Nanny Kruger Wants to Take Away Your Ipod
Maybe you've heard of this proposed "ipod" bill being introduced in New York by State Senator Carl Kruger (D-NY) of Brooklyn. The law would ban the use of certain electronic devices while crossing the street.
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Legislation will be introduced in Albany on Wednesday to lay a $100 fine on pedestrians succumbing to what State Sen. Carl Kruger calls iPod oblivion. "We're talking about people walking sort of tuned in and in the process of being tuned in, tuned out," Kruger said. "Tuned out to the world around them. They're walking into speeding cars. They're walking into buses. They're walking into one another and it's creating a number of fatalities that have been documented right here in the city." |
Not only will the guilty party receive the $100 fine but would receive a criminal court summons, meaning they would actually have to make an appearance in court. The law would apply to any MP3 player, cell phone or Blackberry.
I'm still trying to figure out the logic in this besides the general gravitation towards making New York a nanny-state. Somehow this politician thinks that people who are inclined to tune things out and walk into oncoming traffic are suddenly going to be alert and responsible because you've taken away their toy. It would never occur to them that maybe these people will be just as tuned out and self absorbed with or without an ipod. I wear one on a daily basis and I have no trouble crossing streets, mainly because I pay attention while crossing the street.
Here is the form to send an email to Carl Kruger, I suggest you let him know how you feel. I wrote him this evening and if he happens to reply, which I doubt, I'll post it here.
Comments
Whats next, a walking and chewing gum ban?
walking while deaf?
I don't need my government to be so intrusive as to telling me how to cross the street. My mother did that 30 years ago and I still remember to look both ways.
Posted by: morpheus![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.thebrokenchair.com/nav-commenters.gif)
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February 9, 2007 07:30 AM
My parents live in his district. It pains me.
Posted by: Karol at alarmingnews.com![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.thebrokenchair.com/nav-commenters.gif)
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February 16, 2007 04:03 AM
And he never answered my email. Now isn't that a surprise?
Posted by: Ed Z | February 16, 2007 09:14 AM