‘Driving With Google Glass:’ California Woman Ticketed For Wearing Connected Eyewear

According to some reports, highway patrols are using semi trucks to hunt down and ticket those using their cell phones while driving.  And the laws on distracted driving are likely to become more and more specific.  So, in the case below, a California woman claims to have been ticketed for merely wearing Google Glass.  The officer appears to have been acting under a rule that the driver can’t have any type of visual screen, like a television, within his viewing area.  We certainly don’t want drivers watching their favorite TV program or YouTube videos while driving, but it is unlikely that anyone thought Google Glass was going to fit into this same category.

A California resident received a ticket for wearing Google Glass while driving Fox News reported Wednesday.
“A cop just stopped me and gave me a ticket for wearing Google Glass while driving!” Cecilia Abadie said in a post on her Google Plus account. “The exact line says: Driving with Monitor visible to Driver (Google Glass). Is #GoogleGlass ilegal while driving or is this cop wrong??? Any legal advice is appreciated!! This happened in California. Do you know any other #GlassExplorers that got a similar ticket anywhere in the US?”

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Abadie, who Fox News describes as a self-described geek and Google Glass pioneer, was wearing the new connected eyewear when she was pulled over in what is a first for the new connected eyewear device.
According to Fox News, the rule found in section 27602 of the California regulations says “a person shall not drive a motor vehicle if a television receiver, a video monitor, or a television or video screen … is visible to the driver while driving the motor vehicle.”

Will this mean that new laws will need to be written pertaining to Google Glass or other such eye wear that may be coming.  What about iWatch or other smart watches that are currently coming out from various companies.  All of these possible intrusions into the driver’s ability to keep his attention focused on the task begs the question of whether talking to your child in the back seat or putting sugar in your coffee will need to be specifically called out in some future bill.

If you have been caught texting while driving, or on radar or failed to slow down enough at that stop sign in the Fort Lauderdale or Miami area, you should consider calling an attorney to see about saving points on your insurance, money and time on that traffic ticket.  You will be surprised at how little it costs to have an attorney represent you in traffic matters.  Even if you were only going 10 mph over the limit or some other small infraction, the cost of that ticket will surprise you.  Give us a quick call and we’ll let you know, without any charge or obligation, whether it might be worth our handling your case, and how much that cost would be.  

Law Officies of Gilbert & Smallman PLLC