NYC's No Public Mobile Phone Use Bill Not Enforced
from the but-maybe-still-effective dept
You may remember that New York City passed a completely unenforceable law a few years ago saying that it was illegal to use a mobile phone during a public performance -- such that you could receive a $50 fine. Well, it turns out that not only is it unenforceable, most people have no idea the law exists, which kind of kills its purpose. The police claim they really have better things to do with their time (and they do), but the original supporter of the bill claims it was meant to be unenforceable all along. The idea was that it would convince people to put more peer pressure on those around them, should a phone ring in a theater or museum. Right now, though, it looks like only a few theaters are really trying to do anything about the law by posting warning signs everywhere.
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We went to a show on Broadway recently and there was a humorous but very pointed threat leveled at the audience: beep and you're out.
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