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Toronto city council is asking the province to outlaw texting while walking across a street or otherwise walking on a roadway.

“There is a fine for texting and driving. But there isn’t for texting and walking on a roadway,” said Counc. Frances Nunziata, who moved a motion advocating the ban.

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“And I don’t know if members of council have experienced this, but especially downtown, when you’re driving and you’ve got a green light or a red light and a pedestrian is in the middle of the roadway, texting, and won’t move … in my opinion that’s a safety issue.

“If you’re texting and driving, and texting and walking across an intersection, in my opinion it’s the same,” she said.

The motion, which passed 26-15, calls on the provincial Minister of Transportation to amend the Highway Traffic Act to permit the fining of distracted pedestrians.