In a story on engadget today, Thomas Ricker writes:

Brace yourselves good people of New York, mother government is prepared to step in (again) and save you from yourselves. Senator Carl Kruger is reportedly set to introduce legislation that would ban the use of MP3 players, cellphones, and any other electronic device while crossing the street in New York City or other “big cities” in the state. The proposed ban follows two recent pedestrian deaths in Kruger’s district where at least one is said to be the result of a person “listening to his iPod.” We just gotta wonder: if police can’t enforce jaywalking laws in NYC, how could they possibly enforce this?

Pretty interesting but is it any reason to panick? (besides the fact that someone has yet again used iPods as a synonym for all mp3 players?) I guess what they’re trying to do is implement this ban in an attempt to keep the wayward pedestrian from jacking up the volume on his or her media player and walking into oncoming traffic.

So in a sense, it’s no different than the ban on smoking in certain public places or driving while talking on your cell phone. Though we can all understand the reasoning behind it that doesn’t necessarily mean this bill, should it become law, is good for everyone. I’m the last one to delve into Orson Wells style speculation but this does beg the question of what other freedoms they will take away from you in the near future “for your own good”.

Interested in your thoughts on this one…