Should iPods Be Banned at Crosswalks?

Thu Feb 8, 2007 3:43AM EST

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Some truly nutty, Footloose-worthy legislation attempts are under foot: According to BetaNews, New York State Senator Carl Kruger is trying to push through a law that would subject pedestrians to a $100 fine for crossing the street with their iPods on. Apparently three pedestrians have been killed in the last year in N.Y. State Senator Carl Kruger's home district.

Okay, I'll admit that I have almost been hit by a car at least a couple of times while crossing the street with my iPod at full blast (not to mention my portable CD player and cassette-tape Walkman before that). But those close encounters with car contact taught me a lesson: Look both ways before you cross the street, just like Mom said. Or put warnings on the iPod boxes (I think some audio player and headphone models already have this).

Making it against the law to wear your Walkman seems like a waste of taxpayer money, not to mention a buzz-kill right out of Footloose (the movie is set in a town where dancing was against the law). I mean, how would you even check if someone had their music on or off? What a hassle it'll be if complying with the law means taking your headphones off every single time you cross the street.

This may not be an issue for most Americans, who usually drive everywhere, but for anyone in a small town or walkable big city, this could be a bummer. I mean, why should I have to shut off my iPod when it's perfectly legal for packs of smokers to exhale cancer-causing fumes in my face every time I walk by a bar? Work on that annoying byproduct of the anti-smoking movement before you take my iPod away.

What do you think: Should iPods be banned at crosswalks?

Comments on Should iPods Be Banned at Crosswalks?

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  • 1 Posted by shutrbug@sbcglobal.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:21PM EDT Report Abuse

    I agree that this would be one of the stupidest laws ever. At some point people have to use common sense. You can legislate intelligence.

  • 2 Posted by jbuck012001 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:30PM EDT Report Abuse

    An old friend once told me that if you pass laws to protect fools from themselves, you end up with a world full of fools. He was refering to helmet laws for motorcyclists, but it would apply to this law as well.

  • 3 Posted by mvempaty on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:31PM EDT Report Abuse

    Apparently for lack for better work to do, the congressmen from New York are creating legislation that does not serve any cause. How stupid can they get ?

  • 4 Posted by leo4yourloan on Thu Sep 3, 2009 6:49PM EDT Report Abuse

    I think Darwin has the right idea here. "Natural Selection" serves to promote the survival of the fittest. If you're not smart enough to check for the on coming city bus or the run-away garbage truck before you step off the curb... society is probably better off without you.

  • 5 Posted by the_8th_syn on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:06PM EDT Report Abuse

    Three people? thats insane! How many people must die before the world learns. Maybe we should make driving illegal so to protect all of the other people that die in crosswalk tragedies. We can make a comittee to investigate and discuss possiable ways of educating our children about the dangers of iPods. We will need to teach them how to cross streets. I think it can be done if we all work together.

  • 6 Posted by f_l_dyke on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:05PM EDT Report Abuse

    How do morons like this get elected anyway? This proposed legislation is what happens when people give legislators power to pass laws that are "for our own good." E.g: Social Security, minimum liability insurance requirements, gun laws, most every piece of leglation that has passed through the gilded halls of our governments offices. I wonder when people will get a clue.

  • 8 Posted by marmasu1 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:08PM EDT Report Abuse

    WHAT IS MEANT BY A COLD FEED INTERFACE? HOW DOES IT DIFFER FROM OTHER INTERFACES?

  • 9 Posted by jcsmlord on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:31PM EDT Report Abuse

    It's the most ridiculous idea that I've ever heard. Banning people from using their iPods? obviously the State Senator doesn't walk around Manhattan too often. Music is a stress releaver for most people, I know at least it is for me.

  • 10 Posted by magicalphoenix2004 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:03PM EDT Report Abuse

    3 people huh? I just says the were hit while walking... we're they listening t music? and if you in a big, walking city (such as NYC)There are already many other noises to get your attention ... So if they want to go through this properly ban noise...And it's only 3.. Well ok that sounded mean but it's not that I don't feel bad it's just back to the smoking thing... How many people die each year from lung cancer after smoking all their lives? Yeah I haven't seen any laws banning smoking.. And you're correct any music device I've ever bought has a warning and for that matter tells you how loud you should turn it up to at the max(even though the device usually goes much louder which never made sense to me). Anyhoo this is stupid and a complete waste of time and money (which I know the people actually care about).

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