Bill banning iPods and cellphones on New York City streets coming
By Thomas Ricker 
posted February 7th 2007 9:01AM
posted February 7th 2007 9:01AM
Update: Instead of preaching to the choir on this, why not take Chris' advice from the comments section and send Senator Kruger an email. We're sure he'd love to hear your thoughts on his proposed ban.
[Thanks Chris and Jusin Z]
Ryan, how is this a good idea? If you don't know enough to pay attention when you walk in the street, you have Darwinism at its finest. Don't punish me because you (not you literally) don't have the capacity to do something. I'm getting tired of least common denominator legislation.
i dont understand whats wrong with you losers saying its fine for a cab to run over someone. obviously this has many people in mind, i personally look both ways just because i dont trust the drivers we have here in the states but still the idea of making it an offense NOT to look both ways is a good idea, if you do, even tho you have our phone and dap on at the same time, thats fine, no ticket for you.
what we new yorkers should really be pissed about are these stupid laws about walking thru train cars, yes i understand theyre aimed at minorities but i just got a F*ckin ticket and it blows huge floppy donkey c@ck, and getting these damn cabbies off the highways, i swear they f*ckin drive 70mph down a cross street but will only go 30 on the highway in hte left lane. outrageous.
gay gay gay gayyyy
If it passes, let's put speakers up on every corner. I call dibs on New York's soundtrack.
BAHHAHAHA! You have got to be kidding me. Thats like saying any of the following:
1. Airbags in cars can break peoples noses when deployed so we need to ban them from being put in cars to protect them!
2. People sometimes drop bags/briefcases/(enter item here) when crossing the street and can endanger themselves so we need to ban them from carrying anything with them while they do so.
3. Changing cd's/radio stations/etc. takes their eyes off the road, lets ban it all including satellite radio so we don't have this problem again.
This guy needs open his eyes and realize that even though his name is out there, it is severely crapped upon by the people that read about it.
Thank god I'm not from America, some bullshit laws going on around there.
I’m having difficulties seeing how that’s logical. They may be claiming that because you are on the phone or listening to an ipod you might not be listening to traffic. But most major cities are going to be so loud as it is, that if sound was the only factor to tell you a car is about to hit you, you probably would not do any better without being on a cellphone or mp3 player even. Besides people are supposed to look regardless when crossing the street. What next, they gona say you can’t wear any dark clothing at night?
Who knows maybe it’ll evolve to the point that will affect us photographers, by saying you can’t carry a camera around the city, they might distract you… LOL (least that sounds more plausible than “for security reasons…”)
"all electronic devices".. what about pacemakers?
I sent this to Senator Kruger:
Dear Senator Kruger,
I read today about your idea to restrict usage of specific devices while crossing the street in New York City. While I respect your goal of protecting the citizens of New York from hurting themselves and possibly others, I must ask, is this the most pressing issue facing the State of New York and New York City?
As a former resident of New York City, with most of my family still living within the city limits or nearby in the surrounding counties in Long Island and Westchester, I wonder if perhaps we should instead be concerned with the amount of vehicle traffic within city limits. Perhaps, instead of trying to laser target specific behaviors, we ought not to seek change at the larger scale.
After all, if we were to somehow reduce vehicle traffic in the New York metropolitan area, think of the other benefits besides just pedestrian safety. Reduced pollution and reduced road maintenance costs are just a two that immediately spring to mind.
Thank your for you time.
You're right about this being a Democrat thing. Only the Democrats would tell people what they can and can't do - no Republican has ever said gays can't marry.
Sheesh, this isn't a party issue - this is a people issue. Stupid people. What I mean is, stupid people are taking control of our lives. They see other peoples' misfortunes as opportunities: two people get hit by cars while they happen to have iPods on and it's not, "Let's mourn these tragedies," it's "Hmmm ... I could get my name on a bill that bans iPods in the city."
Bottom line - there are millions of New Yorkers in the city, a vast majority of which own and use either a cellphone or an iPod (or both) every day during their commutes or other transit times. We're on the streets in force and we'll be damned if some moron is gonna take away those things which allow us to:
A) ignore the homeless
B) ignore those people handing out newspapers
C) ignore those people trying to get us to go to comedy clubs that we don't want to go to, but they keep pushing anyway until you have to yell at them, "I don't like to laugh! I'm bitter and soulless and there is no God! Leave me alone!"
D) .... ignore pretty much everyone
As for a comparison to the recent ban on trans fats, that's completely irrelevant. Most people wouldn't know what foods contained trans fats without BEING TOLD that they did; much as most people didn't know their house contained dangerous substances like asbestos in the insulation or lead in the paint.
People know that if they can't hear, then they run the risk of endangering themselves. But in a place like New York, simply walking across the street is almost always running a risk, what with the crazy cab drivers and moron food delivery guys on bicycles. The fact of the matter is, iPod or not, most people don't use common sense anyway.
So I'll let the jackass next to me step out in front of a city bus because he's not paying attention, and I'll witness his explosive finish in life to the sound of Mad World. It seems all the more appropriate here in New York.
Hello Carl Kruger,
Being a frequent visitor to New York City I thought I'd share my thoughts on the rumors (I have not seen any official documents) stating your idea of banning the use of electronic equipment from use in crosswalks.
It's in every way absurd! There have been two deaths, one that is strongly believed to be the result of the use of electronic equipment while walking across a street. Do you not see that this is not the result of electronic equipment usage but the result of carelessness and negligence?
Have you yourself not used an electronic device while walking? Actually from the looks of it, you have not done much walking, or other physical activity in some time. If this "ban" passes, up next should be a ban on lack of physical activity. I'd rather be hit by a car from my own ignorance than end up in bad physical health.
Thank You for reading,
Tyler Love
The only time I have been run over by a car was while I was walking on the sidewalk; the driver managed to put three pedestrians through a brick wall and kill two of us. None of us were listening to any music.
"Wow, so many negative comments. I guess people don't really see the purpose of this law: Liability.
Let's say you are driving along and some knucklehead steps out in front of you because they have no clue what they are doing. They are talking on their phone or listening to music, basically tuning out the world. With this law in place you would not be responsible for hitting them, they would be as they are doing something against the law.
This has nothing to do with enforcement, no cop is going to walk up to you and cite you for your iPod. But if you walk out into traffic with them on and get hit, now it will be YOUR FAULT! If this is not typical NY than nothing is."
Problem is: what happens when I'm listening to my DAP, wait the traffic light go red for the cars, look if no car is trespassing the red light, and start crossing. Then an idiot who is coming from the other street of the intersection turns at 80mph without looking and hits me. He'll just point to the cops that there are earbuds in my ears and go away without being hold liable for injuring or killing me?
I decided to write Kruger... read below:
Senator Kruger,
I just wanted to send a quick note to express to you my disappointment in your pursuit of legislation that would ban MP3 players and cell phone use when crossing New York's streets. I must say I find this newest way to restrict our freedoms nothing more than a publicity stunt. We would all be better served if you spent your time and our money enacting viable, valuable legislation. New York has already banned smoking and trans-fats, is it now going to control what I choose to listen to while walking? I could understand if prohibiting headphones or cell phone use made it less likely that I would hurt another, but it doesn't. If someone is confident (or stupid enough, whichever way you choose to look at it) to walk the streets of New York with earphones in and is willing to risk the danger of being struck by a car, isn't that their right? They are endangering no one but themselves. Who are you to revoke the privilege of personal risk taking? Perhaps we would all be better off if you hired city workers to hold our hands as we walked through the streets of Manhattan. That sounds ridiculous right? That is exactly what your “headset legislation” sounds like to the rest of us living in the real world.
Have you ever considered what the cumulative effect of this "Big Nanny Government" legislation has on the tourism of NYC? With every "babysitter law" you pass, you make your great city less and less a desirable place to visit for millions.
Have you also considered that by sponsoring such a bill you are in effect saying that your streets aren't as safe as they should be? Are NYC drivers so careless and reckless that we are abolishing headphones? How about imposing harsher and stricter legislation that would hold drivers (whose actions really can and do impact the safety of OTHERS) to higher standards of safety awareness? Or perhaps the streets of NYC are so dangerous that the sense of hearing there is absolutely vital to the survival of its guests and citizens. I guess you better outlaw deaf pedestrians as well. It’s for their own good...
Sincerely,
Why not ban automobiles? Stoves? Plastic bags? Small objects that might be swallowed.... Do cigarettes take 'too long' to kill?
In reference to this, i just read that "government is meant to protect its citizenry."
Please, then, issue us all plastic bubbles, and pave the roads with rubber. Surely we cannot be trusted to do ANYthing responsibly.
Just told him instead of making it illegal to cross the streets with ipods or cell phones, he should propose to make it illegal to cross the street unless pedestrians holds the hands of police officers
I sent below message to the senator email address already.
--------------------------------------
Regarding banning iPods and cellphones on New York City streets.
How come there was no ban on walkman/cdplayer in the old days when crossing the street and now this becomes an issue?
People could be crossing the street and looking up a map, reading newspaper, drinking coffee, or even talking to friends ... etc. These are all distractions that could lead to fatal accidents.
The bottom line is people could get kill anytime if they are not careful enough.
Should there be laws enforcing when crossing the street, area within 5 inches from your eyes and ears must be kept clear at all time, and your head must be straight up and able to turn quickly 180 degree within a split second? So that means in winter time you are not allowed to wear protective clothing to keep warm.
People need to be caution when crossing the street. This is like the first thing they teach in kindergarten; or the issue here is actually a failure in our education system?
Now for non Apple MP3 players to invade the streets!
This bill is so illogical that it pains me to even comment it on it. Since when does the government have the right to tell us when/when not to listen to our own, private, legal music. Next they are going to tell us what to wear, then when to wear it in the interest of global warming. Government in the United States, in my opinion, has trully lost its way and seems just to make laws to make them. Now I understand that this law has some underlying reason, but come on. What's next?
Since naming a bill after a dead person always guarantees that it will become a law, I have a proposal for the New York government. I call it Darwin's Law. It makes it illegal for preening, self-centered politicians to create legislation that protects people from their own stupidity, at the cost of everyone else.
JR
I just sent the follow email to Senator Kruger:
Dear Senator Kruger:
I first heard about your proposed "remove-those-dangerous-headphones-while-crossing-the-street" legislation this afternoon. At first I thought the friend who had told me about it was kidding me. When I learned that she was, in fact, serious, and that this is an actual proposal to be put before the State legislature, I drew a huge sigh of relief.
No doubt I'm in the minority here, and more's the pity. Be that as it may, count me among the few to proclaim, loudly, stridently, and wholeheartedly, that I applaud you and the concern you show through this legislation for the safety and well-being of your fellow New Yorkers!
As a NYC resident for nearly 25 years, I, for one, am sick to death of hearing nothing but talk, talk, talk about all of this city's alleged "problems." Problems with the public schools. The state of the roads. The state of the sewer system. The ever-increasing level of vehicular and pedestrian traffic and how to manage both effectively (well, you're ahead on that one, Senator!). Crime. Terrorism. The nearby nuclear plant at Indian Point, the numerous unprotected chemical plants just across the Hudson in New Jersey, the protection of the port facility in Newark, New Jersey and how some sort of sabotage to any or all of these structures could catastrophically impact the City of New York.
Hogwash. I'm sick of it all. That's why I'm taking the time to write to you Senator, a man who so obviously has his priorities straight. A man who has his finger squarely on the hot-button issue of our Digital Age. A man who, dare I say it Senator, is, based on the scope of this legislation, breathtakingly prescient in his understanding of the public's need as we move into the future.
Senator, you truly take my breath away. And I'll do my best to let you know that in the next election.
Mmmm.. Better ban car driving, will save more lives and keep clean the air in NY! What's next? mandatory use of comdoms? wash your hands before dinner? don't seat too close to TV screen? Mr senator please get to work in something serious.
email sent - and I'm English!
These politicians just want to make a name for themselves. Its rediculous the lengths they go to in order for some press. Lots of piggy backing going on.
Be original for once. Please.
phew! i thought 'bill' was bi11 gate$!!! lolz
Sen. Carl Kruger = Jackass, plain and simple
This man has been a politician too long! The ONLY way to survive New York streets is to block the noise out!!!
I e-mailed him.
Anyone stupid enough to j-walk and get hit by a car shouldn't be felt bad for unless there was some sort of emergency. Besides cell phones / Ipods cover your ears not eyes so you should still see cars heading at you. You shouldn't hear the horn scream anyway.
There was that one time I had the right of way and was walking a bit "slower" and in the middle a car speeds up and almost hits me and then honks at me. But that's the driver that probably hit 1/2 or 2/2 of the people... It's the drivers that shouldn't listen to their stuff...
My Letter...
"Senator Kruger:
I recently read a news article concerning your proposal to ban MP3 players and cell phones when crossing the street in New York City. I know I am not the only New Yorker who finds the premise behind the legislation preposterous. Yes, several deaths may have occurred while people were listening to their iPods while crossing the street, but this reason does not merit legislation and restriction of our rights.
While legislation against using a cell phone when driving a car makes sense, due to the concentration needed to operate a vehicle, laws banning electronic devices while walking are absurd. Walking does not require the same level of concentration, and even irresponsible walking is hardly a danger to anyone else besides the person doing the walking. In any case, it makes no sense to ban MP3 players because avoiding oncoming traffic requires unobscured vision, not hearing. According to the logic of this registration, the New York State Senate should ban baseball caps and sunglasses, because they obscure vision and might cause a person to be hit by a car. Additionally, this law will give the NYPD another frivolous excuse to waste time that could be better used in true criminal investigation.
Considering the growing reliance on technology in this day and age, especially in business concerns, I doubt your legislation will have the support of businessmen in Manhattan who rely on their Blackberries and smartphones to keep in touch with their work interests. If this legislation passes, it will hurt the business interests of one of the business capitals of the world.
The bottom line is that this time of legislation serves no purpose but to put an additional useless restriction on citizens of a free country. One of the most important tenets of our Constitution is that we all have rights as long as they don't encroach on the rights of others. Walking down the street and talking on a cell phone or listening to my iPod does not limit the rights of another person and the law should not say otherwise. I believe your efforts would be better focused on examining what laws can be put into place to prevent irresponsible drivers from hurting other people, especially considering that many more people are harmed each year in NYC by irresponsible drivers and not people crossing the street with electronic devices.
Thank you for your time."
If you're going to ban the iPod, ban it because it sucks
sent today:
A proposed ban on ANY electronic device being used on the streets is absolutely ridiculous and blatant disregard for the rights and liberties granted to the American people set by the Bill of Rights. You are obviously failing your duty of representing the people of NY. I hope your political career will be very short lived if you intend to follow through with your “logical reasoning.” You were hired to represent the people of NY, not shepard them!
The last line in the article sums it all up. Let them pass it. It won't be enforced.
Jaywalking has always been a crime in NYC, and in the same regard, it's always been a staple of pedestrian transportation in NYC. Except for extreme cases, like the infamous Queens Boulevard- which has barriers to prevent jaywalking- it's never a forced policy to cross at the crosswalk. Ditto with walking with an electronic device.
Surely, this isn't the answer. It's not like every music playing device doesn't come with a warning about ambient noise and remaining alert while in public...oh wait.
Ban those things
This is all because of Microsoft!!!
They want to take Apple down by any means!
uh oh. i live in the city and i can get caught for listening to my mp3 (btw, it's an old sony md player) while crossing the street. wow. at least this will add some variety to the mounds of jaywalking tickets i have. har.
apologies if someone else has already pointed this out but the 'trust me i come from england' guy (peter adams) is even more moronic than the state sensator who is grandstanding with the proposed ban. what the hell is it about england that makes that comment worthwhile? how arrogant is this prick?
can i suggest a ban on stupid english guys commenting here? i'd sooner play in nascar traffic with an ipod than deal with listening to those wankers.
i know this doesnt relate (much) to the silly state senator but its exactly what i wanted to say....
Wow! They don't really trust you New Yorkers with being able to cross the street without holding your hand! Maybe the folks proposing and entertaining this ridiculous piece of legislation need their hands held whilst making laws.
If they ban cellphones all together, please let us know. At CharityCellphones http://www.charitycellphones.com you can donate used cellphones to your favorite cause!
Wow, this got far, far too political, far, far too fast. And may I say "Ew" at the Libertarian-type comments.
This is just for appearances obviously, since one person probably called, and as we all know, one person equals one billion people who were upset about the accidents.