Law of the rings: should cell-phone users pay for stealing the show? - News Debate - New York City bans cell phones in public performances

0 Comments | Current Events, March 14, 2003

SOMEONE IS TURNING teenagers into zombies, and Scooby Doo and his friends are determined to find out who it is. After setting traps and searching for clues, the gang is finally ready to unmask the villain. Yet as the moviegoers eagerly lean forward in their seats, a loud beeping noise fills the movie theater. "Hello? Yeah, it's me. I'm at a movie. Scooby Doo. Yeah, it's good...."

Does that sound like a scene at a theater near you? With the number of cell phones on the rise, some people say cell phones are stealing the show far too often. Now, spurred by unhappy theatergoers, New York City has passed a law to make sure that cell phones stop ruining performances.

Starting in mid-April, New York City will ban cell-phone conversations and cell-phone ringing during any public performance. The law applies to any place where the public is gathered for a cultural activity. That includes theaters, concert halls, museums, libraries, and art galleries. Violators can be fined $50.

While theatergoers and performers say the law deserves a standing ovation, some people say the city is wasting its time with a law it can't enforce.

Hang Up

Dave Daly's been to one too many shows where an unwelcome cell phone has taken center stage. "It ruins the mood," he told WNBC. "If you're watching a movie, you're kind of getting into the scene, [the ring of a cell phone] brings you back to reality."

Willie Fernandez, a security guard, agreed. "I am in favor of the law. If you are coming to watch a movie or listen to an opera, you should be courteous," he told the Los Angeles Times.

New York City Councilman Phil Reed says audiences should get what they pay for. "Our cultural community offers a welcome escape from the rigors and gadgets of everyday life," he said.

Wrong Number

Opponents of the law say they like peace and quiet just as much as the next person--they just don't think a law is the way to enforce it. They point out that coughs, sneezes, and car alarms can grab an audience's attention the same way a cell phone can. Opponents say that keeping the noises under wraps is more a matter of manners than law-enforcement.

"No matter how laudable the goal, the city cannot legislate courtesy and common sense," said Thomas Wheeler of the Cellular Telecommunications & Internet Association.

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who unsuccessfully tried to veto the law, said police officers have more important things to do than enforce a cell-phone ban. "Considering the challenges facing our city, we think our law enforcement should spend their time keeping New Yorkers safe instead of raiding movie theaters," commented Ed Skyler, one of Bloomberg's spokespeople.

What do you think? Should cell-phone use be banned at public performances?

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