Ok I just got pulled over by the fuzz for driving with my monitor on.. Is this a huge fine? Is this considered a moving violation???Can I go to traffic school to get this discharged? I aked the officer how much it would cost he had no clue..I hope it's just a fix-it ticket...

it's not a fix it ticket..
must be a moving violation....

sometimes it depends on the officer how he/she wanna write it...
my friend got pull over for the same thing....they put "reckless driving".

Were you watching anything like a movie? Or was it just up and visible?

Were you watching anything like a movie? Or was it just up and visible?

wondering the same thing...

Matt

This is the main reason why I opt to not install a monitor in the stock radio location. The law enforcement dudes will try to cite you when they see you watching a movie or PS2/Xbox. But when it comes to Navigation, it's okay (go figure).

This is the main reason why I opt to not install a monitor in the stock radio location. The law enforcement dudes will try to cite you when they see you watching a movie or PS2/Xbox. But when it comes to Navigation, it's okay (go figure).

Navigation is an instrument that you refer to occasionally while driving. A movie or video game is a major distraction and shouldn't be visible to the driver.

We really don't want people who cannot figure out this distinction sharing the road with us!

George

Yeah...my buddy got the exact same ticket on the 91 at Lakewood...

he didn't bother to go to traffic school...i don't think it's a moving violation. But he ended up paying $168 for the ticket....

The price you pay for entertainment...haha. The funny thing is...if u hada passenger..u wouldn't have gotten the ticket...

So Navigation system makes it safer to drive when you only refer to it occasionally. Could that be the reason why it's okay to drive while dialing a phone number on a cell phone or reading a newspaper or someone putting their make up because the devices used are occasionally refered to?

We also don't want to share the road to Senior Citizens who can barely drive that drives on the left lane going 50 MPH on a 70 MPH Freeway or teenagers that barely got their drivers lincense who drives recklessly with their high performance 300 + horsepower Import/Domestic car.

Were you watching anything like a movie? Or was it just up and visible?

??

So Navigation system makes it safer to drive when you only refer to it occasionally. Could that be the reason why it's okay to drive while dialing a phone number on a cell phone or reading a newspaper or someone putting their make up because the devices used are occasionally refered to?.

None of these things are "okay" if they distract the driver.

We also don't want to share the road to Senior Citizens who can barely drive that drives on the left lane going 50 MPH on a 70 MPH Freeway or teenagers that barely got their drivers lincense who drives recklessly with their high performance 300 + horsepower Import/Domestic car.

Your logic is flawed. You seem to be saying "Many people drive in a dangerous manner, so that means that it's acceptable to drive in a dangerous manner by watching a movie." Sorry, but "everybody's doing it" isn't a valid excuse!

George

The price you pay for entertainment...haha. The funny thing is...if u hada passenger..u wouldn't have gotten the ticket...

No dice. Here's the vehicle code section:

27602. No person shall drive a motor vehicle which is equipped with a television receiver, screen, or other means of visually receiving a television broadcast which is located in the motor vehicle at any point forward of the back of the driver's seat, or which is visible to the driver while operating the motor vehicle. This section shall not apply to a mobile digital terminal installed in a law enforcement vehicle.

The screens have to be out of view of the driver while the vehicle is being operated.

Now, for Perry Mason types, there is a possible "out" in the phrase "receiving a television broadcast". If your player only handles DVDs, it can't receive a "broadcast" and might be technically exempt. However, I would suggest retaining a good attorney (like F. Lee Bailey) before attempting to wriggle out on this point. The judge will probably lean toward the intent of the law, which is clearly to prohibit video entertainment devices in the driver's view.

George

Okay so what if the screen is and you are listening to the radio? The cop sees the screen with stuff on it and pulls you over. Do you get a ticket? If it's able to recieve television broadcasts but isn't doing so while the car is in motion will there be a ticket? Some of those radio screens look like cartoons and could be mistaken for a movie or cartoon.

Matt

Okay so what if the screen is and you are listening to the radio? The cop sees the screen with stuff on it and pulls you over. Do you get a ticket? If it's able to recieve television broadcasts but isn't doing so while the car is in motion will there be a ticket? Some of those radio screens look like cartoons and could be mistaken for a movie or cartoon.

Matt

If it is visible to the driver, you had better be able to demonstrate to the cop's satisfaction that the DVD screen turns off or switches to a data mode when the ignition is on.

Cops see this sort of thing every day and can easily tell the difference between The Matrix and a nav screen. If you try to split hairs and don't be surprised if you are left holding a ticket.

George

Your logic is flawed. You seem to be saying "Many people drive in a dangerous manner, so that means that it's acceptable to drive in a dangerous manner by watching a movie." Sorry, but "everybody's doing it" isn't a valid excuse!

George[/quote]


Holy ____ man, you just reminded me of my LSAT classes i took a year ago. Damn logic. ;)

BTW, i agree with you as well in regards to distarctions to the driver. Regardless of what it is, it should all be illegal if it distracts the driver. Most people drive like ____ already, add to the fact that most dont pay attention and there you go

Your logic is flawed. You seem to be saying "Many people drive in a dangerous manner, so that means that it's acceptable to drive in a dangerous manner by watching a movie." Sorry, but "everybody's doing it" isn't a valid excuse!

George[/quote]


Holy ____ man, you just reminded me of my LSAT classes i took a year ago. Damn logic. ;)

BTW, i agree with you as well in regards to distarctions to the driver. Regardless of what it is, it should all be illegal if it distracts the driver. Most people drive like ____ already, add to the fact that most dont pay attention and there you go

The reason this guy pulled me over was that I wasn't wearing a seat belt and while pulling me over for that he noticed that my monitor was on.. I told the guy that it was just the radio screen saver... I really don't care for the price of the ticket.. I just hope it's not a moving violation. and if it is I hope I can go to traffic school...

Yeah...my buddy got the exact same ticket on the 91 at Lakewood...

he didn't bother to go to traffic school...i don't think it's a moving violation. But he ended up paying $168 for the ticket....

The price you pay for entertainment...haha. The funny thing is...if u hada passenger..u wouldn't have gotten the ticket...

This is incorrect monitor in front is illegal PERIOD in cali, only for use
as nav, back up or radio display.

We really don't want people who cannot figure out this distinction sharing the road with us!

George I'm referring to this comment you made. Basically, you're saying that you don't want to share the road with a person like me since I couldn't figure out the distinction between the two.

I can figure out the distinction between the two but I'm questioning why the law favors NAV system. I've own vehicles with NAV system and from time to time I refer to the Nav System just like I do from time to time look at the DVD Monitor.

I haven't had an accident or caused an accident in 5 years I've been driving my car with a monitor visible to a driver. Do you own a vehicle with a monitor or a NAV system visible to the driver?

We really don't want people who cannot figure out this distinction sharing the road with us!

George I'm referring to this comment you made. Basically, you're saying that you don't want to share the road with a person like me since I couldn't figure out the distinction between the two.

I'm not talking about any specific person. I am referring to a class of individuals with which we are all quite familiar.

I can figure out the distinction between the two but I'm questioning why the law favors NAV system. I've own vehicles with NAV system and from time to time I refer to the Nav System just like I do from time to time look at the DVD Monitor.

There's a huge difference between a nav display and a movie.

A nav system presents information in a set format, so you can quickly see the information you need, and get back to the "outside picture". The information is directly related to the driving task, so you refer to this information when you need it.

A movie is always presenting new, visually appealing information whose explicit goal is to capture and hold your attention ("suspend reality") for long periods. If a movie doesn't hold your attention, then it is a lousy movie! The movie information does not refer to the driving task, and beckons the viewer's attention continuously.

I haven't had an accident or caused an accident in 5 years I've been driving my car with a monitor visible to a driver. Do you own a vehicle with a monitor or a NAV system visible to the driver?

I congratulate you on your good driving record. However, I don't see how it relates to this discussion. We cannot extrapolate your single experience to all drivers with DVD equipment.

I use a Garmin nav system, but would never use a DVD system visible to the driver. I've seen enough movies to know that having such a system would be a dangerous distraction. There's no way that I could drive a car while Ann Miller is dancing "Too Darned Hot" from "Kiss Me Kate" on the video! :)

I believe that the nav system is somewhat safer than using a paper map, since it automatically keeps track of where the car is on the map and eliminates the need to manipulate the map itself. It can be a distraction if misused, but at least it isn't designed to continuously grab and hold attention.

BTW, I haven't had an accident in over 20 years, including many years of commuting in LA freeway traffic. My continued good luck, as well as yours, is dependent upon everyone paying attention to their driving. Perhaps you can withstand the urge to devote your attention to a powerful scene in a movie, but can you say that of the people around you? I don't want my car and life endangered by someone who "just had to watch that scene a few seconds longer".

George

I don't want my car and life endangered by someone who "just had to watch that scene a few seconds longer".

That goes the same for a person wanted to see the map a few seconds longer.

Both NAV Sys and DVD are distraction to the driver.

I don't want my car and life endangered by someone who "just had to watch that scene a few seconds longer".

That goes the same for a person wanted to see the map a few seconds longer.

Both NAV Sys and DVD are distraction to the driver.

It's a matter of degree. Every device uses a portion of a driver's attention to one degree or another. A navigation map will always be there later, while a movie scene will continuously change. The movie demands immediate attention from the driver, while the nav system does not. That is the crucial difference between the two.

You are attempting to make a logic trail of "Since one device may be a distraction and is legal, then drivers should be allowed to use any device they wish while driving, no matter how distracting it is." Others disagree, to the point of creating a specific vehicle code section that specifically prohibits the activity you covet.

If a movie theatre were to project a nav screen for 90 minutes, would people pay to see it? Of course not, since a nav screen isn't a compelling image that holds the viewer's attention. A movie does hold attention, and that's precisely why a movie should not be shown in the view of someone who is trying to drive a car.

Is it really such an imposition to drive without simultaneously watching a movie?

George

This is incorrect monitor in front is illegal PERIOD in cali, only for use as nav, back up or radio display.

Not to drag this thread on for too long, but i am curious to know whether it would be illegal for a passenger to watch a movie on a screen mounted on the right-side sunvisor. Yes, it is in front of the driver's head, however the driver would have to turn his/her head a great deal in order to see it (granted not the kind of neck bending to see behind the head rest). Would this be the call of the office in question?

Yes, it's Illegal...

George... I just love your long replies... I know the difference between NAV and DVD and the attention span it creates for the driver. I'm just throwing out things for you to reply here's another one....

People who never experienced owning a DVD/monitor where the driver can view it shouldn't even comment on this.

Yes, it's Illegal...

George... I just love your long replies... I know the difference between NAV and DVD and the attention span it creates for the driver. I'm just throwing out things for you to reply here's another one....

People who never experienced owning a DVD/monitor where the driver can view it shouldn't even comment on this.

By this logic, the only people who should have an opinion on suicide are people who have killed themselves.

Try again.

George

so my 4runner with the passenger LCD is illegal? i haven't had any ticket yet...and i had it for over a year...i even had it playing a movie while on road trips..no highway patrol ever pulled me over...they just glanced then saw that there was a passenger in front...then drove off...

so ...maybe there is a law against it...but i haven't experienced such difficulty...not to mention...my friend has the same one...and the officer told him that he wouldn't have gotten the ticket if someone was there watching...hmm..interesting.

here's the sun -visor lcd on my 4 runner...

http://images.cardomain.com/member_images/8/web/284000-284999/284369_5_full.jpg

http://images.cardomain.com/member_images/8/web/284000-284999/284369_4_full.jpg

i even drove with the LCD on...with nothing showing except blue...and many cops have passed me without any conflict...

I dont have the exact law but when i read it when i got my ticket
the law read any monitor in view of driver or forward of front seat rear was illeagal
this includes factory monitors most judges will just have you pay fine
this law is open to why to much interpitation it dose not address factory equip
our those cool little monitors in police cars for there cameras

I dont have the exact law but when i read it when i got my ticket
the law read any monitor in view of driver or forward of front seat rear was illeagal
this includes factory monitors most judges will just have you pay fine
this law is open to why to much interpitation it dose not address factory equip
our those cool little monitors in police cars for there cameras

Here's the vehicle code again:

27602. No person shall drive a motor vehicle which is equipped with a television receiver, screen, or other means of visually receiving a television broadcast which is located in the motor vehicle at any point forward of the back of the driver's seat, or which is visible to the driver while operating the motor vehicle. This section shall not apply to a mobile digital terminal installed in a law enforcement vehicle.

Pretty straightforward stuff, really.

George