California Woman Ticketed For Wearing Connected Eyewear

According to some reports, highway patrols are using semi trucks to hunt down and ticket those using their cell phones while driving. And the laws on distracted driving are likely to become more and more specific. So, in the case below, a California woman claims to have been ticketed for merely wearing Google Glass. The officer appears to have been acting under a rule that the driver can’t have any type of visual screen, like a television, within his viewing area. We certainly don’t want drivers watching their favorite TV program or YouTube videos while driving, but it is unlikely that anyone thought Google Glass was going to fit into this same category.

A California resident received a ticket for wearing Google Glass while driving Fox News reported Wednesday. “A cop just stopped me and gave me a ticket for wearing Google Glass while driving!” Cecilia Abadie said in a post on her Google Plus account. “The exact line says: Driving with Monitor visible to Driver (Google Glass). Is #GoogleGlass ilegal 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 US?” Like Us on Facebook Abadie, who Fox News describes as a self-described geek and Google Glass pioneer, was wearing the new connected eyewear when she was pulled over in what is a first for the new connected eyewear device. According to Fox News, the rule found in section 27602 of the California regulations says “a person shall not drive a motor vehicle if a television receiver, a video monitor, or a television or video screen … is visible to the driver while driving the motor vehicle.”

Will this mean that new laws will need to be written pertaining to Google Glass or other such eye wear that may be coming. What about iWatch or other smart watches that are currently coming out from various companies. All of these possible intrusions into the driver’s ability to keep his attention focused on the task begs the question of whether talking to your child in the back seat or putting sugar in your coffee will need to be specifically called out in some future bill. If you have been caught on radar or failed to slow down enough at that stop sign in the Hackensack or Ridgewood area, you should consider calling an attorney to see about saving money and time on that traffic ticket. You will be surprised at how little it costs to have an attorney represent you in traffic matters. Even if you were only going 10 mph over the limit or some other small infraction, the cost of that ticket will surprise you. Give us a quick call and we’ll let you know, without any charge or obligation, whether it might be worth our handling your case, and how much that cost would be.

ARETSKY & ARETSKY
Attorneys at Law Hackensack – Just off Route 4

3 University Plaza Drive Suite 207 Hackensack, N.J. 07601

Phone: 201-580-3411

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Free Initial Consultation available at these convenient locations by appointment only: Ridgewood Office 257 E. Ridgewood Ave. Suite 303 Ridgewood, NJ 07450

Phone: (201) 996-0234

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The state of New Jersey does not mess around with texting and driving. Not only is it illegal to text when driving but if you knowingly text a person when they are driving you might find yourself in court too. The fact is that no matter your age, ones reaction time is delayed when they are distracted. We just can’t really do two things at once. So the question is “Are cell phones truly a distraction?” There is a growing concern about teenagers texting and driving. However, studies have shown that adults are texting just as much or more. Adults log more hours on the road. They use their so called down time or drive time for working and connecting with friends and family. 

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According to a study conducted by Texas A&M University’s Texas Transportation Institute found on AutoTrader.com cell phones are a distraction. Participants were asked to stop when they saw a flashing yellow light. Those who drove the course without texting responded to the signal in two seconds. But when the driver was texting, the response time was extended by three to four seconds. Additionally, the texting driver was 11 times more likely to miss the flashing light altogether. The 3-4 second lag time in the actual driving study is significant because in that period at highway speeds one can travel the length of a football field. Read the full report.  We all think we can do two things at once. The reality is that our mind switches back and forth between the two tasks. Sometimes so quickly that it almost seems as if we are doing two things at the same time. Take the test on the video below to see if you can really do two things at a time. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ahg6qcgoay4 After taking the test how confident are you about driving and texting, no matter your age and driving ability.  

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For additional information about texting and driving laws in New Jersey click here. If you are in need of a lawyer due to texting and driving contact the the Law Offices of Aretsky & Aretsky . 

You just got a ticket for speeding. It isn’t your first, but you’re not too worried about it. You figure all you need to do is pay for it and move on. But is that all there is to it? No. People often don’t realize the long lasting effects a moving violation can have on a person’s:

• Insurance rates
• Driving record
• Employment opportunities
• Induce Deportation

In addition to the ticket fine you will be required to pay, you probably already know that getting a moving violation will get points on your driving record, which will end up causing your auto insurance rates to jump up. In tough economic times we’re facing today, every penny counts, so why wouldn’t you take the opportunity to have someone to represent you in this matter? You may have never even considered contacting a traffic lawyer before, and assumed that everyone just goes to court on their own. A traffic defense lawyer has extensive knowledge and experience of traffic laws that everyday citizens know nothing about.

While paying a little extra each month on your auto insurance may not really bother you too much, consider the effect this traffic ticket could have on your driving record. According to the New Jersey DMV website:

“A certified driver history record abstract lists all accidents, violations and actions (including, but not limited to suspensions, points credits, fee payments and restorations) incurred by a motorist.”

Since this is a public document, anyone can access your driving history. And do you know who cares about your traffic violations? Present and future employers – especially if the job you hold or are seeking requires any work hours behind the wheel. In addition, if you are ever in a legal trial of any kind, lawyers can access this document and use any of the information against you. And what if you live here illegally? In a recent article on NJ.com, it was reported that in New Jersey alone, illegal immigrants without a criminal record are more likely to get deported compared to the rest of the U.S. This same article reported that one man who lived and worked here illegally was driving with a suspended license, without any prior criminal record and was facing deportation.

These are major issues that do not need to be dealt with on your own. Contact us today for a free consultation. Let us hear the details of your particular situation, and we’ll come up with a plan together.