Cross the Street while using an IPod gets you $100 fine

hotballa · Feb 7, 2007

or so ths politician hopes.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,250644,00.html

Report: New York State Senator Wants to Ban iPods From Crosswalks

Laws on the books try to stop jaywalking, but if one New York state senator gets his way, it will also soon be illegal to bop along to your iPod while crossing the street.

Sen. Carl Kruger will propose a bill that would ban using an iPod — and any other electronic device that is a distraction — while crossing traffic, he told FOX News on Wednesday.

"I think it's necessary if we just look at the statistics that bear out the argument that people while being too into their electronic gadgetry are tuning out the rest of the world. They are becoming a statistical fatality, they are being part of an accident scene. They are basically jeopardizing their well-being as well as the well-being of others around them," Kruger, a Democrat, said.

FOX Fan Speak Out: Do you think laws should be passed to prohibit using electronic devices in crosswalks?

The bill would levy a $100 fine against those who use iPods, cell phones and BlackBerrys while in a crosswalk in all of New York's major cities. WNBC reported that the ban would only be in effect in Buffalo and New York City.

Kruger said the bill could be enforced the same way cell phone driving bans are enforced.

"The punitive aspect of the legislation is not as important as raising the bar on the public awareness of the jeopardy that people are putting themselves (in) by using the electronic gadgets," he told FOX News. "We see time and time again people crossing the street text messaging, reading their e-mails, making telephone calls, listening to their iPod, and ridiculous as it may sound, even playing video games, and the net result is a serious public safety issue."

Kruger said he decided to propose the legislation after several pedestrians in his Brooklyn district were killed while using a small electronic device and crossing the street.

"If you want to listen to your iPod, sit down and listen to it," Kruger told WCBS-TV. "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 be crossing streets and endangering yourself and the lives of others."
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mc mark · Feb 7, 2007

What could possibly go wrong?

A-Train · Feb 7, 2007

So, if you get a ticket for that, can you take defensive walking and get it dismissed?

hotballa · Feb 7, 2007

A-Train said:

So, if you get a ticket for that, can you take defensive walking and get it dismissed?
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I swear there are people in NYC who really really need this class.

mc mark · Feb 7, 2007

hotballa said:

I swear there are people in NYC who really really need this class.
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I've been known to purposefully bump people who stop short on the sidewalk.

Mean I know, but man I hate that!

hotballa · Feb 7, 2007

mc mark said:

I've been known to purposefully bump people who stop short on the sidewalk.

Mean I know, but man I hate that!
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cant blame you, in the most crowded parts of the city (usually Herald Square), you always find morons standing around looking up at something. Meanwhile it's rush hour and I'm trying to go home cuz it's freezing outside. It doesn't sound liek a big deal to some people, but when there's like hundreds of people on just one side of a block, it makes a big difference cuz you gotta walk around them.

mc mark · Feb 7, 2007

hotballa said:

cant blame you, in the most crowded parts of the city (usually Herald Square), you always find morons standing around looking up at something. Meanwhile it's rush hour and I'm trying to go home cuz it's freezing outside. It doesn't sound liek a big deal to some people, but when there's like hundreds of people on just one side of a block, it makes a big difference cuz you gotta walk around them.
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Makes you want to act like a street crazy and scream at the top of your lungs "MOVE!"

SwoLy-D · Feb 7, 2007

I'll break the reply to a quote to a reply to a quote to a reply chain and post:

Question is... will they fine me if I am crossing the street in my WALKMAN?

Yeah, I know, I should be fined for STILL HAVING a walkman...

hotballa · Feb 7, 2007

SwoLy-D said:

I'll break the reply to a quote to a reply to a quote to a reply chain and post:
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lol I think this is the equivalent to a awkward silence on internet forums.

Question is... will they fine me if I am crossing the street in my WALKMAN?

Yeah, I know, I should be fined for STILL HAVING a walkman...
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yes every small electronic device is subject to this. This means your cell phones, DS Lites, PSPs, everything.

ElVenezolano · Feb 7, 2007

Land of the FREE!!!! What if i have a Beeper on me, and i get a message while im crossing i couldnt look at it??? would that be a fine on state of the art technology??

hotballa · Feb 7, 2007

ElVenezolano said:

Land of the FREE!!!! What if i have a Beeper on me, and i get a message while im crossing i couldnt look at it??? would that be a fine on state of the art technology??
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yes according to the bill, you woudl get fined if caught.

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Cross the Street while using an IPod gets you $100 fine

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