STAFF EDIT: City shouldn’t silence phones

Just as cell phones and their absurd assortment of rings have both proliferated, so has the number of people irritated by them especially when the bleeps, rings and songs interrupt a tense movie scene or a inspiring aria. Annoying as the interruptions may be, a city council effort to ban them in theaters, museums and all other ‘places of public performance’ should not pass. The proposal would cause more disturbances, be ineffective and invade territory that should be left under individual venue owners’ control.

The law, based on one passed in New York City, would give venue employees the power to confiscate any offending cell phones and pagers and possibly charge a $50 fine for patrons to reclaim their devices. However, having ushers track down the violators would only further interrupt the ongoing performances. Along with the difficulty of pinpointing the exact location of a ringing phone, many might become belligerent at the thought of separation from their vital mobile devices.

The interruptions are quite distracting to performers and audiences alike but most happen because people simply forget to silence their phones. Putting a financially punitive ban on phones is an impractical method for reducing simple accidents. People already know their phones should be off, but a threat they might not even know about will not remind them.

Instead of legislating to correct these social blunders, venue owners should retain their power to control what happens in their establishments. If they decide that a similar ban will work, they certainly have the power to give it a shot. However, they also have many other options, including installing jamming devices, offering a cell phone check along with coat checks or simply increasing the number of signs and verbal announcements instructing patrons to turn off their mobile devices. One particularly effective way to reduce the distractions would be to escort patrons whose phones ring out of a performance or movie, no questions asked. This would allow the rest of the audience to witness the punishment and would better instill the principle that those who interrupt others’ enjoyment should lose the privilege of enjoying a performance themselves.

Regardless of the exact method employed, ensuring it is enforced consistently is the best way to reduce the distractions. Because finding an effective method also requires tailoring it to the venue, cell phone interruptions should be left under the jurisdiction of owners, not city councilors.