NY state senator pitches gadget ban for pedestrians
Barely a day goes by in the Big Apple when we don't see someone get almost hit by a car while mindlessly chatting on a cell phone or listening to an iPod. State Sen. Carl Kruger of Brooklyn thinks this is a big enough problem to propose new legislation aimed at protecting distracted pedestrians.
Kruger's bill, which has not yet been formally introduced, would ban the use of electronic gadgets--including MP3 players and cell phones--by pedestrians using a crosswalk in New York state. Violators would be subject to a $100 fine under the plan.
Kruger told WCBS, "We're talking about people walking sort of tuned-in, and in the process of being tuned-in, (they're) tuned-out...They're walking into speeding cars. They're walking into buses. They're walking into one another, and it's creating a number of fatalities that have been documented right here in the city."
Before you start searching eBay for flesh-colored earphones, remember that many proposed laws never get past the press release phase, much less formally introduced, voted on, or signed into law by, in this case, the Governor (a process aptly described by the Schoolhouse Rock guys).
While the proposal has generated a lot of press this morning, Kruger's official New York state senate Web site , last updated in 2005, doesn't mention it.
New York native Dan Ackerman, a former radio DJ turned journalist, has written about technology and music for publications including Spin, Blender, The Hollywood Reporter, and USA Today. He hosts the weekly Digital City podcast and the New York edition of Editors' Office Hours. Dan's new album, Tales Out of Night School, is available now. E-mail Dan. 
jaywalking ban you cross the road in the middle of the block & you'll get fined.
But this never is enforeced. In new york people cross the street when there's
green light during rushour this isn't going to change anything. the police won't
enforce it. The mayor of NYC bloomberg probably has iPod earbuds everyday
when he walks the few blocks from the subway & jaywalks (but he has security
guards)
jaywalking ban you cross the road in the middle of the block & you'll get fined.
But this never is enforeced. In new york people cross the street when there's
green light during rushour this isn't going to change anything. the police won't
enforce it. The mayor of NYC bloomberg probably has iPod earbuds everyday
when he walks the few blocks from the subway & jaywalks (but he has security
guards)
Generally, (in my personal experience) the kind of people that are prone to walking into traffic either don't care or have been targeted by natural selection. It has nothing to do with what they're fidgeting with or listening to.
Generally, (in my personal experience) the kind of people that are prone to walking into traffic either don't care or have been targeted by natural selection. It has nothing to do with what they're fidgeting with or listening to.
Please God, save us from people like this! The idiot senator, I mean, of course.
Darwin's Law will take care of morons who see fit to risk shortening their own lives like this, and the gene pool will be well rid of them. We don't need legislation to protect people from their own stupidity like this when they're the only ones who will get hurt.
Please God, save us from people like this! The idiot senator, I mean, of course.
Darwin's Law will take care of morons who see fit to risk shortening their own lives like this, and the gene pool will be well rid of them. We don't need legislation to protect people from their own stupidity like this when they're the only ones who will get hurt.
My suggestion would go further. If you were involved in an accident due to cell phone or Ipod (music listening) usage then insurance claims should not be paid and personal injuries should not be compensated.
Concerned drivers out there scared of hitting people using these devices and as a result unaware of their surroundings; and subsequently getting sued for what is not their fault know the feeling.
I admire the courage of this man.
Doug McAllister
- I Think the Point has Been Missed
- by 928824 February 19, 2007 4:43 PM PST
- No one is arguing we have rights in this article. I see a lot of negative comments but I think the point has been missed. Facts show that more and more people are being distracted in various places such as vehicles, traffic, workplaces causing accidents to happen.It is no different than the seatbelt law. It is common sense to use one but few did until it was made law.
- Like this Reply to this comment
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(16 Comments)My suggestion would go further. If you were involved in an accident due to cell phone or Ipod (music listening) usage then insurance claims should not be paid and personal injuries should not be compensated.
Concerned drivers out there scared of hitting people using these devices and as a result unaware of their surroundings; and subsequently getting sued for what is not their fault know the feeling.
I admire the courage of this man.
Doug McAllister