Issue date: 3/2/07 Section: Opinion

Media Credit: Julian Lim

According to a New York legislation proposed by New York State Senator Carl Kruger, iPods, Handheld games and cell phones will be banned when crossing streets. Senator Kruger decided to raise the issue after three pedestrians were run over in his district while distracted by portable electronic devices. If Kruger's bill passes it would ban iPods, handheld games and cell phones when you cross the street Nationwide. People in violation of the bill will be fined a $100. Seriously this bill is so idiotic. What law enforcing officer or agency for that matter, in their right mind would actually sit around monitoring people crossing the street to catch these so called "evildoers" in the act, when they have better things to do such as, catch serial killers and rapists. Is there going to be a cop on every street corner waiting to give a ticket to everyone who crosses the street with an electronic device? I don't think so. Honestly, do you think that officers would even bother to enforce such a moronic law? Officers might see this as an opportunity to fill their quota, even when the person they ticket isn't rockin' an iPod or electronic device. If you ban iPods, why don't you ban walkmans which some people still actually own. You should also ban people carrying books while they cross the street.
The problem here is not people walking around with iPods, PSPs and cell phones. The problem is people not using using common sense when crossing streets. Having the ability to hear is not going to save you when you step out ten feet in front of a car going 40 mph. More importantly cell phone and iPod usage when driving causes a lot more accidents, than someone who is using them when they cross the street.

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