I'm pretty good at only using the speaker on my Blackberry when I talk into it while driving and sometimes walking. I also have a headset that gets good use. So, I'm fairly safe when it comes to talking on the thing.
Texting and/or replying to messages is different. While I do my best to not message and walk, and I really don't text and drive (although I'm sure I have a few times), I wonder if it's harmful? Chicago thinks it is. Especially after an Obama aide fell off a Chicago curb a few weeks ago while using her Blackberry.
Multitasking is the way of the world, and consuming and interacting with media on the go is life. I like it and have no problem with it.
But, some officials to our south, including Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White, are supporting a bill that would ban using a wireless device while crossing streets. Here's more from a Chicago Tribune post: "The Illinois General Assembly bill, also known as HB 4520, was introduced in January by Rep. Ken Dunkin (D- Chicago), who then insisted: "This legislation is not laughable. On the surface it's like, 'Oh wow, what is this?' But it's becoming more and more of a common problem with people haplessly crossing an intersection and almost killing themselves."
Fines for a text and walk would be $25.
Thoughts on this? I'd love to hear them, because you know it's not long until similar legislation makes its way up I-94 to Milwaukee. Use the Talkback feature.
A life-long and passionate community leader and Milwaukeean, Jeff Sherman is a co-founder of OnMilwaukee.
He grew up in Wauwatosa and graduated from Marquette University, as a Warrior. He holds an MBA from Cardinal Stritch University, and is the founding president of Young Professionals of Milwaukee (YPM)/Fuel Milwaukee.
Early in his career, Sherman was one of youngest members of the Greater Milwaukee Committee, and currently is involved in numerous civic and community groups - including board positions at The Wisconsin Center District, Wisconsin Club and Marcus Center for the Performing Arts. He's honored to have been named to The Business Journal's "30 under 30" and Milwaukee Magazine's "35 under 35" lists.
He owns a condo in Downtown and lives in greater Milwaukee with his wife Stephanie, his son, Jake, and daughter Pierce. He's a political, music, sports and news junkie and thinks, for what it's worth, that all new movies should be released in theaters, on demand, online and on DVD simultaneously.
He also thinks you should read OnMilwaukee each and every day.
