Posted on 01/16/2014 4:29:35 PM PST by nickcarraway
The device is worn like glasses and allows the user to record video hands-free By
A San Diego traffic court commissioner dismissed the first traffic ticket issued to a person for using "Google Glass" while driving but the ruling should not be considered an invitation to users to wear the device behind the wheel.
Cecilia Abadie, of Temecula, Calif., was ticketed for speeding while driving Interstate 15 near Aero Drive on Oct. 29.
The California Highway Patrol officer who issued the ticket testified Wednesday that Abadie passed him doing 85 mph in her silver Toyota Prius.
“When I contacted her she was wearing a device on her face known as Google Glass,” CHP Officer Keith Odle testified. “It was covering half of her right eye.“
Officer Odle and a representative from the CHP Academy in Sacramento testified on what they considered the safety concerns of the device but San Diego Commissioner John Blair ruled they did not present enough evidence that Abadie was actually using the device when she was stopped.
Abadie maintains she was simply wearing the device, which she does all the time apparently, and that the Glass activated when she looked up at the officer as he approached her vehicle.
Blair found Abadie but added that he felt the new device does fall under California Vehicle Code 27602.
That particular section, according to CHP, states that it’s against the law in California for a motorist to drive a car if a television monitor, screen or similar video monitors are turned on and visible to the driver.
“Based on the plain language of the statute, the court finds that … Google Glass falls within the purview and intent of the legislature,” Commission Blair ruled.
In December, Abadie pleaded not guilty to the citation and shared how her legal team planned to defend her against the unique traffic ticket via – what else – Google Glass.
“There’s nothing illegal about wearing Google Glass while driving your vehicle,” said Abadie’s attorney, Will Concidine, adding that the device was invented after the current law was passed banning drivers from watching TV screens or monitors.
Abadie posted a photo of the citation on her Google+ page, adding:
“A cop just stopped me and gave me a ticket for wearing Google Glass while driving! The exact line says: Driving with Monitor visible to Driver (Google Glass). Is #GoogleGlass illegal 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 U.S.?”
Legislators and others were watching for the San Diego judge's decision — a fact not lost on Abadie. She never imagined being a part of so much media attention.
Though Abadie said she understands the safety concern, she said she typically wears her Google Glass all day – even while driving – but doesn’t turn them on behind the wheel.
Google Glass is worn on the head, just like a pair of eyeglasses, and allows the user to take images and share content hands-free.
Soon enough, we’ll have Google contacts, and the police won’t even know you are wearing them. Plus, we’ll have Google cars that drive for us, so we won’t need to worry about being distracted by the Google contacts.
I don’t see how they can disallow monitors generally, while still allowing GPS screens. It’s a video image and you could look at one so intently that you’re not paying attention to your driving. Do people get tickets for those too?
To entertain you on your ride to the camps. “Arbeit Macht Frei!”
They might be Google camps. You can watch videos and make social media posts while you are being starved and worked to death.
Must have been down hill.
No different than a heads-up display.
With a class 3 hurricane tail wind... ;-)
Fast forward two years, where a Google exec is going.....
"Pay to the order of Iron Balls McGinty....One dollar and nine cents."
Get rid of your Garmin!
Ever drive one? 0-60 around 10 seconds. Top speed 108 mph.
Not too shabby.
It is easy to do 85 in a Prius. I’ve passed big pickup trucks going uphill at 80 mph in my Prius.
Now, 105? Can’t be done — a Prius has a fixed maximum speed built into the electric motor.
I think the 108mph is speed limited for the S-rated tires.
Those cars are all about low aero drag.
I’ve read they will approach 130mph with a software mod (and speed rated rubber).
Yes, if the heads-up display was displaying something entirely different from the road.
I think it is perfectly reasonable to not let people where operational google glasses while driving.
Sounds about par for the course these days. And I bet a lot of people would go for it almost willingly.
See #14
“Google Plus Macht Frei”? If you post to Facebook, you lose 100 calories out of your “dinner”.
I did not realize the 2013 Prius had a higher top speed, which is actually 112 MPH. The 2004 Prius had a top speed of 102.
in the 2004 prius, the speed limit was based on the bearing load on the main traction electric motor, which is direct-connected to the wheels.
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