AfterDawn: News

Using iPod while crossing the street? Get fined!

New York state Senator Carl Kruger has introduced legislation to ban the use of mobile phones, iPods and other electronic gadgets while crossing the street. The ban would see New Yorkers fined $100 per offense. It comes after a number of recent pedestrian deaths in Kruger's district, including a 23 year old who was killed after stepping out in front of traffic while using an iPod.

"We're talking about people walking sort of tuned in, in the process of being tuned in, but tuned out. Tuned out to the world around them, so they're walking into speeding cars, they're walking into buses, they're walking into one another," Kruger said. Of course, he is not talking about completely banning the use of electronic gadgets in public.



"If you want to listen to your iPod, sit down and listen to it," he said to CBS News. "You want to walk in the park? Enjoy it. You want to jog around a jogging path? All the more power to you. But you should not be crossing streets and endangering yourself and the lives of others."

Source:
Ars Technica

Written by: James Delahunty @ 8 Feb 2007 8:01

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• 29 comments

• Rikoshay

  Heh. This is pretty funny. I saw on the news and was a little surprised about it. But then again, if you are so into your music to not even look up and look both ways while crossing the road, then you probably should get hit! XD
  
  Maybe if you turned down the volume an octave you could hear the approaching semi.

  8.2.2007 08:17 #1

• coleken3

  Thats all the police need now. Lets go after that person and give him/her a ticket for crossing the road for listening to a Ipod. Damn they dont even ticket people for J-walking anymore.Whats this world coming to besides more paper work for the police to handle and which takes them off the streets. I remember walking across the street with my sony sports walkman back in the day and I survived. LOL to this resolution

  8.2.2007 08:34 #2

• spydah

  I agree with the last post. This is funny in the sense that they are looking to fine people for anything. I used to walk damn near everywhere with my walk-man, and cd player. Whats truly the difference from a ipod, cell phone, and walk-man/cd player. If somebody doesnt have a good sense to notice what the hecks going on around them especially in a city like NY where theres nothing but people driving and doing various things through out the city you have to be a fool to no look where your going. I think our government is bored with all the other foolish things they got going on and are looking towards adding more control on what we can do on a everyday basis.

  8.2.2007 08:51 #3

• Moomoo2

  The idea to make this into a law is completley bogus, but I think that trying to pass this law may help people to pay a little more attention to what they are doing.
  
  ...got hit by a car because the beats were so good...

  8.2.2007 09:33 #4

• BludRayne

  He's saying we're too dumb to listen to music and be able to walk at the same time. Is he gonna ban us from having stereos in our cars too?

  8.2.2007 11:50 #5

• ZippyDSM

  Sounds like a prefect law for California....*rolls eyes*

  8.2.2007 11:50 #6

• Joshewah

  **** these laws! Don't you see that our rights are being taken from us little by little? They are chipping away a a very large stone, we laugh now but when it is illegal to walk you dog past 10PM or chew bubble gum while driving we will finally wish we hadn't laughed and did something about this sooner. It's not funny, its depressing. What kind of free nation is America if we can't cross the street the way we want to... Our forefathers would be turning in their graves if they could see how our current politicians have screwed the county and rights that they (the forefathers) founded over 250 years ago.

  8.2.2007 12:39 #7

• solarf

  This is just stupid. Really a $100 dollars for multitasking.

  8.2.2007 12:57 #8

• killereye

  aww please!! Once the law goes to effect the whole CITY OF NEW YORK will be fined...
  
  
  
  
  think about it.

  8.2.2007 14:28 #9

• ZippyDSM

  I doubt this bill goes after a I pod alone more like all portable media devices if it dose not its useless.

  8.2.2007 17:04 #10

• bomber991

  Originally posted by spydah:I agree with the last post. This is funny in the sense that they are looking to fine people for anything. I used to walk damn near everywhere with my walk-man, and cd player. Whats truly the difference from a ipod, cell phone, and walk-man/cd player. If somebody doesnt have a good sense to notice what the hecks going on around them especially in a city like NY where theres nothing but people driving and doing various things through out the city you have to be a fool to no look where your going. I think our government is bored with all the other foolish things they got going on and are looking towards adding more control on what we can do on a everyday basis.I think the problem is that people are fiddling with them when they are crossing the street. You know, looking down at it, pressing the buttons on it and whatnot. I mean, with a tape player, you just got your pause, fast forward, and rewind button. With a cd player, you've got maybe 15 tracks to skip through. With an ipod, you've got thousands of songs and crap to scroll through.

  8.2.2007 22:12 #11

• coleken3

  Quote:Originally posted by spydah:I agree with the last post. This is funny in the sense that they are looking to fine people for anything. I used to walk damn near everywhere with my walk-man, and cd player. Whats truly the difference from a ipod, cell phone, and walk-man/cd player. If somebody doesnt have a good sense to notice what the hecks going on around them especially in a city like NY where theres nothing but people driving and doing various things through out the city you have to be a fool to no look where your going. I think our government is bored with all the other foolish things they got going on and are looking towards adding more control on what we can do on a everyday basis.I think the problem is that people are fiddling with them when they are crossing the street. You know, looking down at it, pressing the buttons on it and whatnot. I mean, with a tape player, you just got your pause, fast forward, and rewind button. With a cd player, you've got maybe 15 tracks to skip through. With an ipod, you've got thousands of songs and crap to scroll through.
  Then its their own stupidity on not looking. How many accident happen because people switch radio stations or switch cds in the car . They havent banned that yet. Life is like a computer, when something bad happens to the comp its most likely 99% user error. Shame on the people for not paying attention. I got hit by a car when I was five years old chasing a ball into the street. I think I had the excuse to get hit . People older should have alittle more common sense to look and the politicians should stop trying to tell us "VOTERS" how they can run their lives. Also lets not forget about people driving the cars. They need to stay off those phones while driving. Those are the worst. My opinion of course. Congrats to all Colts fans on Super Bowl. Im a New Englander and I was getting sick of the Pats winning the big game.

  9.2.2007 01:04 #12

• gpb42

  What's next? Can't scratch your ass while crossing the street? Can't pick your nose while crossing the street?
  
  Why do we as citizens have to bow down to rules made for friggin morons? Look up once in a while!
  
  lastly, how are they going to enforce this? what a joke!

  9.2.2007 08:30 #13

• dcmorrow

  This would go with driving too.
  
  Hey don't listen to the radio while you’re driving... You could be tuned out to the ROAD while you are tuned in to Howard Stern.
  
  Where is the EVOLUTION factor in all of this? If you try to protect everyone, you will ultimately make the human race stupid. We will become extinct because we will have all become automatons and not be able to think for ourselves.
  
  Let the stupid ones snuff themselves out and the smart ones breath more air.
  
  Unfortunately many of the stupid people will not just take themselves out because they are ultra-stupid(TM). They take out people standing near them. They have a secret. They only appear stupid against a backdrop of smarties who suffer the consequences.
  
  There's the balance. It's called collateral damage.

  9.2.2007 14:32 #14

• majkk

  Originally posted by dcmorrow:This would go with driving too.
  
  Hey don't listen to the radio while you’re driving... You could be tuned out to the ROAD while you are tuned in to Howard Stern.
  
  Where is the EVOLUTION factor in all of this? If you try to protect everyone, you will ultimately make the human race stupid. We will become extinct because we will have all become automatons and not be able to think for ourselves.
  
  Let the stupid ones snuff themselves out and the smart ones breath more air.
  
  Unfortunately many of the stupid people will not just take themselves out because they are ultra-stupid(TM). They take out people standing near them. They have a secret. They only appear stupid against a backdrop of smarties who suffer the consequences.
  
  There's the balance. It's called collateral damage.
  Excellent post dcmorrow. Very well put.

  9.2.2007 22:01 #15

• YOBUZZB

  And the hits just keep on coming....Just how stupid do you have to be to even think of legislating this kind of stupidity! How about we fine kids who are dumb enough to stick there tongues to frozen metal! In Arizona, we've got a stupid driver law, which simply says that if a road has rushing water going across it or is flooded and you try to cross it and get stranded, you'll get the bill! That's if you don't get killed! If you get hit by a car in NY City, because you're too stupid to pay attention to where you're going, then you should get the bill.....that is, IF YOU DON'T GET KILLED! But don't try to fine everyone who walks with electronic entertainment!

  9.2.2007 23:14 #16

• bkf

  As many people are from the UK or other big busy cities it really can't hurt to be aware of your suroundings. A 150 pound person has no chance in front of a 3000 pound SUV. Naturally makeing it yet another un enfourceable law is not the answer. Tune out when you cross a street that has a million cars going through it. We would miss you but the SUV won't. Im from NY and know what it's like. But I also resent our state goverment wasting our tax dollars on such a foolish thing. :-)

  10.2.2007 01:52 #17

• RNR1995

  What country am I living in?
  This old codger from New York should sit down and read the United States Constitution. I am so sick of all the fat ass bureaucrats trying to protect me from me. Go protect your own stupid ass and quit STEALING half the money I make, and call it taxes, where you piss it away to all your friends.
  I am so sick of this kind of bullshit. Who is the Government to tell you what you can put in your ears and when? The Government is clearly overstepping it bounds everyday, and all the stupid people in the USA are just bending over and taking it. GET OUT AND VOTE! Get these fossils out of Government. Does anybody remember the Politician who wanted to tax you more for eating at McDonalds?
  If people are so engrossed in whatever, and walk in front of a bus, hey that's natural selection it happens in the wild everyday. New York is a jungle anyway. How about they catch some REAL CRIMINALS....Oh that's too difficult huh?

  10.2.2007 04:14 #18

• CMario

  This rule applies only for ipod? i mean, there is a lot of mp3 player around there....maybe the senator will get demanded from apple for attack directly an ipod

  10.2.2007 05:59 #19

• dcmorrow

  Originally posted by CMario:This rule applies only for ipod? i mean, there is a lot of mp3 player around there....maybe the senator will get demanded from apple for attack directly an ipodThe proposed bill is more simple than that. They just used the term iPod. It's suggesting all electrondic audio devices including cell phones, PDAs, digital media players (iPod), and the generic term electronic gadgets.
  
  This could include pace-maker if it could be defined as a gadget for that matters. Overly broad bills like this die at the first comittee or get killed by a judge.
  
  If the bill passes, then the first person convicted has to take it to court and challenge the law. Any fine over $20 can be challenged and tried by jurry. Very expensive for all parties I think.

  10.2.2007 07:01 #20

• WierdName

  Thats pathetic that people are stupid enough to do that. But then again, I guess it weeds out the idiots who dont need to be in the genetics pool. Sad, but true.

  10.2.2007 13:48 #21

• 3085

  this is the most stupid thing I have ever read. lol

  10.2.2007 16:53 #22

• borhan9

  My question is if you are walking across the road and etc... why would you have the volume up to a level that you won't be able to hear things around you.

  10.2.2007 17:28 #23

• WierdName

  Originally posted by borhan9:My question is if you are walking across the road and etc... why would you have the volume up to a level that you won't be able to hear things around you.Because you an idiot that has no judgement, evident with the fact that your walking across the street with the volume up and staring at the screen.
  
  EDIT- Not to mention you are probably bobbing your head to the music.

  10.2.2007 17:43 #24

• ChappyTTV

  You can't legislate everything just because it COULD be dangerous!
  
  Just like the guy above who said he got hit by a car after he ran in the street to get his ball....are you going to legislate that Kids can't play ball anymore because it causes too many of them to be hit by cars, and fine the parents $100 every time their kids play ball???
  
  The line has to be drawn somewhere, they can't make legislation for everything we could do that could cause someone to be injured. We are adults and as such we inherently have the right to make stoopid decisions sometimes, and we'll damn well pay the consequences for those actions if there are any.
  
  If they DID pass this law, just how are they going to know that a person didn't turn off the IPod before crossing the street but left the earphones in their ears? That would be legal wouldn't it, but they'd never know if the IPod was on or off at the time would they.
  
  Don't bog our already overworked police forces with absolute CRAP like this, they have better things to be doing than chasing people listening to an IPod while crossing streets don't they? What about the Crack dealer selling a $20 rock to that 14 y/o on the other corner over there...

  11.2.2007 08:51 #25

• WierdName

  But we are talking about the idiots in congress/legistlature. They dont use common sense and dont know when to draw the line(except when it directly effects them).

  11.2.2007 11:04 #26

• seunghee

  honestly..this new "law" is stupid because America is known to be a free country. if the government is trying to tell us when and wherewe can and cannot use our ipods, cellphones, etc., that pretty much is telling us what to do. what happened to freedom? what happened to the constitution? obviously people should be careful where they walk and when to walk across streets but trying to ban listening to music while walking is NOT going to help.

  27.3.2007 17:16 #27

• genius93

  are they saying that were to stupid to walk across the street with an ipod? they're not only making it look like were stupid and they're smart but they also rob us of OUR money and OUR freedom. they're telling US the voters when we can and cannot listen to our music. this is absolutely pointless. we should just go around saying Quote:i wish i had a brain.

  28.3.2007 10:11 #28

• CrowDUDE

  As a newyorker i know that this law will save a lot of people! Something must also be done about kids on rollerblades or crossing the street on rollerblades...I know for a fact that we can't ride a bicycle on the sidewalk...

  28.3.2007 16:38 #29