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By Steve Ragan Feb 8, 2007, 17:14 GMT
NY State Sen. Carl Kruger proposes ban on handheld devices
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Older Talkback
To enforce this law we will put a policeman on EVERY corner!
Soon you will not be able to pass without SHOWING YOUR PAPERS!
All electronic devices that are improperly used will be CONFISCATED!
I will be in COMPLETE CONTROL!
Just require a sticker on the back of the device that states:
WARNING: A politician has determined that listening to this device while walking in front of a bus could be hazardous to your health.
In theory:
-People cross the street with traffic, not against it, so likely they're crossing in a crosswalk. If hit by a car the driver is the one at fault.
-If not crossing in a crosswalk, then the person is already breaking a never-enforced law, jay-walking. Why bring a new law that also won't be enforced?
-If people decide to cross against the grain of traffic, well, let them. If they are hit, that's more punishment than a $100 fine, and if they aren't hit then maybe there wasn't that much danger in the first place or they already took note of their environment and considered all of the options.
-NYC is a pedestrian city - any curbing of danger should be done on the side of motorists.
-Most pedestrian accidents are a direct result of NY Department of Transportation & the NYPD not making lights long enough, not enforcing red lights & stop signs, and not enforcing the speed limit.
Well done, Robert!
I know that the problem would be solved by enforcing existing laws, that's a no-brainer. But I'm a politician and I do things to look good, not because they matter. This makes it look like I actually care about the idiots who got hit while listening to their iPods while simultaniously creating a possible new revenue stream. This will also give the police a reason to stop someone they don't like the looks of without consequence. And best of all it doesn't affect me because I don't own an iPod or walk anywhere, I'm too important for that nonsense.
Off topic, but in response to fake laugh tracks on sitcoms.... most sitcoms are filmed with an audience.
just one more small step toward subjugation of the masses. George Orwell missed the date but not the concept.
I dispute that statement by the person claiming to be me! I do too walk around NYC when I have to!
What I want to know is, who is going to protect the secondhand user? The other day I was walking in the East Village when I noticed a fine mama dancing in front of me as she walked while listening to what must have been a great song on her mp3 player. Soon, I was entranced by her gyrations, and her groove was juxtaposed with my psyche, and I too found myself 'jumpin to da beat'. I've never felt so alive, so carefree. Suddenly, I heard a terrible screeching sound followed by a horrific rush of air and I awoke from my trance to find that I was standing right smack in the middle of the street on the backside of the truck that had just missed me! I ran before the driver could get to me and soon I was safe in the alley with my 40 and a fresh shot of pure adrenalin. I could have been killed!
I couldn't find that girl anywhere, and when I called the police to complain they just laughed at me and told me to stop bothering them. Now tell me, Who's going to protect MY rights?
Quote ' They walk into speeding cars. They walk into buses. They walk into each other. It’s creating an atmosphere where we have a major public safety crisis at hand.” Sen. Kruger said. '
You know, I think he has the problem well characterized, but his solution sucks.
What he wants to do would restrict the freedom of everyone who uses electronic devices. What we need to do is target the threat to public safety.
I propose they simply make it a crime to 'walk into cars, trucks, or buses while using an electronic device'.
See how simple it is to rephrase the law in a way that doesn't infringe on everyone elses rights ?
I swear I should be in government.
Here is a Reality show for you - Senators Live - discuss their lives, justify their jobs, publish their purpose in office. Tie that in with Trump's You are Fired and have the American Public vote to decide if we really need BUMS like this Genius.
That is probally the stupidest law I'v ever heard of and probally the hardest one to enforce.
Sen. Carl Kruger (D),
Another case of Big Brother sticking their noses into peoples lives.
Let's see how the court system is going to handle the case load, or maybe
the cops can have people pay their fines on the spot with the credit card.
Mr. Kruger you are an idiot!!!!
I cant believe this NY State Sen. Carl Kruger comments about Ipods.What killed those pedestrians is, NOT LOOKING BOTH WAYS-WHEN YOU CROSS THE STREET.Its not ther Ipods stupid.THINK about it-if you look first-you wont get hit by a vehicle.There is a BAD epedemic of people male and female just walking into the street to cross without looking.N.Y is bad, but Boston is the worst city in U.S.A for Jwalkers it is bad, but look at the Mayor they have in Boston. Didnt he just waste 75,000 dollars on taking down advertisement signs thinking they were bad or something.Now this Carl Kruger wants to waste more taxpayers money.
In response to 'Evil Elmer' about my comment about laugh tracks........
If most sitcoms are filled with a live audience, then this is even more disturbing. I would say about 90% of the stuff that is being laughed at is not even close to being funny. Wow! Too many brainless donkey's in america. To Americans that watch sitcoms: if you watch sitcoms, and laugh at everything, you have issues. You know who you are, yes you, you brainless low IQ disease!
Ok Ipods are just music that plays, its people using their blackberries at the top of escalators that are stupid. I think that this would be a good liability thing. Like J walking, if you get hit, its your fault and you cant sue.
They like to major in the minor. lol.
least of problem affecting america right now, why not address overcrowding in schools?
Crossing roads and getting distraced was heppening before ipods and cellphones.
how many times have you been walking with someone and both ignorantly cross the street/lane almost running into a vehiecle? seldomly.
why not ban our friend too?
it is simple, people should be more 'aware' and that is their personal responsiblity. You cant just go around trying to ban everything! what, it will make u feel more accomplished to say to yourself: 'I banned the Ipod!'.
give me a break,
though i share the common opinion of this article and the replies to it that this is primarily a natrual selection issue, i grossly disagree with the statement that the laws need to be tightened on the drivers. giving pedestrians the right of way is bad enough already. too many people that need to fall into the darwin awards nomination list abuse this rule to think that they can stride into a street and expect cars to stop. not enough of them realize that there are laws regarding a pedestrian leaving a protected place. my opinion is that the car weighs an order of magnitude more than a person... if that person values their life, they should watch out for the car. it's too easy for stupid people to survive in our world already, and every one that we save is one more that's in our way.
I often wonder about the thought processes of our elected officials.
When I sit down with my family to discuss the problems that confront us and require the immediate attention of our Federal and Local Lawmakers, handheld devices doesn't make the list.
The main categories being Taxes,Violent Crime, Environment, Security and Education, Cost of Utilities are major priorities. Under each category I can honestly say that that I can add a minimum of 6 subjects.
The latter adds up to 48 subjects.
If Mr.Krueger has a minimum of 48 subjects that he is working on, he might call me and I can suggest more substantive subjects than the legislation he is proposing.
What if those who died were not from his office? We probably wouldn't be talking about this new law.
So is he talking about just Music players and cell phones only? Does it include radio? What an idiot!
Just because he got the other two laws passed he thinks he can get away with anything that comes in his mind.
Next time you see someone with headphone, about to hit by a car, dont just scream, please throw something (Stone perhaps) at him to make him look at the other side (if he's lucky he'll survive).
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