[nulltty]

So there's a new 2004 California law ,

"It's already illegal for passengers sitting up front to watch television but one new
provision will ban the use of all sorts of video screens in the front seat.

The ban includes laptop computers, palm pilots and portable DVD players."

So, does this include third party Navigational units, ie Garmin or Thales, etc?

Is there any other US state with similar laws?

[KDOG]

Cant imagine that it would apply to Nav screens..esp if they were factory option.
Aftermarket stuff could be an issue. Where did you hear about this? I scanned the DMV pages and also the ca.gov pages but couldnt find anything about it.

[nulltty]

Originally I saw it on , KPIX - http://beta.kpix.com/news/local/2003...Dri vers.html

I also found it on AAA, http://www.csaa.com/global/articlede...7C4285,00.html

[nulltty]

ok, I found my answer.... "Subdivision (a) does not apply to the following equipment when installed in a vehicle: (1) Vehicle information display, (2) Global Positioning display, ..... rear-view camera display"

http://www.itsa.org/resources.nsf/Files/AB%20301-chaptered/$file/AB%20301-chaptered.pdf

I guess a palm pilot or laptop running GPS software is excluded... hmmm....

[NEMINI]

Quote: Originally Posted by nulltty

ok, I found my answer.... "Subdivision (a) does not apply to the following equipment when installed in a vehicle: (1) Vehicle information display, (2) Global Positioning display, ..... rear-view camera display"

http://www.itsa.org/resources.nsf/Files/AB%20301-chaptered/$file/AB%20301-chaptered.pdf

I guess a palm pilot or laptop running GPS software is excluded... hmmm....

You could be wrong on that guess, handheld GPS or portable laptop may not be considered installed under the law. Depends on how an officer or later the court viewed the words 'installed'

[milliethemini]

It's probably a law put into place to stop the bling bling crowd from putting their toys in the most ridiculous places on their vehicles.

I recall reading a magazine about wheels at a bookstore a while back, where we are talking wheels that are 19" and bigger, and cost anywhere from US$4k - 9k EACH. Basically, this magazine profiled the famous and the very rich, the only people who can afford these things.

One of the articles profiled P. Diddy and his cars. On one of them, a MB 455 I think (the AMG SUV), he had taken out the steering wheel airbag, and put a LCD/NAV screen in it's place!!!

Now, that may look cool and very bling, but you can't tell me that it's safe - that's the most stupid thing I have seen someone do out of vanity

[moola]

Quote: Originally Posted by milliethemini

It's probably a law put into place to stop the bling bling crowd from putting their toys in the most ridiculous places on their vehicles.

It's also to prevent brainless minivan drivers from putting display screens for their in-car DVD players on the dashboard. There was just an article in the newspaper I read about that. Can you imagine watching "Finding Nemo" and driving on the expressway in rush hour traffic at the same time? Just what we need - as if these morons aren't distracted enough!