RSS 2.0 FeedNew York Senator Proposes Outlawing iPoding While Walking
by Doug MataconisA State Senator from Brooklyn has proposed a law that would make it illegal to walk the streets of New York while listening to an iPod:
NEW YORK — A state senator from Brooklyn said on Tuesday he plans to introduce legislation that would ban people from using an MP3 player, cell phone, Blackberry or any other electronic device while crossing the street in either New York City or Buffalo.
NewsChannel 4 reported that Sen. Carl Kruger is proposing the ban in response to two recent pedestrian deaths in his district, including a 23-year-old man who was struck and killed last month while listening to his iPod on Avenue T and East 71st Street In Bergen Beach.
“While people are tuning into their iPods and cell phones, they’re tuning out the world around them,” Kruger said. The proposed law would make talking on cell phones while crossing the street a comparable offense to jaywalking.
Apparently, Senator Kruger did not consult his constituents before coming up with this boneheaded idea:
Some pedestrians said they were not worried about their safety while using their electronic devices while walking.
“I look for the light,” said Venus Montes of Williamsburg.
“I’m still looking,” said Lance Gordon of Far Rockaway. “It’s not like I’m not paying attention.”
Others said the proposed ban would not work.
“I don’t think anyone’s going to be up for this,” said Patricia Lewis of Staten Island. “I don’t think anyone wants this.”
Perhaps, but in the world of the Nanny State, what the people want doesn’t really matter.
H/T: Dvorak Uncensored
[...] Liberty Papers, CA – 1 hour agoNEW YORK A state senator from Brooklyn said on Tuesday he plans to introduce legislation that would ban people from using an MP3 player, cell phone, …New York Senator Proposes Outlawing iPoding While Walking [...]
Pingback by Current Updates for MP3 Online — February 7, 2007 @ 1:29 pmThis is an arbitrary rule, which will be largely ignored, but won’t be repealed (if it passes, of course)…
So what does it become? Another “illegal” thing that cops can use to harass people. What happens if you’re young, black, and wearing a FUBU hoodie? Oh, because you’re wearing your headphones, the cop can stop you… “I’m sure you wouldn’t mind me looking inside your backpack, would you, son?”
It doesn’t take an active imagination to see the unintended consequences of this legislation. It also doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see that this probably won’t do anything to improve safety.
But hey, why complain? “It’s for the children, after all!”
Comment by Brad Warbiany — February 7, 2007 @ 2:51 pmThis man should just retire and accept his BIG FAT pension, he is clearly losing it. What’s next? Deaf people can’t cross the street in NYC?
absurd thought -
Comment by USpace — February 7, 2007 @ 7:14 pmGod of the Universe says
retire senile senators
.