No iPods on New York Streets?

Home » News » Gadgets

No iPods on New York Streets?

Techtree News Staff, Feb 08, 2007 1930 hrs IST

If one Carl Kruger, New York State Senator, has his way against what he dubs, 'iPod oblivion', there will soon be legislation banning the use...

For a city which almost tom toms its preoccupation with freedom - what with the Statue of Liberty standing tall in its midst, the Big Apple seems bent on 'not practicing' what it preaches.

If one Carl Kruger, New York State Senator, has his way against what he dubs, 'iPod oblivion', or the self induced stupor brought on by iPods and other such devices, there will soon be legislation banning the use of portable electronic gadgets such as iPods, PDAs, gaming devices, Blackberry devices, and cell phones while crossing the mean streets of New York, Albany, or Buffalo.

What's more, offenders will be slapped with a $100 fine, plus a criminal court summons.

Kruger, in his defense, says, the government has an obligation to protect its citizens, and that electronic gadgetry has reached a point where its creating a major public safety crisis for the government.

Kruger says that while he is trying not to intrude upon personal freedoms of New Yorkers, it becomes difficult to leave the problem alone when pedestrians tune-in to an iPod/Blackberry/cell phone/video game only to walk blythely into a speeding bus or moving automobile to meet with near certain death.

Kruger does not have exact statistics to support his claim, but he cites three accidental deaths of pedestrians in Brooklyn since September 2006, all of whom stepped into traffic even as they were distracted by some electronic gadget or the other. In one such case, Kruger remembers, bystanders kept screaming, "watch out", but in vain.

So, while Kruger hammers away at obliterating 'iPod oblivion', New Yorkers have but one option - to use their freedom (read: iPod) in a more responsible manner!

Related Links

New iPod Touch with Secret Bluetooth?

Apple's New range of iPods in India

LEAKED: Indian Prices for the New MacBooks

Tag keywords

Carl Kruger New York Senator iPod oblivion

Discussion Board

(137) Comments

Anonymous

,G-side, on Apr 04, 2007 07:43 PM

why not just have one earbud in at a time? left or right only. DURRRRP!

Samy

,Manama, on Feb 15, 2007 02:04 PM

Nobody can cheat death - DEATH once decided by the Almighty - comes about an twists you into its whirlpool---facts remain facts!!!!!!!

Avi C

,Chennai, on Feb 13, 2007 01:34 PM

Those dead guys should get the Darwin Awards, and if Kruger loses his ability to reproduce, he could qualify too.

Mike Smith

,NEW YORK, on Feb 09, 2007 01:07 AM

If you've seen Turbo-Tax's commercial lately, this is a perfect example of why we do NOT need politicians. They are so useless. Why not put the process on the internet and have people vote/blog to get things done.

kahlil

,houston, on Feb 12, 2007 12:13 AM

Ha I love it! Great idea!

A user

,Kent, on Feb 11, 2007 11:50 PM

It is negative feedback such as this that keeps technology and familiarization with technology from progressing.

Tyler Fenske

,Baraboo WI, on Feb 11, 2007 09:08 PM

Lol.

kissmyass

,h, on Feb 11, 2007 10:10 AM

hmmm....I think we should start a militia organization that put these clowns of their misery. Especially in the greater massachussets area...we need to get these dumbasses under control...before they form a lobby in the future equivalent to the christian lobby creating asymetric effects for society, that could be concidered otherwise unfair to the public in general. Or maybe we could start waging war against the christian lobby..like fight club style.

Meziked

,Portsmouth, on Feb 11, 2007 03:36 AM

I find it ironic that anyone is surprised about this law. You let the state government adopt seat belt laws, yet a seat belt doesn't make you a safer driver. NYC has also banned Trans fat in fast food. In my America I could go flying out my windshield with a double quarter pounder in each hand if I so desired. Now that is freedom! Stop trying to save me from myself...... you are infringing on my right to self-destroy.

Bob Armstrong

,Woodland Park, on Feb 11, 2007 02:06 AM

What's scary is that people elect such nanny tyrants. I left NYC in part because they extended the Wo(S)D to my cigars, not because of the real fear of spacing out into traffic. By Kruger's logic they should have outlawed WalkMans and car radios years ago. When's the backlash?

monk

,chicken, on Feb 09, 2007 10:33 PM

well there is no debate on this issue, i think the that Kruger is the stupidest of the lot by coming up with such an idea. statistics show death is caused in a large majority of humans via air borne micro organisms. I think he should ban breathing ! and while he is at it might as well ban "living in houses" cause statistics show fire has killed thousands.. Oh did i mention that his statistics comprised of 3 "three" individuals .... now my guess is one was drunk the other was high and third was running after stealing a burger from a deli .... i am sure Kruger's iq is 20

d_man

,Tulsa, on Feb 10, 2007 03:18 AM

I find it interesting that all the "concerned" people yelled "watch out" yet no one actually stepped out to grab the guy before he was hit. That kinda sucks, I would hope that were I in his situation someone would pull me back or something.

Tito

,Middletown, on Feb 10, 2007 11:39 AM

May be not yelling or pulling him back, but at least turning off his iPod would have been sufficient.

G.F

,New York, on Feb 10, 2007 07:21 AM

hey man you will get rich, because many people will keep using it so that stupid, you have to buy one if you don't have any

Gene Stanley

,Medford, on Feb 10, 2007 07:18 AM

I say leave well enough alone. This is what's called "only the strong survive." If you're dumb enough to be wearing headphones in the middle of traffic, well, at least we wont have to deal with your kids.

Kory

,Oregon, on Feb 10, 2007 07:18 AM

Ban cars and busses! Give everyone a segway. Problem solved

jac

,san diego, on Feb 10, 2007 07:09 AM

Citizens need protection from eachother, not themselves. Gov has no right to litigate stupidity.

GIS

,San Francisco, on Feb 10, 2007 05:35 AM

Actually, Microsoft is behind this idiot...they need some help so they can sell more ugly Zune...

Anonymous

,Chicago, on Feb 10, 2007 03:10 AM

First, cell phones while driving, then smoking, then trans fats, now this? They are slowing stripping away all freedoms...one by one. Sad. Don't they have better things to be worrying about? Education, healthcare, etc.?

GIS

,San Francisco, on Feb 10, 2007 05:33 AM

Finally, an intelligent comment!!! Thanks!

Rush

,Newark, on Feb 10, 2007 05:29 AM

I agree Natural Selection... But, when the driver of the car that runs over the moron on the iPod and goes to jail because people have it beat into their heads that "pedestrians have the right of way" I have to agree with the ban.. plus.. the government uses iPods to track your movements and control your thoughts.. so dont forget your tin-foil hats...

Arun

,Naperville, IL, on Feb 10, 2007 03:22 AM

With Liberty comes responsibility. If iPod users do not show responsibility then law comes in. It is a safety issue when pedestrians become oblivious to their surroundings and become traffic hazards on busy streets.

GIS

,San Francisco, on Feb 10, 2007 05:28 AM

You are a complete stupid, man!

Luis Reis

,Monterey, Ca, on Feb 10, 2007 05:25 AM

Give this man an iPod. That's all he needs, an IPod and more serious work to do in the Senate! Should people also stop listening to the radio while driving? Ask him if he ever used his cell phone while driving? If the answer is yes, give him a ticket and criminal court summons for that. L.

GIS

,San Francisco, on Feb 10, 2007 05:23 AM

This is simply ridiculous! What's next? we can read the Times, talk on the street with other people while walking? Hell with this idiot Kruger!!!!!!

Katie

,White Plains, NY, on Feb 10, 2007 05:23 AM

It's amazing that American's have become so stupid that we need the government to regulate what we can and can't do in a crosswalk. It should be common sense. If this law passes it may set a precedent for furthur intrusion into our personal lives

sergio

,annadale, on Feb 10, 2007 05:17 AM

unreasonable. Those people who run into cars shouldnt even be allowed to walk though. Imagine someone walking into you car or you almost running into a person who isnt payin attention because of their ipod. It could be frustrating. People need to be more aware. Especially if its a frekin city like New York.

fred

,annadale, on Feb 10, 2007 05:15 AM

thats stupid

Matt Mazel

,Oxnard, CA, on Feb 10, 2007 04:26 AM

What an old fuddy duddy! Next he'll ban long hair because of the dangers of headlice.

Walt Whitman

,Manhattan, on Feb 10, 2007 04:26 AM

The larger problem is irresponsible drivers. How often does one see a car, truck, or bus speeding dangerously down a Manhattan street or wrecklessly around a corner. Quite often. And then how often does one see a car pulled over by a police officer in Manhattan for a speeding ticket. I've lived here 7 years, and I've never seen this. People are fined for setting their bags down on the seat next to them in an empty A train, and traffic violations are all but unenforced. There's no good reason why this is a priority. It seems like the particular peeve of one person under the name of public safety.

English

,NY, on Feb 10, 2007 03:48 AM

Anyone see Lost last night? Hope Kruger didn't otherwise he'll ban talking while crossing the street too!

Dan

,Columbia, MO, on Feb 10, 2007 03:43 AM

let the supid die, it is natural selection

Anny

,Seattle, on Feb 10, 2007 03:40 AM

This makes me wonder if they're going to ban deaf people from crossing the street unassisted.

Andres A

,Reykjavik, on Feb 10, 2007 03:38 AM

Another Nanny,watching out for us!

Anonymous

,Abi, on Feb 10, 2007 03:36 AM

They should Ban Stupid Senators...

New Yorker

,New York, on Feb 10, 2007 03:32 AM

This will never pass. A person could be daydreaming and walk into traffic. I see it all the time. Dumb.

Hoqenishy

,, on Feb 10, 2007 03:31 AM

Don?t get me wrong ? I?m a staunch supporter of personal freedoms, and generally believe the government should butt out. However, that being said, I?m also a big believer in the astounding stupidity of individuals, and their subsequent victim mentality. The problem with freedom and the general public is that it takes responsibility to uphold it, and with today?s legal system, you can sue the city because a bus hit you while you were jaywalking in an iPod-induced mental haze and didn?t pay attention to the blaring ?Don?t Walk? sign. You can blame the government all you want for encroaching on freedom ? just keep in mind that freedom has long been eroded by stupid people who make poor choices and then expect someone else to coddle them. They wouldn?t have had the impetus to ban trans-fats if some moron hadn?t sued for restaurants ?making? him unhealthy!

Night Eagle

,Rio Rancho, on Feb 10, 2007 03:22 AM

Carl Kruger is a hell bent leftist trying to play catch up to Californian cronies out west. It is easy to try to pass ineffectual and not address serious issues affecting his constituents.

jake

,Brooklyn, on Feb 09, 2007 11:27 AM

This is great. Seriously, Ipods suck, they break and your forced to buy them again. Plus maybe the state will get enough revenue to lower some of these taxes. amen

massman

,Boston, on Feb 10, 2007 03:21 AM

"Forced" Just don't buy it again, and LISTEN to the world around you. Lots of interesting things to be overheard, and sometimes you meet chicks by HEARING what they're saying.

Drea

,Oregon, on Feb 10, 2007 03:16 AM

This is jut plain stupid and just goes to show that politicians have no concept of real peoples lives. They have no right to take anymore of our freedoms away. There are more important things in this country to worry about. Children go to bed without food in there tummys, in New York, and he is worried about cellphones. And Im supposed to trust the people voted for? Forgive me if I dont stand up.

Anonymous

,Los Angeles, on Feb 09, 2007 01:56 PM

wohoooooo put the hoodie over your head and you're GOOD TO GO!

Luke

,Columbia, on Feb 10, 2007 03:15 AM

haha...no kidding...works in school...it'll work out on the street

Jay

,NYC, on Feb 10, 2007 03:13 AM

Who cares? People are still going to do whatever thay want.

Bull

,NYC, on Feb 10, 2007 03:13 AM

Who elected that idiot?

Celeste

,Anytown, on Feb 10, 2007 03:12 AM

Only in America!

Drew

,Baltimore, on Feb 09, 2007 01:02 AM

What's next? 1984 here we come!

Anonymous

,Pune, on Feb 09, 2007 10:51 AM

WHO cares????? :O its in America Nt in India Ha Ha Ha

rahul

,mumbai, on Feb 10, 2007 02:52 AM

now u are supposed to ******* see a bus coming and not bloddy hear it coming its so freaking dunb to ban anything ,the government has no right to ban no device if u got a problem stop making the devices and make people sit at home and live a shitty life just like the guys in the government
** Message edited by moderator **

rahul

,mumbai, on Feb 10, 2007 02:44 AM

wtf do we use the ipod and other shit for then..Its not called portable devices for nothing...

Jeremy Wilhelm

,Atlanta, on Feb 09, 2007 01:00 AM

Seems if they want to go there, the lawmakers need to extend the logic to cell phone users. I'd say it's likely that a person involved in a cell phone conversation is likely to be as distracted, if not more so.

Anonymous

,Denver, on Feb 09, 2007 02:02 AM

Did you even read the article?

Jeremy

,Atlanta, on Feb 10, 2007 02:08 AM

OOps :-) missed the second paragraph's inclusion of basically all portable devices... I do think it's a slippery slope as you quickly lose sight of the line between protecting people, and becoming "big brother." The bottom line is, people need to take responsibility for themselves. You can't legislate common sense.

James

,Detoit, on Feb 09, 2007 10:21 PM

Hmm, I guy gets hits by a bus because he's not paying attention to his surroundings. That's called weeding out the gene pool. I don't need the government to tell me to pay attention, because my mom let me burn my hand on the stove when I was a kid.

Steve

,Las Vegas, on Feb 09, 2007 10:20 PM

So by that logic deaf persons should not be allowed to walk the streets - it's too dangerous. Earplugs should also be banned - better to lose your high frequency hearing from the high noise level in the streets of New York than die I guess. No noise cancelling headphones either. Hearing aides must also be banned because they can be turned off to block sound instead of amplifying it. Get real.

Damon

,NYC, on Feb 09, 2007 10:17 PM

Darwin will win, no matter how hard you try'n prevent it the stupid will eventually find some way of removing themselves from the gene pool and the planet will be better for it. Legislating stupidity does not cure it, death does. And I'm sure the burden on the court system and bueracratic process needed to bring "those folks" to court and fine them will cost WAY more then the alleged "damage" that's been done. So, I agree with the folks who've been quoting "V" and demanding that the "powers that be" should focus on GTFO of where they ought not be.

Lear Riojas

,Bagdad, on Feb 09, 2007 10:05 PM

Oh C'mon! this is pure NYC style greed at it's worst, as a former New Yorker I've watched the city go from a safe haven to a near police state. This is just a new way to gouge money from the pockets of struggling new yorkers. It's quite stupid, because it opens another area for which the NYPD could be sued. If a person has one on them and isn't using it at the time they are ticketed but a cop is being an asshole, then you have the courts will bogged down with people suing for wrongful tickets. Its just a plain dumb idea. No one benefits, and idiot will be hit by a car if he is listening to an ipod or looking up at the many advertisements on buildings.

Joe

,new york, on Feb 09, 2007 10:01 PM

I hope Kruger pushes for legislation to ban them from the subway - I am f---g fed up with listening to overflow from IPods. Of course the ideal solution would be for people to lower the volume- but that would be considerate, which doesn't exist in this city.

Joe

,new york, on Feb 09, 2007 09:58 PM

just like the idiot at KFC last night that was waiting for his order with earphones on - the girl yelled out his order # for 10 minutes until he finally realized. She should have the thrown it in his face.

Eva

,Providence, on Feb 09, 2007 09:58 PM

When will the governmet stop making excuses for people stupidity?

Bob

,Norfolk, on Feb 09, 2007 09:56 PM

How about not being stupid? Didn't mommy say to look both ways before you cross? And the comment of a "speeding bus"? How fast is the bus going within the city, knowingly around pedestrians?

Tom

,Philadelphia, on Feb 09, 2007 09:55 PM

This is really unbelievable!!! Where will they stop in telling us what we can't do! Focus on the murderers and poverty first Big Brother!!!

Matt

,Fort Wayne, on Feb 09, 2007 09:48 PM

This just seems like another attempt to take the blame from people who are causing the problem and placing it on an industry that is doing well. These people who keep walking out in front of traffic are doomed no matter what they are doing because of their stupidity.

Anonymous

,san francisco, on Feb 09, 2007 07:02 PM

if you are irresponsible enough to walk in front of oncoming traffic and get yourself hit, then not using an iPod or cell phone isn't going to save you from the person driving his SUV death monster while talking on the cell phone or listening to his talk radio.

Michael

,Texas, on Feb 09, 2007 04:14 PM

Of course, using these devices, particularly cell phones, while operating a vehicle is perfectly fine. Go figure.

Theresa

,Brunswick, on Feb 09, 2007 06:36 PM

I heard on a media news broadcast that most of the pedestrians that were hit while crossing busy NYC streets were listening to their IPODS. That is why they are trying to pass the legislation. It is unclear if they are using IPODS as the scapegoat in this scenario. 2min news bits don't explain everything. It sounds to me that they rather not blame reckless drivers that don't yield to pedestians for these incidences.

Doug

,New York, New York, on Feb 09, 2007 04:10 PM

no totally unfair, please don't

Ryan

,Albuquerque, on Feb 09, 2007 08:19 AM

Kruger is a fricking Nazi, through and through! The government is supposed to be our servant not our master, and laws are supposed to make us more free, not restrict our freedoms. America, your days are numbered, dos vadanya comrade.

Teesquared

,Tokyo, on Feb 09, 2007 01:39 PM

Summed up in the movie V for Vendetta. "People should not be afraid of their governments, Governments should be afraid of their people" As a Brit in Tokyo I feel the same way about UK. Our respective governement were looking to any reason to rake in freedoms and control their population more. 911 was just the excuse they needed. When will our freedoms ever come back? Don't hold your breath!

man

,hong kong, on Feb 09, 2007 01:37 PM

i find this funny and absolutely typical of US state governments. i mean if you have an important phone call when your walking to work in New York its unlikely you will hang up every time you cross the road. however i do see this as an oppertunity for taxi drivers, as walking will become exceedingly difficult given the proposed ban on mod cons.

Anonymous

,Charlotte, on Feb 09, 2007 01:31 PM

I think he wants to revert back to "boom boxes on the shoulder" days haha I think he's confused also the difference in protect and control.

mick

,Washington DC, on Feb 09, 2007 11:41 AM

They should do the same in DC, IPOD lemmings are really becoming a menace to daily commutes.

ozzy

,auckland, new zealand, on Feb 09, 2007 11:14 AM

I find this all really funny

Dennis

,Troy, on Feb 09, 2007 01:26 AM

Who says government must protect its citizens?

Travis

,Columbia, on Feb 09, 2007 01:52 AM

The government's only mandate is the protection of individual rights to life and property. The problem is that our government now thinks its role is to reduce individual freedoms and parent its population.

Ben

,NYC, on Feb 09, 2007 10:22 AM

Only people who think democracy is a good idea.

Justin

,New Delhi, on Feb 09, 2007 10:11 AM

God Bless America !!!!!!!!!

PKG Nair

,New Delhi, on Feb 09, 2007 09:41 AM

It seems, American streets are equivelent to Jail. People should be more careful when they are in the street but it does not mean that they cannot enjoy as they want. Since India is the copy master of US, the day is not much far way that the same will apply to Indian streets also

Dan

,Australia, on Feb 09, 2007 08:39 AM

You have to remember here the council is not just trying to make it safe they are probably trying to protect themselves from being sued. If this really is such a problem you would think it would come out in the next council elections (Thats if any body bothers turning up). You would think that they would seperate between people listening to music and playing games though.

Bob

,Boca Raton, on Feb 09, 2007 05:43 AM

There are more important things Carl Kruger should focus on, for example the amount of US deaths in Iraq, currently at 3,110.

Anonymous

,shanghai, on Feb 09, 2007 06:18 AM

your so concerned with the deaths in Iraq? do you know how many murders were in the USA last year alone? or just in L.A? and we are not even in a war! how many people died in our was for freedom? how many to stop slavery? both fights we now take for granted I am sure. why do you people use the Iraq war for any conversation you can?

Ralph V. Getsla

,Silverdale, WA, on Feb 09, 2007 06:02 AM

I fail to see that legislating stupidity has ever been sucessfully done. People who get "lost" in their personal devices are being stupid and if they also happen to get involved in an accident and die, then they have successfully removed their stupidity gene from the gene pool. People doing stupid things like walking into traffic are NOT going to stop simply because there is a law which is questionable when it comes to enforcement, which makes it illegal to use a personal portable device in a crosswalk. I wonder, though, did the pedestrians who yelled to the guy, just yell or did they try to reach out and physically stop the guy or what exactly? I think this would be wasted time and effort, by the legislature and by the people tasked with enforcement.

Anonymous

,Sydney, on Feb 09, 2007 05:19 AM

It's a tough life. The more you protect the less aware the population become. If the issue is holding up traffic while you scrape a body off the road, you may want to think of other measures. This stops a small part of a massive problem. Im sure senator has better things to spend his time on? I-pod is a brand, is that MP3 players as a whole he means or he is trying to bring down Apple? What about people looking to dodge patrolling police not cars? What about hands free kits for phones while these phones play MP3's? What about hearing aids that look like bluetooth headsets? Wow, good luck enforcing this one.

Organ Donor

,NY, on Feb 09, 2007 03:51 AM

Common Sense is dead. Long live stupidity. signed - the big red spot on the street.

koplin

,Yreka, CA, on Feb 09, 2007 01:22 AM

You can't fix stupid. If your going to be distracted by an iPod or what not then your the same bread that will follow a GPS nav system and take a one way street the wrong way. Good riddance. On the flip side cell phone use is has been shown to be worse then being drunk. Now the next time your on the highway look up at the heavy trucks your passing. Regulating electronic use in a vehicle would serve the public better. In either case I am not a proponent of government control but rather enforcement of responsibility.

Anonymous

,me, on Feb 09, 2007 02:26 AM

"You can't fix stupid." ... lol this sentense is kinda ironic

todd

,sydney, on Feb 09, 2007 02:25 AM

hahaha seems to be the consensus

Ryan

,Pittsburgh, Pa, on Feb 09, 2007 02:23 AM

It's called survival of the fittest. If people are dumb enough to walk in front of an on coming bus, truck, car, then it is just natures way of weaning them out.

todd

,sydney, on Feb 09, 2007 02:22 AM

we don't we just let darwins theory take its course? society will be smarter for it. if you're too incompetent to walk onto a road without looking to see if a bus is coming, i'd rather u didn't respawn!!

AJ Lewis

,Brooklyn, on Feb 09, 2007 02:22 AM

survival of the fittest.

DaddyoDawg

,Columbus, on Feb 09, 2007 01:13 AM

Oh please, what's next? A ban on thinking while walking or driving? I'm sure there are statistics out there indicating that some people are distracted by thinking and have walked into traffic or caused an accident. Doesn't New York or Senator Kruger have more important things to be concerned with?

raj

,houston, on Feb 09, 2007 01:32 AM

gr8.this is raj

ashish

,lucknow, on Feb 09, 2007 02:19 AM

lol....gd one

Alan

,New York City, on Feb 09, 2007 02:18 AM

George Bush has already stepped all over the Constitution and now it looks like Carl Kruger would like to do the same.

ashish

,Lucknow, India, on Feb 09, 2007 02:12 AM

i thought this happend only in India

Dylan

,San Jose, on Feb 09, 2007 01:17 AM

for real clyde.

tod

,summit, on Feb 09, 2007 02:11 AM

and the bad part is ,, it will pass

Stephen

,Knoxville, on Feb 09, 2007 01:20 AM

That's fine with me, but what do I know, I live in a small country town in the south. I figure 5 years ago people did just fine without their ipods strapped to their heads. How many people hit by buses will it take for this law to be respected? If you don't like this law then do not blame the government for the devastation from hurricane katrina, I respect Kruger for nipping this in the bud now.

Anonymous

,lh, on Feb 09, 2007 01:29 AM

you really are a stupid piece of shit

charity

,Nashville, TN, on Feb 09, 2007 01:39 AM

What in the hell does Hurricane Katrina and the Governments incompetence with how they handled that, have to do with iPod's? Absolutely nothing. It just another way for the gov't to dictate how we are to live(The way they want us to). Please get a grip!

tod

,summit, on Feb 09, 2007 02:05 AM

are you on drugs

James

,Spring Hill, on Feb 09, 2007 02:02 AM

It seems like they're running out of laws to pass.

Sumeet

,xyz, on Feb 09, 2007 01:53 AM

If the ratio of:- total number of people walking on the streets with such an electronic device : total number of people walking without them is roughly equal to people crossing the streets and meeting with an accident while using such a devise : people crossing the streets and meeting with an accident without them, THERE IS NO NEED FOR SUCH A LAW!

James Zenger

,Houston, on Feb 09, 2007 01:52 AM

Does this really suprise anyone? Every day the government exercises more and more control over society without common sense. This is no different than mortorcycle helmet laws or seatbelt laws. Where does it stop? Maybe when we are forced to use condoms with our spouses.

Blooze

,Cayucos, California, on Feb 09, 2007 01:51 AM

If people are to stupid to watch where they are going, we should allow them to do it and rid us of their stupidity. We need to stop making laws to protect morons. We are better off without these people on the planet and i really think our politicians have more important things they can be thinking about then when people are allowed to use their iPods.

Gabrielle

,Washington, DC, on Feb 09, 2007 01:41 AM

People are allowed to be stupid. If this band were to take effect, all stupid acts would have to be banded. Next it will be no running with scissors.

crazy

,new york, on Feb 09, 2007 01:40 AM

are they serious???? :(

Jak Mayhoffer

,Hancock, MD, on Feb 09, 2007 01:20 AM

This is completely ridiculous. First, we need to make people accountable for their actions and not have government step in and scold us for "being bad". Why should the politicians try to legislate stupidity. As long as someone listening to music on an iPod (or any other type of music listening device), talk on their iPhone (or any other type of cellphone), send messages on their iPhone (as well as a CrackBerry or any other type of messaging device) doesn't hurt someone else by their actions... why should we care? Let them go deaf or get hurt (or die) if they walk out in front of a bus if they can't afford to pay attention. Then, it can be labeled as an accident, destruction of property, littering, vandalism, etc.

Anonymous

,New York, on Feb 09, 2007 01:39 AM

What about the poor guy that smashes the ipod listener with his car. That would suck to have to live with that kind of thing.

Horrie

,Gawler South Australia, on Feb 09, 2007 01:28 AM

I thought our politicians lived on another planet.

Drew

,Chicago, on Feb 09, 2007 01:26 AM

KRUGER@SENATE.STATE.NY.US....... This is his email addy.

Jim

,New York, on Feb 09, 2007 01:25 AM

More people die while taking a $h1t in NYC each year than from ipods, should we ban pooping too?

Bruce

,Portland, OR, on Feb 09, 2007 01:18 AM

Why is this politician wasting time trying to remove freedom for the sake of trying to save a few lives when there are far far worse vices that kill...such as alchohol, drugs, tobacco, etc!

Shifty

,soup town, WI, on Feb 09, 2007 01:24 AM

YEAH BUT DRUGS ARE SO MUCH COOLER

Jon

,philadelphia, on Feb 09, 2007 01:22 AM

Kruger you're a bad bad man. Goto sweden you're authoritarianism is no good here.

Sean

,Toronto, on Feb 09, 2007 12:55 AM

I call this 'thinning the heard'. If someone would rather listen to the new Green Day album, then pay attention while walking in the busy streets of NYC (or anywhere else) maybe they should be removed before they are given the responsibility of raising children...

Anonymous

,ny, on Feb 09, 2007 01:21 AM

What ever happend to stupid and crazy?

Travis

,Columbia, on Feb 09, 2007 01:20 AM

The government has an obligation to protect citizens, but not parent them and certainly not to find new ways to treat them as a source of additional revenue. This $100 fine would neither educate people (stop, look, listen!), nor protect them. Additionally there is no practical way to enforce it. Statistically speaking, in 6 months 3 people died. That means in a year only 6 people will die. Considering there is nearly 1 death a day from automobile-related accidents in NY, I'd hardly call this a "major public safety crisis." How about promote and improve existing public transit options and pedestrian barriers instead? We've had the "Walkman" since 1980. Why attempt to police it 27 years later? Please, New York, fight this before it spreads.

C. Darwin

,New York, on Feb 09, 2007 01:19 AM

One word - Evolution If your dumb enough to step into traffic because you were distracted by an electronic device then so be it. Nobody told them that if you use an electronic device that common sense would be obsolete.

Yacky

,San Francisco, on Feb 09, 2007 01:18 AM

DaddyO, you're so right. I think Kruger has already imposed that thinking ban on himself!

Clyde Baling

,santa monica, on Feb 09, 2007 01:16 AM

Why do politicians insist on trying to save us? It all seems very simple, if you are stupid you die.

Dylan

,San Jose, on Feb 09, 2007 01:16 AM

What does this guy think is going to happen? seriosuly cops already freak out over stupid stuff now ipods? how bout we focus on the people that are stealing and hurting people. busting people for listening to music is almost dumber than busting people for smoking weed.

Jack Mayhoffer

,Hancock, Maryland, on Feb 09, 2007 01:16 AM

This is completely ridiculous. First, we need to make people accountable for their actions and not have government step in and scold us for "being bad". Why should the politicians try to legislate stupidity. As long as someone listening to music on an iPod (or any other type of music listening device), talk on their iPhone (or any other type of cellphone), send messages on their iPhone (as well as a CrackBerry or any other type of messaging device) doesn't hurt someone else by their actions... why should we care? Let them go deaf or get hurt (or die) if they walk out in front of a bus if they can't afford to pay attention. Then, it can be labeled as an accident, destruction of property, littering, vandalism, etc.

Nathan

,Idaho Falls, on Feb 09, 2007 01:15 AM

No Apple in the Big Apple. Six deaths related to Ipod abuse in one year in a city as large as New York is trivial really, nothing near a public safety crisis. I am so glad I live AWAY from this.

Anonymous

,Sierra Vista, AZ, on Feb 09, 2007 12:51 AM

This is absolutely ridiculous. Individuals have to take responsibility for their own actions. When an action doesn't put other directly endanger the government should stay out of it. Government should focus more on drivers using devices such as cell phone, DVD players etc. if they want to improve public safety.

Anonymous

,nyc, on Feb 09, 2007 01:09 AM

absolutely right...when people start getting run down by ipod-wielding pedestrians, then bring on the laws, till then mind yer own business

Anon

,Brighton, MI, on Feb 09, 2007 01:11 AM

They already are focusing on that. In New York it is illegal to drive while talking on your Cell phone, unless you have a headset.

Dan

,Chicago, on Feb 09, 2007 01:15 AM

You really think that people randomly walking into a busy street is not endangering other people? Have you ever seen someone almost hit by a car? What does the car do? Swerve. Is this dangerous to just the pedestrian? No. I totally agree with this legislation. The only post I agree with here is the one touching on natural selection removing these people from the gene pool, but unfortunately these people may cause an accident with someone that is highly intelligent and physically well.

Sammy Martin

,Los Angeles, on Feb 09, 2007 01:13 AM

First let me say I do not agree with this intrusion. Anonymous from, Sierra Vista, Az, spoke about individual responsibility, which is a good thing. But, the truth is apersonal injury attorney and feel good jury will hurt us all. They will award the injuried party or their family with millions of dollars awards. No one wants to except personal responsibility. Thus the Gov't.

iPod's Rul

,Richland, on Feb 09, 2007 01:12 AM

No I'm not a New Yorker, but I think Government should stay out of personal lives. Get Kruger an iPod so he can sleep through session in the Senate so no one has to listen to his blathering.

Will

,Staten Island, on Feb 09, 2007 01:12 AM

Maybe we should ban beautiful women from the streets of NY because they can be a distraction also. This is a typical example of a government paid employee that should be focusing his time and energy on more important things than the iPod.

Reid

,Charlotte NC, on Feb 09, 2007 01:11 AM

They got it right i have seen enough accidents in NYC involving intersections that didnt involve ipods, and do you really believe this law will even be enforced? get serious NYC cops have more important things to do then stop ppl w/ ipods and fine them.

Scott

,Wooser, Ohio, on Feb 09, 2007 01:11 AM

There are always going to be the few out of millions no matter what the law(s) says. If we look to protect everyone against everything, what would that look like?

J.T.

,New York, on Feb 09, 2007 01:10 AM

I totally agree with Sean, its just "thinning the herd". Actions have consequences.

Joe

,mahwah, on Feb 09, 2007 01:10 AM

"iPod oblivion" (read: darwinism)

Claude Kalid

,New York, on Feb 09, 2007 12:51 AM

Due to the use of unacceptable language, the comment has been removed by the moderator.
** Message edited by moderator **

pmofodiddy

,Beantown, on Feb 09, 2007 12:49 AM

Due to the use of unacceptable language, the comment has been removed by the moderator.
** Message edited by moderator **

Opinion Poll

Which desktop web browser do you use?
Internet Explorer

Firefox

Chrome

Safari

Opera

Other (specify in comments)
Poll Results View Previous Polls