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Do We Really Need Laws Banning Texting While Walking?
from the there-oughta-be-a-law dept
Over at CNET, a blogger is decrying the latest epidemic to hit New York City: people walking while texting on their phone. One imagines this has been happening in the city (and plenty of other places) for some time and people have been managing to survive, but this blogger apparently just arrived there on a business trip and noticed. It's the typical "man-these-people-are-annoying" type of thing, but his final suggestion is that "some fine district attorneys might find it in themselves to create a little misdemeanor out of this peculiar habit." Sure, it's annoying to get run into by somebody walking down the street and paying more attention to their phone than the sidewalk, but it's not too much more annoying than getting run into by somebody lost in a newspaper, or daydreaming. Perhaps we should codify laws making that stuff a crime, too, if we're looking for suggestions on how to waste police time. As has been pointed out before, this phenomenon really isn't anything new, but rather the latest iteration of the intersection of pedestrians and technology. Jaywalking laws haven't stopped people from jaywalking; pointless bans on doing certain activities while walking aren't likely to stamp out that behavior, either.
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Reader Comments (rss)
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No we don't just a bloody stupid idea, natural selection if someone hurts themselves while texting and walking so be it!
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Prehaps..
Prehaps we should ban thinking whilst walking, too?
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must be new
The one thing that NYC does, if weed off the weak.
TXTing and walking can lead to Taxi/truck/bus accidents.
Would increase the Morgue's daily work load though, not good for the cities finances.
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What next?
I guess that someone will say that there has to be a law stating that you are not allowed to use a public bathroom for more than 5 min and that courtesy flushes are required...
These days, courtesy and, as it seems, commonsense are no longer in our society, but trying to pass laws that obligate people to be what they are not is just plain stupid.
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Yeah - eventually all the walk-texters that can't also pay attention to their surroundings will walk out into traffic. Good for Darwin!
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I know .....
We need a law that bans doing more than one thing at a time ... this will be very easy to enforce and there will not be any problems with deciding what constitutes "doing something". Those that really need to do more than one thing at a time will need to get a multitasking license in order to do so. This license will be on a sliding scale proportional to the level of multitasking involved. One can get a reduced license if you attend and pass a course on the topic.
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There's one thing we'll never, ever need a law to ban - that's being a politician and thinking at the same time - because it never happens.
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No need for a law banning but what about a law protecting the people who beat these idiots
As the subject says, we don't need a law banning idiots texting but we should pass a law that says when that idiot walks into me and I break his inconsiderate nose I am within my rights.
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Natural selection is great...
Simon: However, these texting folks are not necessarily going to be killed, so this could cause health insurance to go way up just because of them. If the law prevents such a thing from happening, its worth it. Otherwise, I'm with you on the sentiment.
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Misdemeanor? What a dumbass. So TXTing while walking should get you thrown in jail? Nevermind the idea is retarded to begin with, but making it punishable with jail time is even more retarded.
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Re:
think up MORE stupid laws just to throw people in jail should be felony all by its self.
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It should be a misdemeanor to waste taxpayer money on such stupid ideas, and since he was the mastermind, he too can be punished, again through the court system, at the expense of the taxpayer.
Boy these people sure are annoying when they can't see their own hypocrisy.
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This kind of thing must be stopped at once.
Otherwise, we will soon have all kinds of these laws such as forcing you to wear a seat belt while driving or forcing you to wear a helmet to ride a motorcycle or to stop you from smoking while walking on the street or to stop you from smoking in your own car!
And who knows some ambitious politicians might just decide to regulate what kinds of food restaurants can serve or will raise taxes on foods that they don't like.
Intolerable!!!
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texting
I am not condoning the idea of a law here at all, but, What if you were driving very conservatively (yeah I know) suddenly crunched a pedestrian who was paying more attention to their phone than where they were going? Wouldn't you suddenly wish there was a law? It's all about liability.
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Re:
I agree; unless you're the poor driver who happens to hit the dumba**. Then you get sued by the idiot's survivors. We just need a law to exonerate drivers from stupid pedestrian tricks.
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Re: texting
Yes, it is a liability issue. Just because a pedestrian has the legal right of way doesn't mean they shouldn't take the time to look both ways before they cross the street. Or, for that matter, look up to see if they're going to walk into anyone.
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are you kidding me?
I live in NY and I've seen several pedestrians about to be hit while walking/texting/and stepping into the street against the light. There should be laws to either fines these idiots or laws to protect drivers against being sued if the incident was the fault of someone texting and walking as if they couldn't stop and complete their message or wait 15 seconds and finish their message when they were in a safe location.
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sure it's a problem
Sure, it might be a problem but after living in New York for a couple of years you realize that it's also the same problem with people being in a hurry, looking at a map, talking to a friend, carrying an umbrella, thinking about last night, etc. Tourists in general are a menace since they are typically looking up rather than at where they are going.
No law can fix this so called problem.
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Next Up ...
The banning of chewing gum while walking for all those jealous un-coordinated fools who can't do that either.
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Re: Re: texting
"Just because a pedestrian has the legal right of way doesn't mean they shouldn't take the time to look both ways before they cross the street."
I'm not disagreeing with you but if the pedestrian has the right of way, then they have the right of way. If you start factoring in what they were doing at the time, you're just confusing the issue.
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Let me ask...
Lets say you are driving along and all of a sudden, someone walks in front of your car at an intersection. You didn't expect it since you have a green light and there are others at the corner waiting patiently.
You hit this person. You are now responsible for this person's situation. Even though he disobeyed a "Don't Walk" sign. Why did he do this? He was texting someone while listening to music and was not paying attention.
This pedestrian now has the right to sue you for damages and very well might.
You still feel that a law like this is unjustified?
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Let me ask you
Dave M. You are a disgrace to society. More laws do nothing! The man was breaking the law by disobeying the "don't walk sign". Did that law help??? What makes you think another law like 'no texting while walking' will make any difference?? If someone is killed by a crazed murderer with a spoon, should we outlaw spoons? I want to introduce legislation that makes it illegal to introduce legislation. But maybe you're right Dave, let's outlaw spoons
"A state is better governed which has few laws, and those laws strictly observed".
Rene Descartes.
.
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Honestly we don"t need a law banning it. If they do get hurt because of this, then and health insurers shouldn't have to pay for their idiotic mistakes. You can't stop people from texting and walking but they would get a big lesson if they weren't covered for it.
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