New York Bans Mobiles in Theaters

[Janak Parekh]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/2755875.stm' target='_blank'>http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/2755875.stm</a><br /><br /></div>"After banning smoking in bars and restaurants, New York is tackling what many see as another major public annoyance.<br /><br />From April, requests to switch off your mobile phone before a play or concert begins will be backed up with the threat of a $50 fine."<br /><br />Being an occasional theater/concertgoer myself, I can appreciate this. Ringing phones, especially during a classical concert or Broadway play, are quite annoying. And if you can't set your phone to vibrate, you deserve to suffer. ;) However, is this the best way to enforce it?

[malcolmsharp]

Being an occasional theater/concertgoer myself, I can appreciate this. Ringing phones, especially during a classical concert or Broadway play, are quite annoying. And if you can't set your phone to vibrate, you deserve to suffer. ;) However, is this the best way to enforce it?

I don't think it is. First of all, I almost always turn it off myself. But I've also forgotten to do so. Is that a crime worth $50? Don't think so.

[Reza]

I don't think it is. First of all, I almost always turn it off myself. But I've also forgotten to do so. Is that a crime worth $50? Don't think so.
I personally consider piercing phone rings to be noise pollution.

My cell phone always starts in vibrating mode and then resumes to a quiet polyphonic midi music, but if I’m in a theater and the show begins with a reminder to turn it off (not to mention a $50 fine warning), well that’s what I do.

I was recently enjoying a movie with my wife at a local theater when some guy’s phone rang loudly and instead of embarrassingly shutting it off, he just let it ring several times and then carelessly started talking: “yeah, I’m at the movies, etc.”!! We were outraged!

It shows that a lot of people are really inconsiderate and antisocial...

[Jonathan1]

Woo hoo! Score one for the people who want to strangle people like that. I went to the midnight showing of LOTR: Two Towers. I got up on my seat and yelled that if anyone’s cell or pager goes off during the movie the collective audience will beat you into seat stuffing. Had the entire theater cheering. Surprisingly no cells went of during the entire movie. So the solution presents itself: Make public beatings legal. :D

[Jonathan1]

Seriously though. What should be made law is that cell phones can accept a signal to turn off the ring and enable vibrate (Also should be required) when in public locations. (Read: BlueTooth) Unfortunately BT phones aren't pervasive enough and you invariably would have people complaining that this is unconstitutional or something. :roll: The right to play a bad replica of Star Wars on your phone! :P

[MooseMaster]

I say we go the public beatings route.

[Brad Adrian]

It's interesting how this is actually fairly narrow in focus. I can think of a LOT of situations beyond concerts that should be without noisy interruptions.

[EvilOne]

$50 fine is a great start. Maybe people will start to remember to either shut off their phone or set it to vibrate so people can enjoy the show that they paid for. C'mon, the theatres already ask to shut that stuff off, why can't people just listen and shut off their phones when they see the reminder, or at least double check to make sure it is off or on vibrate. Is it that difficult? :evil:

Oh, and public floggings? That would be fun, but I can see everyone sueing everyone else.

[Paul P]

I don't think this will prevent people from leaving their phones on. How are they going to enforce the fines in the first place? Approach the person after the play? During the play? :) We’re not talking about a bunch of kids here and it’s not quite the same as giving a speeding ticket or something. Also, it is hard to pinpoint in the dark the person with the ringing phone, unless someone is completely obnoxious and just lets their phone ring. Other than that, I just don't see it happening. The threat of a fine is a nice deterrent, but that’s about it.

[Janak Parekh]

It's interesting how this is actually fairly narrow in focus. I can think of a LOT of situations beyond concerts that should be without noisy interruptions.
Well, you'd never get consensus on anything further. The majority do get annoyed by cell phone rings in public performances...

--janak

[malcolmsharp]

I personally consider piercing phone rings to be noise pollution.

My cell phone always starts in vibrating mode and then resumes to a quiet polyphonic midi music, but if I’m in a theater and the show begins with a reminder to turn it off (not to mention a $50 fine warning), well that’s what I do.

I was recently enjoying a movie with my wife at a local theater when some guy’s phone rang loudly and instead of embarrassingly shutting it off, he just let it ring several times and then carelessly started talking: “yeah, I’m at the movies, etc.”!! We were outraged!

It shows that a lot of people are really inconsiderate and antisocial...

Is that person? Sure. If I forgot I had my cell phone, and when it rang, I switched it off, should I pay $50? No, I don't think so.

[Mobile Bob]

I've been very good about setting my cell phone to vibrate in those situations, but experienced an embarassing incident with my Pocket PC recently. A few weeks ago, I took my 8-year old daughter to see the touring Broadway production of Disney's Beauty & the Beast. The 3-hour show coincided with a college basketball game that I had a great deal of interest in, so I was checking the game's score on the internet with my PPC before the show started. Without warning, the house lights go out in the theater and my PPC's backlight (not even the brightest setting) is suddenly glowing like a search beacon. I scrambled to shut it off, but not before getting the "evil eye" from some art lover sitting next to me. Needless to say, I didn't turn it on again until intermission; and the lady who had given me the glaring look had the nerve to ask me the score of the game.

I guess we all just need to be careful about using the gadgets we love when in public places. :wink:

[Reza]

Check out this article: Cell phone gives wing to "airplane mode" (http://news.com.com/2100-1033-954588.html)

I think such software should be adapted to all wireless devices and extended to most public places.

[Jonathan1]

Oh no! Please, please, please let’s not bring air planes into this. Last time that happened here it got nasty. :? And I wasn't any help. :P *slowly walks by the landmine*
But point taken. As I said before there should be a way to if not turn off the phone to at least turn it into vibrate mode but that would require that ALL cells have vibrate built in. Last time I went phone browsing most did not.

[seanturner]

It's interesting how this is actually fairly narrow in focus. I can think of a LOT of situations beyond concerts that should be without noisy interruptions.

I shudder to think though taht the government can tell us when we can and cannot have certain modes on our communications devices turn on or off...

I think this solution needs to come from the theaters, not the US government. A contract that when you buy the ticket, you promise to turn your cell phone off or be billed perhaps?

[seanturner]

Seriously though. What should be made law is that cell phones can accept a signal to turn off the ring and enable vibrate (Also should be required) when in public locations. (Read: BlueTooth) Unfortunately BT phones aren't pervasive enough and you invariably would have people complaining that this is unconstitutional or something. :roll: The right to play a bad replica of Star Wars on your phone! :P

Now, what happens when people build super powerful transmitters to set everyone's phone on vibrate then calls them when they're bending over under their desk and watching as they jump up and hit their heads?

This might work if the end user can disable it, but, I still don't like to give up that much control over my own devices...

[dean_shan]

What is sad is that people have to be threatened with a fine to show common courtesy and respect. Come on people, if you are going to a show turn your phone to vibrate.

[seanturner]

What about some sort of funny advertisement of maybe a group beating of somebody whose cell phone rings before a movie?

[Daimaou]

Im some place companies put some jamming devices which forbid phone to catch any network, I think this is the best solution.
It is personnaly what I am going to install in all my different campus. Fed up that students use their mobile phone during their courses.

[PetiteFlower]

The only phones that don't have vibrate these days are the super value cheapo crap phones. And even some of them have it.

Think about it this way. People who go to a concert or play are often spending at least $50 on tickets, parking, etc, and a ringing phone is ruining their experience. That deserves the fine IMO.

[Rok]

I shudder to think though taht the government can tell us when we can and cannot have certain modes on our communications devices turn on or off...

I think this solution needs to come from the theaters, not the US government. A contract that when you buy the ticket, you promise to turn your cell phone off or be billed perhaps?
Your government is currently enforcing much more serious restrictions, and yet there is no (public) outcry. Let's not drag politics into this, as it indeed could get very ugly.

As per your second suggestion, they would need some legal ground to do that, other than having you sign a consent (which would be the only way without proper legislation on the subject) with every ticket purchase. This new proposal however will enable theatres to do just what you suggested. Or am I mistaken? Any lawyers around here to shed some light onto this?

Regards,

Rok

[Cypher]

I question the use of a law and a fine. If they're too dumb to ignore the copious warning that show before a film starts, more drastic action is called for. Public beatings, while cathartic, may well get out of hand. I much prefer the ejection-seat solution.

There's a very funny warning that shows before some films I've seen wherein the guy with the ringing phone is catpulted onto the screen (actually, I'd prefer a wall :)).

[Kati Compton]

As per your second suggestion, they would need some legal ground to do that, other than having you sign a consent (which would be the only way without proper legislation on the subject) with every ticket purchase. This new proposal however will enable theatres to do just what you suggested. Or am I mistaken? Any lawyers around here to shed some light onto this?


By buying the ticket you may be agreeing to it. For example, for rock concerts, they apparently have the right to perform a physical search of your person. Plus, if you have anything like a microphone or a camera, or food, or anything that might be weapon-like, they can deny you entry. I don't like it, but I don't think there would be legal bars to a theater searching patrons for phones and making people turn off the ringer before entering the theater. I think that would be taking it a bit far, but unfortunately there's precedent.

[Fzara]

I don't think this will prevent people from leaving their phones on. How are they going to enforce the fines in the first place? Approach the person after the play? During the play? :) We’re not talking about a bunch of kids here and it’s not quite the same as giving a speeding ticket or something. Also, it is hard to pinpoint in the dark the person with the ringing phone, unless someone is completely obnoxious and just lets their phone ring. Other than that, I just don't see it happening. The threat of a fine is a nice deterrent, but that’s about it.

I fully agree. No one would ever be able to tell whose cell phone was ringing during the theatre, however, it could be possible to fine the person if other people helped the usher who it was. Of course, in a theatre, one can also run away super fast and get lost in a crowd.

[seanturner]

As per your second suggestion, they would need some legal ground to do that, other than having you sign a consent (which would be the only way without proper legislation on the subject) with every ticket purchase. This new proposal however will enable theatres to do just what you suggested. Or am I mistaken? Any lawyers around here to shed some light onto this?

Regards,

Rok

It would be a binding contract. You need nothing more.

Yes, this is what the current legislation does. I would however much rather have this penalty enforced by a contract I signed than a civil law. It is just my personal belief that the government has no business passing this kind of legislation.

[Gary Garland, Esq.]

Oh No! The dreaded theater police!
Actually, the last time I saw a flick in NYC it ran me something like $11 - almost the price of the fine!
Are they going to have some pimply usher with a flashlight give out tickets? Will they slap a boot on my popcorn? Will they take away my seinfeld laser pointer? Now I'm worried! :)

[seanturner]

Oh yes, that's the thing which annoys me more than phones: laser pointers! :evil:

[brntcrsp]

Any thoughts to actually blocking the signal in these venues? How difficult would it be to create an area inside the theatre that would completely prevent the signal from reaching these devices?

Before the invention of the cell phone people would go out all the time and never have to worry that they might receive a call while they were away from home. I believe that we should have the patience to wait 2 hours to make or receive phone calls.

It certainly is not a right to have access to a phone at all times.

Also in relation to Cypher's post - in France they had a reminder which featured an annoying patron getting speared by the viking helmeted opera singer - hooray!

[Jonathon Watkins]

There was talk al few months ago about wood that had been saturated with a certain compound that blocked radio waves. The problem with active radio blocking is that it spills outside the theatre. With passive blocking (lining the theatre with this wood) you get no radio inside and no problems outside.

In the UK many Cinemas show an advert right before the film starts reminding people to switch them off. It’s quite effective as it rings all the default tones of the various makes of phone and you see people scrambling for their phones before they realise it is a reminder advert. :)

[seanturner]

It certainly is not a right to have access to a phone at all times.


In the US you do have a right to property.

Actually though, a while ago, there was a discussion on PPCT about cell phoe jamming legislation or technology or something...

[Kati Compton]

It certainly is not a right to have access to a phone at all times.


In the US you do have a right to property.


But you don't have a right to take your property everywhere with you (ie, concealed weapons, scissors on airplanes, cameras with flashes in art museums, recording equipment at concerts....)

[seanturner]

But you don't have a right to take your property everywhere with you (ie, concealed weapons, scissors on airplanes, cameras with flashes in art museums, recording equipment at concerts....)

It depends. If you are going onto private property (a museum, then the museum sets the rules). However, in public, you do have a right to your property.

Actually, in Oregon, it is legal to openly carry a concealed weapon. However, private institutions are free to place restrictions on that. (McDonnalds comes to mind as one that does).

[Steven Cedrone]

legal to openly carry a concealed weapon.


Why would you openly carry a concealed weapon???? :wink: Can we say contradiction in terms???

Sorry, couldn't resist...

Steve

[seanturner]

legal to openly carry a concealed weapon.


Why would you openly carry a concealed weapon???? :wink:

Sorry, couldn't resist...

Steve

Err... sorry. lol. Openly carry a weapon. You can get a permit to carry one concealed if you don't have a criminal record.