Law to Bar iPods When Crossing Street in New York

Under a new bill proposed by a Brooklyn legislator, walking, running, or biking across a New York street while listening to an iPod would be illegal, and perpetrators could face a $100 citation.

Furthermore, the law would also ban the use of Blackberries, cell phones, handheld video games, and other electronic products when street crossing.

Deaths Cited

New York Sen. Carl Kruger, who proposed the bill, cited the case of a 21-year old man who was killed when he stepped off a curb and was hit by a bus last September. He had headphones on. Last month, another young iPod listener suffered the same fate.

“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,” said Kruger.

According to Kruger’s chief of staff Jason Koppel, music listeners would simply have to pull out their earphones for a few seconds to cross the street.

Opponents

However, opponents of the proposed law claim it’s too excessive.

“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,” said E. Christopher Murray, a civil liberties lawyer. “What’s next? Do you get fined if you don’t look both ways?”

The proposal will be introduced this week.

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