Ontario Bans Computers in Cars

**Sicarius** · 10-31-2008, 11:29 AM

My problem with the bill is that "display screen" is never defined meaning that all displays not dealing with the listed exemptions would be banned... Like every standard HU in existence.

The intent was probably to exclude video displays but without a definition, the broadest interpretation must be used.

**sargeants** · 10-31-2008, 05:00 PM

Man... this sucks if it goes through
guess I should hold off on fabbing up my build... was planning on getting it started this month.

**karrhacker** · 11-02-2008, 01:15 AM

Here is a place to voice you opinion on BILL 118, may not help.... But you never know....

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/Kill118/

It's a start anyway....

Pass it along to ANYONE you know in Ontario, and other web sites....

**Marvin Hlavac** · 11-02-2008, 05:45 AM

Originally Posted by karrhacker

Here is a place to voice you opinion on BILL 118, may not help.... But you never know....

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/Kill118/

It's a start anyway....

Pass it along to ANYONE you know in Ontario, and other web sites....

Thanks for posting the link.

**DarquePervert** · 11-02-2008, 07:47 AM

Online petitions are worth the paper they're printed on.

You'll have better results using a pen/paper petition and getting real signatures from real humans and presenting it to your real elected officials.

**karrhacker** · 11-02-2008, 09:16 PM

Originally Posted by DarquePervert

Online petitions are worth the paper they're printed on.

You'll have better results using a pen/paper petition and getting real signatures from real humans and presenting it to your real elected officials.

I would tend to agree with you, but seeing how Ontario is a rather large area to cover, and that I do need to work most days, this is the best i could come up with...

**WuNgUn** · 11-04-2008, 03:09 PM

Okay, who's gonna make a Centrafuse skin that looks like an old AM radio with knobs on it??

**keisuke** · 11-05-2008, 08:20 AM

This Government is just Hungry for Money due to the poor economy they are having to go on equalization payments now, its a waste of my money to have police looking for this and not murderers.. Now

**sebberry** · 11-05-2008, 10:52 PM

I support motor vehicle regulations that make sense. Cell phone bans make sense due to the cognitive distraction it creates. This anti-carputer bill makes less sense than...

The politicians are likely thinking that people would be using Internet Explorer or MSN Messenger while driving instead of the GPS.

Now I can somewhat understand where they are coming from with disallowing audio controls through a touchscreen as it DOES take your eyes off the road to see where the buttons are on the screen. With a car's factory headunit, you can feel the buttons without looking down - no so on an LCD touchscreen.

I don't however feel that it is fair to exclude from this bill OEM systems that display vehicle functions such as audio track listings, climate control, vehicle telemetry, etc...

The OPP either has too much time on their hands or they're just strapped for cash.

**danielkh** · 11-05-2008, 11:21 PM

Yeah, that would suck, but then they might just catch up to Vermont....
Video Screen Restriction
Law: No motor vehicle operated on a highway can be equipped with television-type receiving equipment forward of the back of the driver's seat or otherwise visible to the driver.
Statute: 23 V.S.A. § 1095 (2007)
Penalties: No penalty specified.

California, been "banned" since 2004...
Video Screen Restriction
Law: Prohibits any person from driving a motor vehicle if a video monitor, or a video screen or any other similar device that displays a video signal is operating and is located forward of the driver's seat or is visible to the driver. Provides exceptions for emergency equipment.
Statute: California Vehicle Code §2890 (West 2004)
Penalties: No Penalty Specified.

Utah....
Video Screen Restriction
Law: No television viewer, screen, or other means of visually receiving a television broadcast can be located in the field of view of the operator of the vehicle.
Statute: Utah Code Ann. § 41-6a-1641 (2008)
Penalties: No penalty specified.

Texas....
Law: No television viewer, screen, or other means of visually receiving a television broadcast can be located in the field of view of the operator of the vehicle while the vehicle is in motion.
Statute: Tex. Transp. Code § 547.611 (2007)
Penalties: No penalty specified.

Pennsylvania
Law: No motor vehicle operated on a highway can be equipped with television-type receiving equipment forward of the back of the driver's seat or otherwise visible to the driver.
Statute: 75 Pa.C.S. § 4527 (2007)
Penalties: No penalty specified.

Oregon
Law: No motor vehicle operated on a highway can be equipped with television-type receiving equipment forward of the back of the driver's seat or otherwise visible to the driver.
Statute: ORS § 815.240 (2007)
Penalties: No penalty specified.

Do we see a trend here?

Just because we don't know about the law, doesn't mean it doesn't exist. I even stopped and asked a trooper once. He said unless you are swerving around watching some movie on the dash, they probably wouldn't do anything. Oh yeah.....those .avi's you have tucked away in your documents folder? That would be considered television-type recieving equipment. Which in turn would make ALL computers illegal since all can play video.

http://www.digitaltips.org/in-vehicle/statelaws.asp#TX

Now New Mexico.....I would say, has it down to Ontario standards.....
Video Screen Restriction
Law: It is unlawful to operate any motor vehicle equipped with a television screen upon which images may be projected or shown if the screen is within the normal view of the driver of the motor vehicle unless the television is used solely as an aid to the driver in the operation of the vehicle. As used in this section "television screen" does not include closed circuit monitors or computer terminal monitors used by law enforcement agencies in law enforcement motor vehicles.
Statute: N.M. Stat. Ann. § 66-7-358 (2008)
Penalties: No penalty specified.

Louisiana, they get serious about it......remember those .avi's? These people will put you in jail for it.
Video Screen Restriction
Law: Prohibits driving a motor vehicle with a television capable of receiving any prerecorded visual presentation unless the TV is behind the driver's seat or not visible to the driver while he or she is operating the vehicle.
Statute: ACT 355
Penalties: A violation shall be a misdemeanor, and upon conviction, punished by imprisonment for not more than ninety days, or by a fine not exceeding $500, or both, in the discretion of the court.

States that don't already "ban" computers? Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Hawaii, Kentucky, Ohio, N. Dakota, Iowa, Missouri, Arkansas, Kansas, Mississippi, Georgia, Illinois, Delaware. 15 out of 50.