It's a good idea, but should it be the law?

"New York may ban iPods while crossing city streets"

In spite of the sensationalist headline, this actually has nothing to do with iPods, the proposed law would make it illegal to use any electronic gadget while corssing a street in New York City.

It's probably a good idea to keep your senses properly attuned to the surroundings when crossing a street in Manhattan, especially given the legenendary, uh, brusqueness, of New York drivers....but is a law necessary or even proper? You can't legislate common sense, after all.

Are cops going to start ticketing people with headphones on? What if you pause the sound before crossing? What's next...banning these things while in the subway too...after all, those trains go pretty fast and what if you were so absorbed in jamming out to your pirated Metallica tunes that you step right over the edge of the track?