California Bans Front-Seat Computer Use

An anonymous reader submits "As of January 1, 2004 the State of California has banned the use of notebook computers used anywhere in the front seat (PDF) of a moving vehicle. Previously, the ban applied just to TV sets. Even if your car-pooling front seat passenger is just doing some programming, you can be charged with a crime (AB 301). Thanks go to CA Assemblymember Sarah Reyes for this well meaning but overly broad piece of legislation." The text is mercifully short, but still contains some tricky language; probably the meaning of "installed" at the very least needs to be clarified. Would a laptop affixed to a installed bracket count? Considering the complexity of modern automotive navigation/control systems (now sneaking into budget vehicles, too), it seems like a very fine distinction. The law would seem to ban handheld computers being used as navigation aids, too, or GPS devices with games, and very soon, nearly all cell phones.

Just a slight inconvenience.

[Anonymous Coward]

I usually start long compiles and then leave the laptop running on the way home, compiling.

Now, I guess I'll just put it in the back seat.

Re:heh.

[nettdata]

Actually, they should just enact a law that states that while driving a car, your attention should be focused on (duh!) *driving the car*

EXACTLY.

I can't tell you how many times I've seen near misses because some woman was doing her makeup on the way to work while driving, or some guy was fishing fries out of the McD's bag while pulling into traffic.

<MarvinTheMartian>And it makes me angry! So very angry!</>

Obligatory Dave Barry link

[Darth23]

Dave Barry Gift Guide [miami.com]

Tainted Water

[Anonymous Coward]

What's in the water out there in California? You sure have some wacky laws. Did you know it's illegal in Ca. for a woman who weighs over 200 lbs. to ride a horse wearing shorts? No kidding.

Good thing normal states like Alabama don't make up these ridiculous laws.

Re:What about passengers?

[Anonymous Coward]

Why shouldn't I be allowed to have my wife, sitting passenger side, connect to MapQuest to help me with driving directions?

Because that's the male code:

Rule 387: Never admit to your wife that you are lost or need directions. You know exactly where you are, and even if it does not appear that you are going anywhere useful, you are certain that you haven't passed that building twice already.

Too Bad

[Gudlyf]

Looks like the sales of this doohickey [arkon.com] are just about shot now. Shucks.

Backseat Driver not affected?

[Bu Na Dan]

So where is the geekfriendly car with steeringdevices at the backseat? /.ing pages while driving seems to be affected by this law only for front-seat drivers.

Re:remove vanity mirrors

[Lumpy]

And make women where less revealing clothes so I don't get distracted looking at them.

Whoa now buddy! dont get too out of control here...

nothing is better than riding with a friend in a Semi truck and being able to see down though a sunroof to that blond wearing a miniskirt and open top.... do you realize how far up those skirts ride when on the highway for a couple of hours?

I'll gladly go off the road and end up in a roll over for that distraction... Hell probably still have the smile on my face when they pull the body out of the wreckage.

Re:Front seat passenger

[jrockway]

*looks at laptop*
*looks at road*
*looks at laptop quickly*
Driver: Whoa, man. Is that a typedef!?
Passenger: LOOK AT THE ROAD LOOK AT THE
*crash*

Moral of the story? Use java :)

Re:Just a slight inconvenience.

[vasqzr]

I've actually installed Windows over a long road trip.....

Re:heh.

[grazzy]

If they can monitor that, they'll probably be able to monitor where they called aswell. Do you call 911 from your car for fun alot?

Re:What about passengers?

[Anonymous Coward]

Because if in a crash the passenger side airbag shoud open, your wife will have a laptop firmly implanted in her chest and hip. And since you are a lawyer (according to your sig), you'd probably sue the car/laptop maker.

Re:good,bad and the ugly

[loraksus]

What kind of idiot would use his laptop while driving?

dunno, cops, emt's, yuppie scum. . .

but then what kind of idiot reads a bok while driving, watches TV while driving, puts on MAKEUP WHILE DRIVING????

everybody freaking else. /no, not bitter at all.

Police/Firefighters/Paramedics

[DaFrog]

Darn, they will now have to learn how to use these old paper maps and CB's instead of their integrated comm systems...

Re:it's about time some one did this

[Megaslow]

I once saw a person driving down the freeway (in the fast lane), with a bowl of cereal in his left hand and a spoon in the other... Made me want to go in front of him and slam on the brakes just to see the Froot Loops go flying :)

Re:So what?

[Lord of Ironhand]

Then again, with your username, who can blame him...

Great

[eap]

This is just one more thing to make America less competitive in IT.

Now all of our programming jobs will be outsourced to non-Frontseat-Computing-Ban countries like India, where carpooling engineers can get in than extra hour of programming each day.

Re:What about the police?

[dema]

I assume law enforcement is exempt from this?

Of course they are. Hell, where I live they are exempt from using turn signals and making full stops at stop signs, apparently.

Re:Origins

[dasmegabyte]

Actually, I'm a native American, but many of my favorite authors are British. Therefore at time my rhetoric receives a very British colour. From now on, I will endeavour to insert more Americanisms in my posts. Starting now:

Uh...

Wooo, tits and beer and guns! These colors never run! It's got a Hemi, go Yankees! Matrix rulez! Let's shop at Wal-Mart's, Wooo!

And yes, I do ocassionally refer to my trunk as a "boot," but that results in my wife kicking my ass.

Less people - more oxygen

[melted]

Why oh why does the government have to protect its citizens from themselves. If they want to use a laptop - let'em use it. Give them the statistics on injuries, though so that they make an informed choice. People using laptop are usually not among the dumbest.

typo?

[UltimateZer0]

I realize that a typo isn't out of place here in the world of /. but Assemblymember? Sounds like a digital penis or something.

Androids

[Frisky070802]

(Quite) a few years from now I can see a new civil rights drive, from androids complaining about being forced to the back of the bus^H^H^Hcar.

Will the madness never end?