund, and will be used for “educational and enforcement” purposes while the remaining 25% will be used for proper signage fixtures and road, crosswalk, and lighting repair and maintenance.

The House Judiciary and Governmental Operations Committee recommended at their July 29, 2019, meeting to put the bill on the floor for action at the next House session.

“Just like with anything that deals with mobile cellular devices…you put your life at risk when you do that [while driving or crossing the street]. It is a form of distraction and I support any legislation…that will help save people’s lives,” committee chair Rep. Joel Camacho’s (R-Saipan) told Saipan Tribune.

“We don’t want auto-pedestrian accidents to happen because the pedestrians are not paying attention to what is going on since they are distracted. If passed, we just hope it is a way of deterring people…from [using their phones while crossing the street],” Rep. Luis John Castro (R-Saipan) told Saipan Tribune in an interview.

Camacho further clarified that this bill in no way affects the pedestrian’s right of way.

“If you are caught using a mobile cellular device [while crossing], you will be penalized [but] the pedestrian right of way remains applicable,” he said.

The House had just passed a similar bill but, instead of imposing penalties and fines on pedestrians using their cellular devices, it imposes penalties and fines on individuals who are caught using their cellphones while driving.