A Reuters article reports that New Yorkers who cross the street while listening to an iPod or talking on a cell phone may soon end up having to pay a fine of $100. Why, you ask? New York State Senator Carl Kruger says that it's to ensure public safety; three pedestrians have already been killed by traffic while being distracted by some electronic device.

Read the whole thing here (via The Inquirer)

three new yorkers killed because of this and their gonna discourage it? i say make a law REQUIRING that you be on the phone or ipod while crossing the street

That's ridiculous. So if you're on the phone and you want to cross the road you have to hang up? Surely they have traffic lights in New York. I like how "It's becoming a nationwide problem" when all three deaths happened in Brooklyn.

i'm usually distracted by girls wearing bikinis when i cross the street is there a fine for that?

No, but watch out! They may ban that next!

Now back to the article:

WTF? So they're requiring people to get off of the phones while crossing the street and yet the drivers don't have to really do anything? Am I getting this correctly? I'm not sure of the laws in NY but come on.

The drivers are the reason, most likely, for the deaths. They're the ones driving the machine that has the power to kill someone.

in chicago you can get ticketed for talking on the phone with it up to you hear

you have to use some kind of hands-free option

They're starting to implement that here soon too. Starting July of '08 I believe.

Hmm even if they implement it here, I have never gotten stopped for jaywalking, and I've never used a walk sign thing.

im pretty sure the "american goverment" have got other things to worry about than just standing at crossings making sure no one uses their phone... its idiotic

to give you an idea about downtown chicago during the day.

it is bumper to bumper traffic
9 times out of 10 there are police officers on just about every street corner directing traffic (or on the median)
everyone is constantly using their horn
it's complete madness for someone who does not try in that kind of traffic
and talking on the phone is a major distraction esp in chicago

lol you cant be on the phone at military bases while driving... and you are not allowed to run with a walkman or ipod either...