City Bans Texting While Walking: Good or Bad Idea?

[bsfins]

Headline stolen from the Gizmodo article,I did see this report on ABC and thought it was a good topic...
Huffington post article with video
Gizmodo read only article

Your thoughts?

Personally, People not paying attention to where they are going while texting,and talking on the phone are sort of pet peeves for me.Most of my encounters tend to be in stores.So I'm not sure how I feel...

[Cathal]

This, to me, seems like too much government interference. Granted, it's stupid for someone to walk without looking where they're going, but you can't (read: shouldn't) legislate everything that could be labeled as stupid.

[MaineDolFan]

I can't tell you how many times I've been slammed into at Sam's Club or (insert store here) because someone was texting while walking.  I'm assuming this town has experienced someone doing this while walking into traffic.

It's like the line from "I, Robot."  Protecting us from ourselves.

[Brian Fein]

I agree with Cathal.
Texting while driving can kill someone.
Texting while walking can only hurt you.  Unless you're driving a shopping cart.  I think there has become too much involvement.  When will they just make texting illegal completely?

[Phishfan]

They have had three related fatalities this year. I read they have issued 117 tickets so far. While I think the fatality number is high for such a small event (I do consider texting while walking a small event) I really hate legislation against stupidity which is what this is.

[Dave Gray]

Against.  There is a balance.  This is too far.

[Cathal]

So who actually said this was a good idea, based on the poll? I'd really like to hear the argument for this.

[Sunstroke]

I have exceptional peripheral vision and can walk and text at the same time just fine... Bad idea.

[masterfins]

Enforcement of this law is the problem, after some initial tickets the cops won't want to be bothered.  I CONSTANTLY see people driving and talking on the phone (which is illegal here in NYS), and never see or here of anyone getting a ticket unless they are invovled in an accident.

More importantly they should make it illegal for the guy/girl standing in line in front of me to be texting or talking on the phone when someone is waiting on them.  Then they get all uppity when asked to end the call.

[Brian Fein]

Next up: no talking on the phone while checking out at the grocery store.  Arrest them!

[Dave Gray]

This is a good example of something that is annoying, but shouldn't be illegal.  Texting in the movies is annoying and I wish nobody would do it.  But I'm not ready to legislate it.

[bsfins]

From my perspective (as I said previously) I'm torn...

I hate these people that walk around,then bump into you ...then act is If it's my fault.

It's sad that we are too stupid,self absorbed as a society,that it even has to be brought up as an ordinance,law,etc,etc...

I feel this fits like most bad driver's,they don't think they're bad drivers,they think it's always the other guy that's the bad driver...

Every time I think this is stupid, I think about how stupid the people are around here.

I think the idea is probably warranted in some places,but enforcement,and effectiveness make it stupid....

Here where I live having garage sale requires a permit(you supposed to only have so many a year also)
Not allowed to garage sale sign,lost pets,on public utility poles...
Owning a pit bull requires a permit
Having all your dogs shots up to date
Shooting fireworks off in the city limits is illegal (they will only tell you to stop)

None of those things are enforced,unless someone complains,or rats you out...I think it's too hard to enforce,and because of that it's not enough of a deterrent to change the behavior..I think of it like littering,speeding,and jaywalking itself,the chances of getting busted are too low to stop the action..

[MyGodWearsAHoodie]

Enforcement is not the only reason for a law.  It also establishes civil liablity and generates awareness.

Awareness:  Before this law was passed I thought doing so was just rude.  I had no idea that 3 people died because of it. 

Laws requiring kids to wear helmets when biking are very effective in my town even though the police NEVER enforce it for the few who do break the law.  Before the law was passed almost nobody wore a helmet.  Now even if the law was repealed I bet almost every parent would continue to require their own kid to wear a helmet.  What changed was awareness of the safety risks. 

Civil Liability
Example:  Person A is texting while walking, bumps into person B.  Person B falls breaking leg, missing 3 days of work and generating $10,000 in medical bills.

No Law:  Person B must prove that person A was acting negligent or person B is responsible for the medical bills not person A.

W/ Law: It is presumed that person A was acting negligent because of the law breaking, making it much easier for person b (victim) to shift the cost of the accident to the responsible party. 

[TonyB0D]

i've NEVER had anyone bump into me while they were texting.

this town is very close to where in live in NJ (it's the NJ side of the GWB).  i'm definitely going there soon and going to walk back and forth in front of the police station while texting and see what they do.

this is a retarded law that just goes to show you how invasive government is becoming

[Cathal]

Ok. Now 5 people have said it's a good idea. Who's voting that way?