According to both NBC and the Associated Press, New York State Senator Carl Kruger is expected to introduce legislation today that would impose a $100 fine for people who continue to use their electronics gadgets — such as iPods, Blackberries, and video games — while crossing the street.
New York may ban iPods while crossing city streets
New Yorkers who heedlessly cross city streets while listening to their Apple iPod or fumbling with other electronics devices, such as cell phones, may soon face a hefty fine from the city.
According to both NBC and the Associated Press, New York State Senator Carl Kruger is expected to introduce legislation today that would impose a $100 fine for people who continue to use their electronics gadgets — such as iPods, Blackberries, and video games — while crossing the street.
Kruger said Tuesday that three pedestrians in his Brooklyn district were killed in recent months upon stepping into traffic while distracted by an electronic device.
“Government has an obligation to protect its citizenry,” he said in a telephone interview with the AP. “This electronic gadgetry is reaching the point where it’s becoming not only endemic but it’s creating an atmosphere where we have a major public safety crisis at hand.”
New York’s streets are frequently consumed with gadget wielding and earbud bearing residents who are looking to fire-off that extra e-mail or pass the brunt of their daily commutes with a tune.
“I’m not trying to intrude on that,” Kruger said. “But what’s happening is when they’re tuning into their iPod or Blackberry or cell phone or video game, they’re walking into speeding buses and moving automobiles. It’s becoming a nationwide problem.”
trouble
NO CELL PHONES IN SCHOOL
NO i-POD IN THE STREET
WHATS NEXT NO SMOKING OUTSIDE???
no smoking
no smoking at all trouble!!!
I NEEEDD MY CELL
lol i get the other stuff-like video games/ipods with both ears plugged in cuz its your head and ears into it-but a cellphone is a bit much to ask-i mean-YOU COULD BE ON THE PHONE AND STILL CONCENTRATE ON SOMETHING ELSE! I DO IT ALL THE TIME!
anti smokers
i hate the smell of smoke i almost fainted from it once.
Brilliant Government
Your chances of dying from smoking are WAY higher than your chances of walking into a bus because you’re listening to Avraham Fried…
Yeah Right
This is probably unconstitutional ie taking away your freedom of speech. How many people were hit by a car while running to get someware or talking to anouther? Hence talking or running while crossing should be illeagal.
A Goyeshe Cop.
wtvr
lol “anti smokers” – there is no connection to the topic.
let ppl be. i agree about an electronic device that u need to look at the screen shouldnt be allowed but s/t that ur just lisrening to or speaking into? i think its fine if ur eyesight is free i think ppl should just pay more aattn to their surrondings. Yo ppl ZONE IN!
cf
to “yeah right”
v’nishmartem meod linafshoseichem
thanbo
still, listening to a shiur or some music or whatever makes the boredom of exercise, be it jogging or walking or stuff at the gym, a lot more bearable.
i can see the point about the cell phones in cars, because there your inattention harms others. but here, your inattention only harms yourself.
you can’t protect people from their own stupidity, much as one might like to.