mobile video law???

[inferno]

ok so i have 5 tvs in my impala right now going for more but i want to know whats the law before i get too carried away.

i have :
1 indash
2 headrest
2 in trunk

i live in nys. ive been looking in the vehicle and traffic law. but its alot of stuff to go through and wondering if anyone knows off hand

[MantaGreen97]

I have no idea about NY state, but it's safe to say that most jurisdictions have laws against such displays showing things like videos, movies, tv, etc., in view of the driver, while the car is in motion.

GPS/nav seems to be acceptable (since all luxury cars have it) but TV/video is a no-no. If you're playing stuff like movies, etc. while the car is in motion, if you want to stay legal (and safe!) have all monitors in view of the driver turned off.

[Big Joe]

Like he said above me anything in site of the drivier can not be on while the car is in drive. but head rests and trunk and so forth are perfectly fine. You could stick 30 screens in you backseat if it made you happy.

[sunrunner_pei]

After driving behind a new Explorer with a rear DVD player, I gotta comment on how distracting it was. From behind I could see what they were watching perfectly through the rear window. I'm all for entertainment, but when do we draw the line and actually concentrate on driving instead of being 'entertained'?

[Matt95GT]

It would prolly also be wise to not play porn vids while driving around.

[ZACH]

Originally posted by Matt95GT
It would prolly also be wise to not play porn vids while driving around.

But not illegal. There was a story on the local news here that I saw, It was probably about a year ago, some lady was driving along with her kids in the car and the car next to them was playing a porno and the kid asked her mom about it, the lady took down the plate number and went to the police and they told her that there was nothing they could do about it.

Maybe there is some laws in place now, but I dont know.

[MantaGreen97]

Originally posted by sunrunner_pei
After driving behind a new Explorer with a rear DVD player, I gotta comment on how distracting it was. From behind I could see what they were watching perfectly through the rear window. I'm all for entertainment, but when do we draw the line and actually concentrate on driving instead of being 'entertained'?

LOL that's up to you to decide. You could just as easily have seen a hot chick in another car or walking on the sidewalk and get "easily distracted" does that mean we should "draw the line" on them too? :P :lol:

Originally posted by ZACH
But not illegal. There was a story on the local news here that I saw, It was probably about a year ago, some lady was driving along with her kids in the car and the car next to them was playing a porno and the kid asked her mom about it, the lady took down the plate number and went to the police and they told her that there was nothing they could do about it.
Police do something about anything? LOL. That's a laugh in itself. They probably lauged about it and then ate some doughnuts. :lol:

But to the police's defense (must I? lol), they probalby couldn't do anything about it because they didn't catch the person doing it--it's just one person saying "hey I saw this from this person's license plate". Doesn't really mean anything. Just like you can see someone speeding and take their license plate but it doesn't mean the police are going to do anything about it, if the police can't actually catch them doing it.

[Matt95GT]

Originally posted by ZACH
But not illegal. There was a story on the local news here that I saw, It was probably about a year ago, some lady was driving along with her kids in the car and the car next to them was playing a porno and the kid asked her mom about it, the lady took down the plate number and went to the police and they told her that there was nothing they could do about it.

Maybe there is some laws in place now, but I dont know.

Actually I recall someone getting a ticket on the way to a car show in Carlisle a few years back for doing so. Specifically outlined in written law, maybe not... but will you get in trouble for general lewd material like that in public? Yes.

[sunrunner_pei]

Originally posted by MantaGreen97
LOL that's up to you to decide. You could just as easily have seen a hot chick in another car or walking on the sidewalk and get "easily distracted" does that mean we should "draw the line" on them too? :P :lol:

True enough. I was merely pointing out that it can be a distraction to other drivers. And as you pointed out, the world is already full of distractions. Ahhh, screw it. I'm not going to debate this with you.

[MantaGreen97]

^LOL :lol: I do understand what you're getting at though. We have a DVD player in one of our minivans at work and I remember one time travelling in really bad traffic and I swear this one lady behind us kept behind us for most of the way, even through changing lanes etc. We had a movie playing of course, lol. I mean it could just be a coincidence but I swear she had to be able to see through the back and to the screen. What I don't get though, is why bother when you can't hear the movie anyway? lol.

[inferno]

ok my indash has to be opened for me too see what station im playing or track im listening too. so should i just have it closed most of the time?

[MantaGreen97]

^No see I think that's fine, like the station readouts, HU operations menus, nav (if applicable), etc. is all fine I believe. (Again depends on your state law as you indicate but given the number of cars that have that stock I can't think it's illegal in any state). It's the video that's a problem, as I mentioned If you're playing movies, dvds, etc. then you should have the HU screen (and any others you can see) closed.

[ZACH]

Originally posted by Matt95GT
Actually I recall someone getting a ticket on the way to a car show in Carlisle a few years back for doing so. Specifically outlined in written law, maybe not... but will you get in trouble for general lewd material like that in public? Yes.

Its not in public, it is in the privacy of your car. The same as if you were watching something like that in your house with the curtains open and someone walking by saw it, you are not breaking the law, or if you are walking by the window naked in your own house.

[Matt95GT]

A car is not "in private"... try having sex in your car while parked next to an elementary school sometime, you'll see what I mean.

[TheTrader]

Originally posted by ZACH
Its not in public, it is in the privacy of your car. The same as if you were watching something like that in your house with the curtains open and someone walking by saw it, you are not breaking the law, or if you are walking by the window naked in your own house.

thats not true.... you would still be exposing the public.... if you had tinted windows and people couldnt see, or you had curtains in your house... thats fine... as long as people cant see it... but if they can see it, and its illegal, you will be fined

[inferno]

Originally posted by Matt95GT
A car is not "in private"... try having sex in your car while parked next to an elementary school sometime, you'll see what I mean.

lol that pretty funny.

i guess my best bet would be to ask a cop

[loud2kse]

most in dash screens have a feature that'll not allow video to be played unless the e-brake is on. (this can be easliy overcome with some simple wiring and/or a switch though.

lol on the porn while driving though. Hadn't thought of that one.

[inferno]

yea mine is pose to be connected to the ebrake but i simply grounded it. :)