Albany, NY To Ban iPods In Crosswalks

[matcom]

<snip>

(CBS) NEW YORK First it was cell phones in cars, then trans fats. Now, a new plan is on the table to ban gadget use while crossing city streets.

We all seem to have one -- an iPod, a BlackBerry, a cell phone -- taking up more and more of our time, but can they make us too distracted to walk safely? Some people think so.

If you use them in the crosswalk, your favorite electronic devices could be in the crosshairs.

Legislation will be introduced in Albany on Wednesday to lay a $100 fine on pedestrians succumbing to what State Sen. Carl Kruger calls iPod oblivion.

"We're talking about people walking sort of tuned in and in the process of being tuned in, tuned out," Kruger said. "Tuned out to the world around them. 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."


http://wcbstv.com/topstories/local_story_037234835.html

[DinahMoeHum]

1. Here's the State Senator's website. . .

http://www.nyssenate27.com/


You know what to do.


:evilgrin:

[malta blue]

2. I don't think they will be banned in Albany, per se

but the bill may pass to ban them in NYC.

[KamaAina]

4. That bill would cover all of New York State

the Paper of Record(TM) is using "Albany" to mean "the New York State Assembly, which meets in Albany".

[malta blue]

5. The article states the ban would be carried out in "big"

cities across the state. I was pointing out that Albany itself may not be subject to the ban as NYC would, for example.

[LeftyMom]

3. So when can we ban oblivious morons in cars?

:bounce:

[Rabrrrrrr]

6. I say "Let 'em die!"

If they're dumb enough to wear iPods and other distracting shit while dodging traffic, let 'em die.

And then let the person who hit them sue the estate of the deceased for its full value for "trauma and suffering."