It's nearly as common as jaywalking: tapping away on a smartphone while crossing the street.

Yet, two state lawmakers want those keystrokes to come with a cost — a fine of up to $50 for a first violation and as high as $250 for multiple violations. The only exception is if someone is an emergency official on duty, or if one is communicating with EMS.

A bill from State Sen. John Liu aims to stop texting while crossing the street, though it covers all types of activities on phones and electronic devices such as viewing or taking pictures, pulling up a website, or scrolling through email.

"The bulk of this refers to texting, but all these activities listed in the bill take your attention away from what's happening on the street, and that's the point of it," the Queens lawmaker said. "We want pedestrians to be safe."

Last year, an effort to stop texting in the crosswalk was introduced and died in committee. This bill could suffer a similar fate.

New Yorkers on the street did not think it should get the green light.

"I totally disagree with that because, I don't know if you saw me, but I was just on my phone while crossing the street, so I do not agree with that," one New Yorker said. "I feel like people could still pay attention while they're on their phone, while they're on their device."

"I don't think that's pretty fair, I mean, especially if I have the right of way," another pedestrian said.

One person questioned how police will catch scofflaws.

"I think it has the best of intentions. I'm not sure how well it would even be enforced," another said.

People who have a windshield perspective while traveling around the city had a different take.

"I'm a driver and I have almost hit numerous people or had to avoid numerous people because they were crossing the street and using a cellphone and not watching where they're going," one driver said.