NYC dopers -- new cell phone law?

[Otto]

Yeah, I know, Google is my friend, but of the three trillion cites that come up Googling “New York City Cell Phone Law” 100 billion of them say one thing, another 100 billion of them say something else and the rest are porn. So what’s the Straight Dope on this new law about using cell phones in public places? What’s actually illegal?

[friedo]

It’s one of the stupider pieces of stupid to come out of the stupid council this year.

Here is the relevant bill: A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to restricting the use of mobile telephones in a place of public performance.

It passed the city council once on 18 Dec 2002, was vetoed by the mayor, and then passed the council again on 12 Feb 2003, and was signed into law, becoming Local Law 9 of 2003 (pdf).

The law basically forbids the use of cell phones during public performances, except for emergencies.

b. No person shall use a mobile telephone in a place of public performance while a theatrical, musical, dance, motion picture, lecture or other similar performance is taking place.

c. Exception. The provisions of this section shall not apply to an individual who uses a mobile telephone to contact an emergency response operator, hospital, physician’s office or health clinic, ambulance company, fire company, first aid squad or police department in an emergency situation or in any other circumstance which may be deemed an emergency.

d. Notice to patrons. (1) The owner, operator, manager or other person having control of any place of public performance shall, at every theatrical, musical, dance, motion picture, lecture or other similar performance, provide prominent and conspicuous notice to patrons by means of announcement, signage, printed material, or other similar means indicating that mobile telephone use is prohibited as prescribed in subdivision b of this section. The commissioner of environmental protection may promulgate rules regarding the size, style and location of such notices, but in promulgating such rules, the commissioner of environmental protection shall take into consideration the concerns of the various types of establishments regulated herein with respect to the style and design of such notices.

(2) In addition, the owner, operator, manager or other person having control of any motion picture theatre in which motion pictures are exhibited to the public shall, prior to the showing of each feature motion picture, show upon the movie screen information indicating that mobile telephone use is prohibited as prescribed in subdivision b of this section.

[toadspittle]

(2) In addition, the owner, operator, manager or other person having control of any motion picture theatre in which motion pictures are exhibited to the public shall, prior to the showing of each feature motion picture, show upon the movie screen information indicating that mobile telephone use is prohibited as prescribed in subdivision b of this section.

What fun for the theater owners to pay for and provide! (Not that I haven’t had movies here in the city ruined by cell-using dumbasses…)

[moriah]

*Originally posted by toadspittle *
**What fun for the theater owners to pay for and provide! (Not that I haven’t had movies here in the city ruined by cell-using dumbasses…) **

Ummm… the theater owners (at least live theater, don’t know about movie theater owners) are the ones who wanted the law. They already post notices and make announcements, but the clientele have started to grow immune to the warnings. The owners (and most of the performers) were hoping that the phrases “by law,” and “fine,” would make sure the “audience is listening.”

Everyone acknowledges its unenforceableness. It’s meant to be a stick to wave which would almost never get used.

Although, I can imagine the case of a complete asshole refusing to get off the phone or turn off a constantly ringing phone. This would at least give the theater owners a chance to file a complaint with bite.

Peace.

“OK, will the audience please stop vibrating en masse!”

[Bookkeeper]

Another feel-good law! Sounds good, the politicians can all pat themselves on the back, but how can you actually enforce it?

Our local city council is always doing this sort of thing (when not busy declaring that the city is a “nuclear-free” zone and similar inanities).