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

 

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.

 

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...





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

 

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