Austrians value their peace and quiet, at least that's how it seems with the new ringtone ban that went into effect in the city of Graz this week. Officials in Graz, the second-largest city in Austria, are protecting the ears of commuters by ordering them to silence their cell phones while on public transportation.

A number of places around the world - from France to the US - have cell phone-free quiet zones on their high-speed trains.
Graz Mayor Sigfried Nagl insists that the ban is a way to make people aware that "they don't have the right to be on the telephone permanently and constantly," according to Cellular-news. However, acknowledging just how ubiquitous cell phone use is, he admitted, "I know I insulted the cell phone goddess a little."

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