Move's afoot in N.Y. to force iPod pedestrians to unplug

ALBANY, N.Y. — Walk, jog or bicycle across a New York street with an iPod plugged into your ears and you could get slapped with a $100 ticket under a new law proposed by a legislator from Brooklyn.

State Sen. Carl Kruger's bill also would outlaw the use of cellphones, Blackberries, video games or other electronic devices when crossing the street.

He cited the death of a 21-year-old man who was listening to music when he stepped off a curb and was hit by a bus in Brooklyn in September and the death of a 23-year-old iPod listener last month.

"If you're so involved in your electronic device that you can't see or hear a car coming, this is indicative of a larger problem that requires some sort of enforcement beyond the application of common sense," Kruger said.

Jason Koppel, Kruger's chief of staff, said listeners would have to pull the earphones out for the few seconds it takes to cross the street.

Kruger said the legislation would be introduced this week.

Charlotte Troisgros, 16, a Manhattan student talking on her cellphone in a crosswalk near City Hall on Wednesday, laughed and said the law may not be such a bad idea.

"You really don't pay attention. You might get hit by a car," she said.

E. Christopher Murray, a civil-liberties attorney, said the proposal is excessive.

"With our schools failing, health costs out of control and crushing property taxes, the Legislature would rather play mother by legislating how we cross the street," he said. "What's next? Do you get fined if you don't look both ways?"