Texting While Walking: Should It be Illegal? [POLL]

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In fact, no such law has been passed. Capt. Keith Bendul of the Fort Lee Police Department confirmed to Mashable that the initial report is false.

However, Fort Lee has instituted a number of state-supported "walk safe" programs since March after two fatal pedestrian incidents occurred within a 24 hour span this past February.

So far this year, Fort Lee police have issued 117 summonses to pedestrians failing to use crosswalks -- whether they're on a device or not.

Bendul said drivers are "being more distracted" and using devices while walking or driving "takes people's attention away from what they should be doing."

A previous program in Fort Lee placed a plain-clothes officer on the streets who would cross the roadway. Drivers who failed to yield to pedestrians would receive a ticket from police on the road ahead.

In the past, London authorities considered a different tactic on texting while walking, by adding padding to poles in case distracted walkers plowed into them.

Do you think texting while walking should be banned outright, or while you're crossing the street? Take this poll below, and tell us what you think in the comments.

Should Texting While Walking Be Illegal?