Mobile video in California

dacndar · 03-07-2004, 09:40 PM

Hey all you Californians! Now that I have all the items rounded up that I need to build my carputer, including 8.4" display, some of my enthusiasm for the project has died off. With the recent "adjustment" to an existing law banning video screens within drivers view I was wondering how people are planning to deal with this. I know that GPS or Cameras (like rear view in RVs) are permitted but the wording goes on to say "factory installed". Does anyone know if this means litterally factory installed or do they mean permanently installed. What about an aftermarket installation or self-install. I got the idea that any display device such as a laptop or PDA with GPS is not acceptable. Maybe there is a legal expert out there who can say for sure.
Thanks

Mr.J · 03-08-2004, 12:48 AM

I too have heard of this but am not sure if there is a law where I live (Alberta,Canada)
Every day I see a police officer in his car messing with his laptop while he is driving.
Do they have different rules for themselves?
If they can do it why can't we.
Maybe they take a special "driving course" that teaches them how to drive and play with their laptop at the same time.

98explorerxlt · 03-08-2004, 01:31 AM

I think this is the point of people messing with there dashes to get the factory install look also why not make some kind of cover for it. I usually can spot cops before they've gotten close enough to see a video screen running

eCar™ · 03-08-2004, 01:39 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by Mr.J

Maybe they take a special "driving course" that teaches them how to drive and play with their laptop at the same time.

Yeah, they do.

rando · 03-08-2004, 11:45 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by dacndar

the wording goes on to say "factory installed".

I'm not a 'legal expert' and this is not legal advice. Below is the EXACT text of AB 301. The words 'factory installed' never appear. It seems clear that you can have GPS, mapping, and vehicle information screens, but VIDEO, business applications, and other 'entertainment' displays must be disabled via an interlocking device when the vehicle is driven.

I'm not sure which of those categories a music play list would fit into. Seems like entertainment but that would make MANY factory installed navigation/cd player head units illegal.

BILL NUMBER: AB 301 CHAPTERED
BILL TEXT

CHAPTER 303
FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE SEPTEMBER 5, 2003
APPROVED BY GOVERNOR SEPTEMBER 4, 2003
PASSED THE ASSEMBLY AUGUST 21, 2003
PASSED THE SENATE JULY 21, 2003
AMENDED IN SENATE MAY 29, 2003
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY APRIL 10, 2003
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY MARCH 25, 2003
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY MARCH 10, 2003

INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Reyes
(Coauthors: Assembly Members Berg, Dutra, Frommer, Longville, and
Mountjoy)
(Coauthor: Senator Soto)

FEBRUARY 6, 2003

An act to amend Section 27602 of the Vehicle Code, relating to
vehicles.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

AB 301, Reyes. Vehicles: video displays.
(1) Existing law prohibits any person from driving a motor vehicle
that is equipped with a television receiver, screen, or other means
of visually receiving a television broadcast, if the device is
located in the motor vehicle at any point forward of the back of the
driver's seat, or is visible to the driver while operating the motor
vehicle. This prohibition does not apply to a mobile digital
terminal installed in a law enforcement vehicle.
This bill would recast this prohibition and, additionally, would
prohibit any person from driving a motor vehicle if a video monitor,
or a video screen, or any other, similar means of visually displaying
a video signal that produces entertainment or business applications,
is operating and is located in the motor vehicle at any point
forward of the back of the driver's seat, or is operating and visible
to the driver while driving the motor vehicle. This prohibition
would not apply to specified equipment or to a motor vehicle
providing emergency road service or roadside assistance. Because a
violation of this prohibition would be a crime, the bill would
establish a state-mandated local program.
(2) The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse
local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the
state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that
reimbursement.
This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this
act for a specified reason.

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

SECTION 1. Section 27602 of the Vehicle Code is amended to read:
27602. (a) A person may not drive a motor vehicle if a television
receiver, a video monitor, or a television or video screen, or any
other, similar means of visually displaying a television broadcast or
video signal that produces entertainment or business applications,
is operating and is located in the motor vehicle at any point forward
of the back of the driver's seat, or is operating and visible to the
driver while driving the motor vehicle.
(b) Subdivision (a) does not apply to the following equipment when
installed in a vehicle:
(1) A vehicle information display.
(2) A global positioning display.
(3) A mapping display.
(4) A visual display used to enhance or supplement the driver's
view forward, behind, or to the sides of a motor vehicle for the
purpose of maneuvering the vehicle.
(5) A television receiver, video monitor, television or video
screen, or any other, similar means of visually displaying a
television broadcast or video signal, if that equipment has an
interlock device that, when the motor vehicle is driven, disables the
equipment for all uses except as a visual display as described in
paragraphs (1) to (4), inclusive.
(c) Subdivision (a) does not apply to a mobile, digital terminal
installed in an authorized emergency vehicle or to a motor vehicle
providing emergency road service or roadside assistance.
SEC. 2. No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to
Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution because
the only costs that may be incurred by a local agency or school
district will be incurred because this act creates a new crime or
infraction, eliminates a crime or infraction, or changes the penalty
for a crime or infraction, within the meaning of Section 17556 of the
Government Code, or changes the definition of a crime within the
meaning of Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California
Constitution.

dacndar · 03-09-2004, 10:41 AM

[quote=rando]I'm not a 'legal expert' and this is not legal advice. Below is the EXACT text of AB 301. The words 'factory installed' never appear.

You are right the words "factory installed don't appear in the bill" I probably saw it in a paraphrase of a news article or something. There have been many articles published in the media concerning the bill and a few have taken liberties with the interpretation. It seems clear from the text that as long as I'm not playing video or business applications (whatever that entails) I should be o.k. In the end I think its up to the law enforcement officer to determine if there really is a violation. To be safe, I am going to mount the display on the floor console. That way it is not visible to passing motorists or cops. It also is shielded from sun glare that way. Those of you that are mounting your monitor on the dash or in it are going to be more vulnerable.

DwayneWayne · 03-09-2004, 01:20 PM

what about all of the new receivers that have the controls for the CD player, radio, etc. on the video touchscreen? Aren't these controls for entertainment purposes?

I guess you would have to hide WinDVD and MSOffice on your desktop. It would suck if an officer actually knew how to search your PC for apps that were not locked.

Is MP3 software running on your screen a violation of the law?

key phrase ="entertainment purposes" I bet you would get the ticket and have to fight it in court.

It would be difficult to hide a monitor at night even with tinted windows. All it takes is a cop who knows the new law to pull up next to you at night and you are toast.

00CericaRuss · 03-09-2004, 02:10 PM

i asked a cop and he said music display was fine... just no moving video

dacndar · 03-09-2004, 03:31 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by 00CericaRuss

i asked a cop and he said music display was fine... just no moving video

Thats good to hear. I will be controlling my XM receiver with the carputer and the software displays a detailed list of songs playing and favorites on other channels.

Maybe it would help to set your screen saver to blank the screen after just a few minutes, that would lessen the chances of getting caught with something that shouldn't be viewed. If you have a touch screen you would just have to tap it to bring the screen back to life.

eCar™ · 03-09-2004, 04:04 PM

Well, regardless of what the law actually is, I don't think it's right for them to be giving fines for the ability to show video. They should only be able to fine you if you actually are caught watching video.

It's not against the law to have a car that has the ability to speed. Or a gun that can kill.

aleromaster · 03-09-2004, 04:37 PM

Hey this is simple. Has someone or can someone design a software where if a switch is tripped via a relay off teh e brake it will "lock" a software untill the e brake is removed that way you can prove that the unit can not play video's while vehicle is in motion. I know where I just moved from originally the officer would make you prove to him the e brake switch was hooked up in order to avoid the ticket

eCar™ · 03-09-2004, 04:41 PM

Why not just tell him that it doesn't do video at all. Hide disguise links/icons for your media player.

eCar™ · 03-09-2004, 04:45 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by aleromaster

Hey this is simple. Has someone or can someone design a software where if a switch is tripped via a relay off teh e brake it will "lock" a software untill the e brake is removed that way you can prove that the unit can not play video's while vehicle is in motion. I know where I just moved from originally the officer would make you prove to him the e brake switch was hooked up in order to avoid the ticket

I'm no programmer, but could this be as easy as a little app that temporarily renames or moves your video codecs? When the media player tried to use them, it wouldn't work. When you put it in park, they get renamed back to original.

sq_geek · 03-09-2004, 04:46 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by aleromaster

Hey this is simple. Has someone or can someone design a software where if a switch is tripped via a relay off teh e brake it will "lock" a software untill the e brake is removed that way you can prove that the unit can not play video's while vehicle is in motion. I know where I just moved from originally the officer would make you prove to him the e brake switch was hooked up in order to avoid the ticket

Way ahead of you here.. I've been thinking about this since last night..

Just hook up a relay which gets it's input from the wire on your ebrake (used to light the dash icon that your brake is on) and then have that relay turn on/off your LCD depending on when the ebrake is on or not...

.... THEN (here comes the illegal part)

then you wire up a switch between the ebrake and the relay which is a SPDT (single-pole, double-throw), so that way you have two inputs which share an output. One input is from the ebrake wire and the other is from your ignition or carputer. This way you can override the ebrake if needed and flip it back when you get pulled over to "prove" to the officer that it will only work with the ebrake on -- if you get asked about it, of course.

I'm planning to do just this. Seems simple enough.

aleromaster · 03-09-2004, 04:50 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by sq_geek

Way ahead of you here.. I've been thinking about this since last night..

Just hook up a relay which gets it's input from the wire on your ebrake (used to light the dash icon that your brake is on) and then have that relay turn on/off your LCD depending on when the ebrake is on or not...

.... THEN (here comes the illegal part)

then you wire up a switch between the ebrake and the relay which is a SPDT (single-pole, double-throw), so that way you have two inputs which share an output. One input is from the ebrake wire and the other is from your ignition or carputer. This way you can override the ebrake if needed and flip it back when you get pulled over to "prove" to the officer that it will only work with the ebrake on -- if you get asked about it, of course.

I'm planning to do just this. Seems simple enough.

Yeah it does seem simple. I originally thought of that but you are alowed to have it for music and the such just not video. What I was thinking was maybe something that interaces through the parallel port or serial port that would send out a comant to "lock" win dvd and divx