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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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New York Might Fine You for Texting While Crossing the Street
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(Score: 2) by boltronics on Wednesday May 22 2019, @02:28AM (2 children)
Every time you drive a motorized vehicle, you have to accept the possibility that you might kill someone, and that you are putting your own convenience ahead of the lives of others. Some of that stress is completely justified.
If someone jaywalks in front of you (regardless of using a phone), that person should be at fault in the eyes of the law. People already don't have a right to jaywalk. All this law does is take away the rights of people who are already crossing when and where they are supposed to, and encourages drivers to do the wrong thing because "that pedestrian sees me so will get out of my way" - something which sadly already happens far too often.
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(Score: 2) by All Your Lawn Are Belong To Us on Wednesday May 22 2019, @03:04PM (1 child)
Unless they were in a crosswalk in a state where drivers must yield the right of way to such people. In which case the driver might deserve guilt for not following that part of it.
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(Score: 3, Interesting) by boltronics on Wednesday May 22 2019, @03:31PM
Exactly. It's quite common for me to cross a road at a T-intersection, and cars that are supposed to give way to pedestrians simply won't. Where I live, it's at a point that pedestrians will very frequently wait for cars to go first, either out of habit or concern, despite the pedestrians legally having the right of way.
I'm against anything that encourages more people to drive and less people to walk. Not everyone can drive (eg. kids, people on low incomes) so I see laws that give more power to drivers or laws that inconvenience pedestrians and bicycles as being detrimental to society. Then there are environmental aspects, health aspects, social class aspects, etc. to consider.
I guarantee the people that pushed this bill through use their car as a primary mode of transportation.
It's GNU/Linux dammit!