No texting while walking!

This is retarded.

Why do I have to live so close to Philly and DC....

DILYSI Dave wrote: Can we just randomly install alligator pits on sidewalks instead? Problem would take care of itself.

To the poster who said that phone calls can be an inconvenience for the person receiving--really? So the phone rings and I HAVE to answer it? Really? Can't I just push the little button that shuts off the ringer? Since when did anyone HAVE to answer a phone? My goodness, the phone is ringing. Sorry but I'm gonna have to STOP EVERYTHING and answer it. Just leave a damn voice-mail.

My phone is a convenience for me. Not the caller. Same for texting. There's a reason electronic devices have memory!

As to this law. Really? Is this necessary? Sure it's a stupid activity, but unlawful? Really?

I can see the bicycle cops all over this one. Hey you! With the phone! Stop walking! Now!

as someone who sends 150 to 200 texts a day i dislike this completely.

vwcorvette wrote: To the poster who said that phone calls can be an inconvenience for the person receiving--really? So the phone rings and I HAVE to answer it? Really? Can't I just push the little button that shuts off the ringer? Since when did anyone HAVE to answer a phone? My goodness, the phone is ringing. Sorry but I'm gonna have to STOP EVERYTHING and answer it. Just leave a damn voice-mail. My phone is a convenience for me. Not the caller. Same for texting. There's a reason electronic devices have memory!

I look at it this way.. not am I only so important that I have a cellphone with me at all times.. but I am SO important.. I don't have to answer your call when it comes in.

This law is pretty berkeleying dumb. I want a law against those stupid side by side twin running strollers. Those things are freaking annoying and every mom has one even if they have 1 kid it seems. The key word here is running as in its not take junior's for a stroll and block the hell out of the path then walk your dog on a 20ft leash off to the side. I really really hate those things. There is no gong around them and when 2 supermoms have 2 super strollers and 2 super dogs side by side it is instant death. Ban them berkeleyers ban them now!

This isn't actually a law, it is a rumor...and it is all over the news here in Philly today as such.

"Hey! I saw you take a step while you were texting back there! That's a $125 fine for you, punk!"
"But, but officer, there was a pebble under my shoe! I was just moving my foo-"
"Doesn't matter! Walking is walking and the law is the law! Pay up or I'll see you in court you vagrant scum! Now berkeley off and let me finish these donuts, while I drive around playing solitare on my police-issue laptop with the other hand! It's scum like you that are the reason I won't let my kids out of the house anymore!"

^^ BTW, above was posted from my smartphone, while waiting for, boarding, and getting a seat on the bus. I'm part of the problem and I dang well like it that way.

mad_machine wrote:

vwcorvette wrote: To the poster who said that phone calls can be an inconvenience for the person receiving--really? So the phone rings and I HAVE to answer it? Really? Can't I just push the little button that shuts off the ringer? Since when did anyone HAVE to answer a phone? My goodness, the phone is ringing. Sorry but I'm gonna have to STOP EVERYTHING and answer it. Just leave a damn voice-mail. My phone is a convenience for me. Not the caller. Same for texting. There's a reason electronic devices have memory!

I look at it this way.. not am I only so important that I have a cellphone with me at all times.. but I am SO important.. I don't have to answer your call when it comes in. No, but thanks for implying that I am important. If the President of the U.S., Randy Pobst, or the Pope calls and I'm busy they can leave a message. Sorry Randy.

I would like to argue that I was moving at 4 mph and that for most people is at least a jog, maybe even running. Clearly I was not walking and texting.

keethrax wrote: My ex-Boss has accused me of being Luddite. I find the concept of a Luddite computer programmer somewhat amusing.

My father misses COBOL and Fortran and does not share your amusement. Actually, HE IS NEVER AMUSED.

Elect me supreme chancellor, and any assault charges will be waived if the "victim" was texting while walking.

Do we need another way for the police to act as tax collectors? No. Is making a short film featuring me on a skateboard smacking text-walkers in the face with blueberry pies pretty high up on my list of things to do? Abso berkeleying lutely.

I pretty much agree with teh pOOp, but I also reserve the right (if hit by a textwalker or textdriver) to jam that smartphone so far up where the sun don't shine that the 911 call contains the words 'really long forceps'.

So, texting while walking will be illegal, but texting while driving is still legal in the state of PA.

Sounds about right.

I wonder if they are considering any prohibitions on texting while logging, texting while flying an airplane, occupational texting while roofing, or recreational texting while berkeleying.

City of Brotherly Love, right?

SVreX wrote: City of Brotherly Love, right?

Must... refrain...from... politically incorrect jokes!

I think there should be a law against texting while politicking.

Might as well outlaw texting while texting.

poopshovel wrote: Is making a short film featuring me on a skateboard smacking text-walkers in the face with blueberry pies pretty high up on my list of things to do? Abso berkeleying lutely.

Blueberry pies are illegal in PHL. You will have to use a pie filling from the approved list.

It's nice to know Philly has solved all it's other problems, like groups of teen randomly attacking people and can move on to these smaller safety issues.

Does anyone know the backstory behind this? Was someone actually seriously hurt with a collision with a walking texter, or texter runover while crossing a street, or taxter walked into a high-powered local? Or, and I suspect, is this a grab-a-topic and inflate it to get the voters minds off the real problems?

Giant Purple Snorklewacker wrote: Blueberry pies are illegal in PHL. You will have to use a pie filling from the approved list.

Cheesesteak pimpslap!

triumph5 wrote: Does anyone know the backstory behind this? Was someone actually seriously hurt with a collision with a walking texter, or texter runover while crossing a street, or taxter walked into a high-powered local? Or, and I suspect, is this a grab-a-topic and inflate it to get the voters minds off the real problems?

First, I'm sure it does have something to do with the woman who was walking in the mall and pretended to be texting while she fell into the fountain, then tried to sue. That happened here in Reading, which is only 60 miles from Philly. I'm sure the city figured some dim wit will try the same stunt, except they'll walk into a street sign or in front of a car. There are enough plaintiff attorneys here who will take a case like that.

Second, money. Philly is in deep E36 M3. I think the next proposal will be a tax for walking on city sidewalks...because we all know that sneakers cause wear and tear on sidewalks and someone's got to pay for it.

I do think it's just a proposal so far, not sure it's actually law yet...

I'm proud to say I've never sent a text message in my life, and hope I never have to. I don't understand the point.

Hmph. Gotta add that the one time I was in Philly I was not impressed. For you Philly locals, I was staying in the Presidential Boulevard area.

First, everywhere I looked the place was filthy. Even that big marble building fron the 'Rocky' movies had trash blowing everywhere.

The first night there, I watched a car get stolen right in front of me. Two guys in a blue Chevy van with Jersey plates pulled up, one jumped out and busted a glass, then took off with the car. I went inside the hotel and asked the desk clerk to call the police, she looked at me like I had three heads and said 'Why?'.

Then when driving to the airport, we passed miles of tenements. It looked like a war zone; dope dealers and burned out cars everywhere.

Ooooo kayyyy, this redneck Southern boy is going back whence he came and will not go back up there unless it's at gunpoint. And maybe not then.

This is dumb, especially since it's only about texting. I do a lot of things on my PDA while walking, texting is probably the most uncommon.

And what about people who read books or use music players while walking?