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New York Might Fine You for Texting While Crossing the Street

posted by martyb on Tuesday May 21 2019, @08:09PM   Printer-friendly
from the darwin-award dept.

Phoenix666 writes:

CNet:

New York state Sen. John Liu introduced a bill last week that would ban texting while walking. Pedestrians could be fined between $25 and $250 if they're seen "using any portable device" while crossing a roadway, according to a copy of the bill obtained by The Guardian.

"Using" a device means looking at it, playing games, being online, sending emails, texting and more, according to the bill. The legislation makes exceptions for emergency first-responders and those trying to contact hospitals, fire departments, police and other emergency services.

The penalties for people who don't look up from their phones while crossing are already pretty high, aren't they?

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  • (Score: 4, Insightful) by digitalaudiorock on Tuesday May 21 2019, @09:09PM (5 children)

    by digitalaudiorock (688) on Tuesday May 21 2019, @09:09PM (#845935) Journal

    On the other hand, texting while walking can only really get yourself killed, so the punishment is self-inflicting. You can't legislate away stupidity.

    This is exactly the same misguided argument I've heard against motorcycle helmet laws. When the person without the helmet, or the person whose texting and paying no attention end up sprawled out over the hood of your car, you find out how quickly it becomes your problem too.

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  • (Score: 2) by Snow on Tuesday May 21 2019, @09:17PM (1 child)

    by Snow (1601) on Tuesday May 21 2019, @09:17PM (#845938) Journal

    How should this be enforced? Hide a cop in the garbage can on the corner? Plain clothes officers? Is that even a good use of resources?

    It won't be enforced. Why create new laws that aren't even enforced?

    • (Score: 5, Insightful) by EvilSS on Tuesday May 21 2019, @09:58PM

      by EvilSS (1456) Subscriber Badge on Tuesday May 21 2019, @09:58PM (#845948)
      If they are walking around with their heads in their screens to the point they don't see what's going on around them, then there really isn't a need to hide at all. If you aren't paying attention enough to see the uniformed cop nearby, then maybe you really do deserve the ticket.

  • (Score: 2) by nobu_the_bard on Tuesday May 21 2019, @09:17PM

    by nobu_the_bard (6373) on Tuesday May 21 2019, @09:17PM (#845939)

    And the problem of all the cars behind you, and probably ahead of you and to either side at an intersection.

  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday May 21 2019, @09:30PM

    by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday May 21 2019, @09:30PM (#845941)

    How did that helmet law work? Oh what's that? We seem to now have a shortage of donated organs?

  • (Score: 1) by khallow on Wednesday May 22 2019, @11:34PM

    by khallow (3766) Subscriber Badge on Wednesday May 22 2019, @11:34PM (#846426) Journal

    This is exactly the same misguided argument I've heard against motorcycle helmet laws. When the person without the helmet, or the person whose texting and paying no attention end up sprawled out over the hood of your car, you find out how quickly it becomes your problem too.

    Insurance covers that. And they receive a lesson on the wisdom of paying attention.