Another case of the man bring you down

Taken from here

If you dare walk, jog or ride a bicycle across a New York street with your iPod plugged into your ears, you are asking for trouble. You are asking for a $100 fine, under a new law being proposed.

State Sen. Carl Kruger's bill would also outlaw the use of cell phones, Blackberries, video games or other electronic devices when crossing the street, AP reported.

Kruger cited the unfortunate death of a 21 year old man who was listening to music when he stepped off a curb and was hit by a bus last September. Another similar case occured last month to a 23 year old iPod listener.

"If you're so involved in your electronic device that you can't see or hear a car coming, this is indicative of a larger problem that requires some sort of enforcement beyond the application of common sense," Kruger said.

Charlotte Troisgros, 16, a Manhattan student talking on her mobile phone in a crosswalk near City Hall on Wednesday, laughed and said the law may not be such a bad idea.

"You really don't pay attention. You might get hit by a car," she said.

Christopher Murray, a civil liberties attorney, said the proposal is a bit excessive considering all the regulations on the table.

"With our schools failing, health costs out of control, and crushing property taxes, the legislature would rather play mother by legislating how we cross the street," he said.

"What's next? Do you get fined if you don't look both ways?"

I think this is one of those slippery slope issues. If the issue is that electronic devices are distractions, then you certainly have to regulate who you cross the street with. It is obvious that you can't pay attention when talking to your spouse. Talking to your boss about work..no way. Talking to anyone is distracting, you are going to have to cross the road by yourself.

If people are not going to pay attention and cross the road when they should, you can't legislate that. You are not able to regulate stupid.