WUIE
We can’t use cell phones while driving. OK. How about this? A new ticket – the WUIE. “Walking Under the Influence of Entertainment”
A state senator from Brooklyn said on Tuesday he plans to introduce legislation that would ban people from using an MP3 player, cell phone, Blackberry or any other electronic device while crossing the street in either New York City or Buffalo.
NewsChannel 4 reported that Sen. Carl Kruger is proposing the ban in response to two recent pedestrian deaths in his district, including a 23-year-old man who was struck and killed last month while listening to his iPod on Avenue T and East 71st Street In Bergen Beach.
“While people are tuning into their iPods and cell phones, they’re tuning out the world around them,” Kruger said. The proposed law would make talking on cell phones while crossing the street a comparable offense to jaywalking
Buffalo?!
I’m sure a similar bill was proposed in 1981 when Walkmans came out. This is just plain idiotic. I’m glad to see, however, that every other problem in Brooklyn and Buffalo has been solved and that we can now turn our attention to the very urgent issue – nay, scourge – of iPod wearing pedestrians.
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There are times I consider moving back to NY State, but then read something like this. Your politicians either have zero faith in the ability of MOST people to use their heads, or they refuse to accept that some idiots (no matter how much nanny-state regulation exists) never will.
Up here in NH, I can wear my iPod (or a pistol for that matter) anywhere I wish.
/Live Free Or Die
Yeah, right on! They can have my iPod when they pry it from my cold, dead auricles.
WTF!!
Pedestrians are not the ones operating multi-ton steel and glass killing machines.
And from personal experience, Brooklyn drivers tend to be complete assholes who have no regard for pedestrians. Most ped. deaths there are likely attributed to negligent driving.
While were at it, let’s enact laws that punish drivers for player music in their cars. UGH!
Tatonka,
Good one
Sheesh. Just when you think you’ve heard EVERYTHING.
I don’t know why someone would want an Ipod. But this IS America, and you’re free to do what you want with your money.
I remember once riding the subway in NYC (around 78) going back to Brooklyn Navy Yard from Manhattan to pick up my car. Why drive in Manhattan if you don’t have to? And you Can’t leave a 73 Charger SE with a 440 and mag wheels on the street in Brooklyn and expect it not to be gone or on blocks when you get back.
There was a person on the subway with a HUGE ghetto blaster stereo, playing “Shake your Bootie” (KC and Sunshine Band for you youngsters)
and standing in the middle of the car, gyrating with the blaster on his shoulder.
Laws outlawing ghetto blasters would be better suited to society than outlawing Ipods, Walkmans or other such devices.
Perhaps we should look at these unfortunate deaths as being somewhat Darwinian in nature.
Yes, Pauldub is right. iDarwinism.
I may be the only person on the planet who doesn’t have an ipod. However, it does give me a unique perspective on watching people who do have them. I have to agree with the senator that people do seem to think that when the ipod goes on the outside world no longer exists. I’ve seen people walk or bike in front of cars and watched the startled looks on their faces when they realize they were a split second from being a hood ornament.
There also seems to be this unwritten rule among ipod owners that once the ipod goes on you never interrupt that person no matter what is happening. I watched 2 ipod owners last year freak out at others who just tried to ask them a question.
not saying the law is a good one, but there is some basis in the reasoning.
Hank: you must be older than dirt to come up with that ghettoblaster story! I actually haven’t seen one of those in years, so no need for that law
When I was younger I can remember people walking around with walkmans. What is the difference with an ipod?
well it is good to know Albany has taken care of EVERY other important issue that faces this state that they can talk about this. I LOVE NY.
No difference. But please remember that all that has happened is that a single NYS Senator, from a district in which two iPodniks were recently killed, has said he will propose a bill. It’s extremely unlikely that this will become law, or even make it though Committee. It’s just an interesting little story – not a real issue.
Hawk, I’ll be 50 2 weeks from tomorrow. Old, but not Ancient. No dust emits from my drawers when I break wind—yet.
Ghetto Blasters are still popular in other countries, even today.
(another advantage of military service)–in late 82 I was sitting on the beach in Rio–Not Grande, de Janiero, with a friend who had just bought one from the ship’s store, and we had it on. A native comes by, and with some broken english and some hand signs, gets it across he wants to buy it.
My friend turned him down, he’s only had it a couple hours.
Native comes back 30 minutes later with an ounce of Bolivian Marching Crystals.
DEAL!
the flake was deposited in the gyrocompass of the ship and came back to the USA. My friend didn’t use drugs, but he ended up selling a 185.00 blaster for 2500.00—Couldn’t happen today. When any naval vessel comes back into home port, a platoon of drug dogs sniffs down the entire vessel.
Until the good Sen. passes a law as to when I can take a crap I will standfast.
Another downstate NYC nannystater.
WTF is with NY over regulating EVERYTHING?
How can any Senator or Assemblyman get some free media publiciity? It’s easy. Simply propose a patently absurd law that will protect the public from some imaginary problem, while eroding personal freedom . In other words, ban something. Make it illegal. Preferably something innocous, like ipods, spitting or singing or whistling or guns in church. Remind the public how dangerous these activities can be and use the tried-but-true: “If we can save only one life…”
Politicians know that the media will never, ever question any bill that purports to protect the public, no matter how badly it panders to latent paranoia, no matter how absurd or anti-democratic. You can propose taking away every single freedom and the media will never question it.
The bill will likely never pass but that’s not the point. Freshman congressmen cannot get noticed without proposing some lame legislation. Even veteran legislators who have become intellectually bankrupt can pretend to be relevant. The media can be counted on to along. Nobody will state the obvious: “this is a stupid idea”.
“The bill will likely never pass”
I wouldn’t be too sure about that. All the rest of these proposed “nanny-state” laws have passed.
These nanny bills would disappear overnight if the media reporters would find the spine to ask some pointed questions, like: “Congressman, your proposal looks like ‘nanny’ legislation – that treats citizens are too helpless to care for themselves. Why do we need more laws to tell us when we may listen to music or make a phone call? Do you think people are too stupid to make these decisions for themselves?”
When is the last time you heard a tough question asked?