What seems like an outrageous headline could very well soon become a reality for citizens living in New York. Senator Carl Kruger has begun legislation that would basically fine people for walking with any kind of mobile device that could be “distracting” such as BlackBerrys, iPods, and cellphones.

This comes about after a 23 year old man was killed while crossing the road and listening to his iPod, while not hearing people shouting at him to look out. Now don’t get me wrong. That is a very sad account of a young man who had is life ahead of him and it would not be short of the truth to say that his death could have been preventable.

But to fine people if they are using a mobile device while crossing a street is ludicrous. I take public transportation on my way to college daily and I will listen to my mp3 player while crossing the street, and once I was using a cell phone while crossing - but I wasn’t oblivious. I was still checking traffic and making sure that drivers were aware of my presence.

And especially in a city such as New York that is so heavily populate. Are people really going to have to stop their iPod while crossing, hide it, and then take it out and begin listening to it all over again?

The answer is so simple. If you are going to use a device (cell phone or iPod) while crossing the road be aware of your surroundings - after all you are walking on the street where you do have to respect cars even if you have the right of way.

I just don’t see how paying $100 is going to solve the problem.

People get hit every day by cars and they weren’t even using a mobile device. Maybe we should be going after the crazy drivers instead.

[via in part: arstechnia.com