Don't text and walk in Honolulu, you'll get fined!

Effective today, texting, tweeting, or otherwise staring at one's phone while crossing a street in Honolulu will be a fineable offense.

First timers face penalties of up to $35 and repeat offenders run the risk of owing up to $99.

See also: Couple fined for blocking own driveway after burglary

See also: Pensioner given £300 fine by litter police over sandwich wrapper

Reasons cited for the prohibition include a recent rise in pedestrian fatalities which increased by roughly 10% in 2016.

Honolulu is believed to be the largest city to enact such a ban but it's not alone in instituting measures to protect distracted pedestrians.

The California city of Hayward has put up signs to encourage people to look up from their phones until they're clear of the road.