It's Only A Matter Of Time Before They Start Legislating Nap Time
Do New York State lawmakers think the state is a giant nursery school they are in charge of?
From WABC: "New York State Senate introduces bill to make texting while walking illegal."
While there's no clear evidence that personal electronic devices used on the streets cause traffic accidents, state lawmakers are considering the use of messaging or playing games just on the streets, where the fines could range from $50 to $150 depending on the number of offenses."This is a bill that says don't text while crossing the street, wait the 10 seconds, to get to the other side," Queens Senator John Liu said.
Similar laws have passed in smaller cities in Hawaii and California, but this is New York, with millions of people. So the question is, if it gets the green light, how will it be enforced?
"It's a statewide law, depending on the municipality, it could be the police, it could be other law enforcement officers," Liu said.
Because New York is just rolling in police officers and other law enforcement officers and really short on crime.
And, question -- from someone who, at age 8, crashed into a parked car while reading on her bicycle: Will reading a book while walking also be illegal?
Will applying mascara while walking be illegal? (Note, this takes talent.)
Will merely being mentally somewhere else be illegal? (Note, this may take mind-reading to prove.)
Well.. New York doesn't have taxable money-printing machines -Facebook, Apple, Amazon, Google- that California has.
It has to rely solely on taxing its voters into oblivion because the big companies located in the state employ more lobbyists than town hall bureaucrats.
Sixclaws at May 22, 2019 6:15 AM
That, and because texting pedestrians are such a menace in Ithica and Oswego.
Cousin Dave at May 22, 2019 6:30 AM
With the end of "stop and frisk" as a police tool, the NYPD needs a justification to detain suspicious characters.
As I understand it, this law will apply only for pedestrians crossing the street. As much as I am opposed to nanny states and nuisance laws, this one does make a bit, only a bit, of sense. A distracted pedestrian crossing the street is a potential casualty. While I'd agree that if you're stupid enough to text while crossing a busy street, you deserve what you get, a traffic accident can hold up passage on what are already busy and overcrowded public thoroughfares, tie up emergency services, and cause general congestion.
When have police or public needs in Ithaca and Oswego mattered to Albany?
Conan the Grammarian at May 22, 2019 6:40 AM
How about a law banning legislators from enacting bills without reading them?
jdgalt at May 22, 2019 7:07 AM
I would so go to jail in the US. This weekend's party features elementary school kids using Army Knives to make toy bows and arrows to have a shooting contest.
They won't be texting and shooting though.
NicoleK at May 22, 2019 8:33 AM
I would so go to jail in the US.
Ya think? instead of putting you in jail, they'll simply dig a hole, toss you in, and the build a jail on top of you.
Exposing impressionable young people to sharp pointy things and shooting them? fetch the fainting couch!
I R A Darth Aggie at May 22, 2019 9:13 AM
I'm not saying there should be a law but pedestrians are fucking morons with their "smart" phones. I've seen somebody push a stroller into an intersection after the light changed while staring at their phone. I've seen people facetime while jaywalking which I guess is a little sweet as your loved one gets to experience your final moment. I've also seen multiple people bike and stare at their phones. Now I believe in letting Darwin sort this out but there are a lot of legislative busy bodies who think otherwise .
Shtetl G at May 22, 2019 9:35 AM
My favorite: a college girl trying to take a selfie while riding a bike--she started wobbling all over but saved herself.
I agree with Shtetl: let Darwin sort it out. There actually IS an increase in pedestrian fatalities, about 20% in the past few years IIRC but mostly people crossing NOT at a crosswalk at night.
cc at May 22, 2019 12:01 PM
FWIW, here's some advice I give to children: When crossing the street, never assume the cars are going to stop just because there's a red light. That is, you need to look the drivers in the eyes and make sure they're slowing down and Not Texting before you start to cross.
Of course, this means YOU can't be texting either.
lenona at May 22, 2019 1:14 PM
"When have police or public needs in Ithaca and Oswego mattered to Albany?"
I think we all know the answer to that.
"When crossing the street, never assume the cars are going to stop just because there's a red light. "
This. So much this. It's the equivalent of defensive driving. (Defensive pedestrianing?)
Cousin Dave at May 22, 2019 1:41 PM
cc "There actually IS an increase in pedestrian fatalities, about 20% in the past few years IIRC but mostly people crossing NOT at a crosswalk at night."
True around here, unfortunately the legislative answer is lets put a crossswalk in the middle of a street. People still getting hit, put up a pedestrian activated stop light.
Joe J at May 22, 2019 4:12 PM
This is what happens when the nannystate so removes consequences from actions that common sense dies. Then, since common sense can't be legislated, they prescriptively start playing legislative whack-a-mole with every observed manifestation of lack of common sense.
bw1 at May 23, 2019 5:23 PM
"How about a law banning legislators from enacting bills without reading them?"
Well, nobody cares that Pelosi does that. When Trump brought up the idea of moving immigrants to sanctuary cities, she's also on camera saying she doesn't know what was said, but that it was inappropriate for a President to say.
She gets a pass on abetting the violation of US immigration law, too.
"Orange Man Bad" is all that some people are capable of grasping. You can tell by the ratio of commentary on him vs other topics.
Radwaste at May 24, 2019 4:08 AM
"How about a law banning legislators from enacting bills without reading them?"
Well, nobody cares that Pelosi does that. When Trump brought up the idea of moving immigrants to sanctuary cities, she's also on camera saying she doesn't know what was said, but that it was inappropriate for a President to say.
She gets a pass on abetting the violation of US immigration law, too.
"Orange Man Bad" is all that some people are capable of grasping. You can tell by the ratio of commentary on him vs other topics.
Radwaste at May 24, 2019 4:13 AM
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