A New York state senator plans to introduce legislation prohibiting the use of electronic devices from crosswalks in major cities. If passed, anyone listening to an MP3 player or talking on a cell phone while crossing the street could be fined up to $100.
The proposed bill would ban portable electronic devices, including music and video players, cell phones, smart phones, gaming devices and others ' an idea with good intentions, but still unreasonable and unneeded.
People using Blackberrys, handheld video games or cell phones while walking through the city might not be fully aware of their surroundings, the senator said. Three pedestrians were already killed in New York City last year after stepping into oncoming traffic while using electronic devices.
A similar statute is being discussed in California, which, like the indoor smoking ban, will undoubtedly spread across the country.
As soon as any such ideas are passed in New York City or the West Coast, the progressive legislation hot spots in Ohio will start formulating their own bills and ordinances. But leave this one where it began.
Police officers in some large cities have also warned that the use of electronic devices also diminishes alertness to potential thieves, inviting attacks such as threats or robbery.
This comes on the heels of increasingly aggressive legislation nationwide banning drivers from using cell phones and other devices ' including a proposed law in Vermont that would make it illegal to play the flute behind the wheel.
In 2003, New York implemented a comprehensive ban on cell phones in many indoor facilities, museums, libraries, galleries, movie theaters and concert halls.
Cell phones, Blackberrys and gaming devices are a distraction to pedestrians and clearly to the drivers. And yet, just because the knee-jerk reaction to these dangers is to avoid them completely by outlawing crossing the street while chatting, does not mean that is the right response or that it will necessarily prevent people from being involved in accidents.
Many things take people's attention away from the moment: smoking, talking to another person or just daydreaming on the way to work. Unless someone wants to propose outlawing them all, they should just let this one go.
Any questions as to the logistical problem of enforcement ' will there be a patrolman on every corner ' are left to be answered.
Will pedestrians begin cutting off conversations because the walk signal appeared or, more likely, will they ignore one more law that attempts to legalize what should be common sense. Pedestrians should quit talking for a few seconds to avoid being blindsided, but it's not the responsibility of state legislatures to ensure that happens.
At some point, people need to be responsible for themselves. It's impossible to keep people from walking into traffic all the time, save for outlawing the act itself.Editorials represent the majority opinion of the Post executive editors.
17 Archives
Law to prohibit tech use at intersections, people should be G
