Anyone know the law?

Folks, I have a complete Kenwood A/V/Nav System in my Suburban, and have had it for almost two years. I ABSOLUTELY NEVER use it to view TV or DVD while in motion, but do run tha navigation system - that's the point right? Heck, I even have a hands-free system for the cell phone b/c I spend so much time on the road... Well, yesterday while traveling in completely new territory (to me but in through a State I pass through 4-5 times a month), I was using the nav to guide my way around traffic. An unmarked police Tahoe came along side me and then immediately dropped back and behind me with lights flashing. When I asked the officer what I had done (I was cruising along at the speed limit with everyone else so I was baffled), he said that it was illegal to have my dash-mount monitor??? I told/showed him it was a navigation system, but still got a summons for $100 and mandatory court appearance! WTF? I'm no dummy and know watching TV and DVD is a no-no for the driver (duh!), but what's with mobile navigation? Dozens of vehicles have these systems now from the factory, and I thought the CEA successfully lobbied for the exclusion of mobile navigation in the laws? Can anybody clear this up for me or point me in the direction to study up for myself? Several grand invested in a system to only be a ticket magnet is not my idea of a good deal...

What your going to have to do is go to court because you have the ticket already. Speak with the Magistrate ( or whatever you call them in the USA ) and tell them your situation. If they deem the ticket bogus, they can rip it up right there, if they don't think it is, then you have to make an appearance in court, but so does the officer. It's an open/close case I think, but that's up to the Judge to decide this.Jeff

Velocity Custom Home Theater

Mobile Audio/Video Specialist

Morden, Manitoba CANADA

Texas Law - Texas Criminal Law and Motor Vehicle Handbook 2002 Edition page 522 547.611 Television receivers permitted. (a.) A motor vehicle may be equipped with video receiving equipment , including a television and similar equipment, only if the equpmnet is located so that the video display is not visible from the operator's seat. (c.) This section does not prohibit the use of: (2) a monitoring device that: (A) produces an electronic display; and (B) is used exclusively in conjunction with a mobile navigation system installed in the vehicle. (added by L. 1995, chap 165(1); chgd by L.1997, chap.165(30.117(a)), eff. 9/1/97.) There are some other things inbetween but this is the basic suff. If you want a scan of the page, email me dbutler903@hotmail.com

Thank guys... I was searching the internet this morning and found this summary of State laws on the matter in the US. http://www.me-mag.com/pdf/ACF789.PDF Seems NY state, where I was ticketed, is a "Not Visable to Driver" with no exemption indicated for navigation. For that matter, most states are similar (including my home state contray to what the shop that sold me the equipment said) --> YIKES! For curiosity, I decided to call a Cadillac dealer in NY where I know the general manager. Asked about '04 Cadillac Sevilles and if they had any with the optional on-board navigation. He said "absolutely - every one currently on the lot has it"!!! If you've never seen it in the Seville it's like a 7" monitor right in the center of the console viewable by everyone inside and out (I see them plain as day from high up in my Suburban when passing by). So if this is the case, and they aren't legal, how does one explain the increasing number of factory nav units??? I guess I'm going to be forced to get a lawyer who knows the Motor Vehicle code to help sort this out...   

I believe the factory installed monitors for Navigation only are legal in most states. The laws vary from state to state. A good guide is the ME-mag site you listed.. they have all the laws from every state listed. Of course, things are always changing. Some states have no laws reguarding front video. George Bratcher David's Car Stereo Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Yeah, I was reading one of ME-mag's articles where I found this to add to the confusion: Because with such a wide variety of individual state laws regarding front-dash video in America, auto manufacturers shy away from offering anything beyond the universally legal navigation display. What's the point of having a Nav system if you cannot use it while driving? I guess I should have just bought a Garmin StreetPilot!

This may help in your defense.  The Kenwood unit should be hooked into your parking brake, which in theory means that the DVD section should not display on the screen while car is in motion. See your wiring dia.  The information display, controls, ect will continue to function.  The offficer would have no way to see what was being displayed, weather it is your radio menu/screen saver, nav data or movie.  In menu mode it would be the same as dash display or heater controls, should be legal.  In Dvd mode, not legal, to much of distaction.  In nav mode it provides voice direction with map display, kinda fuzzy, could go both ways.  Was your intent to look at screen while driving?  Hope you win. 

The TV/DVD portion of the unit in not bypassed, and does not allow it through the headunit... Sure, simple enough to ground out and by-pass, but I have no use for TV/DVD while in motion as the driver... You can actually see the Nav display clearly because of the basic/primary color scheme (unlike the menus) from a vehicle with similar height, at dusk/night/overcast making for a dark cabin, and with the right approach angle. I've done it myself in our pickup while my wife was driving the burb. I assume the officer saw the same. Seeking out a lawyer will be tomorrow's task... As for the location, yes it helps to be able to glance at the screen in conjunction with the voice prompts, but more importantly the stock radio location is the center of the dash right up top... No real choice for an alternate mounting... Again, this is the point of having a Nav system right? Haven't heard of anyone being harassed for a StreetPilot and they are small screen with tiny, so distracting, buttons for routing...

Thats so b.s. It's like cops notice an LCD and think you must be breaking a law (even if your not watching a movie) I got pulled over today (for no front plate... blah...) and left my Pioneer 6500DVD on with the Navi on the screen the whole time the cop was standing there. He never said a word about it (its really obvious too, its in my car, stock radio location, during the day). That was in Utah if it matters. Well, good luck, or should I say, hope ya had good luck (it looks like this thread is getting a little old). Let us know what happened if you could. Cheers, Paul Pontiac GP-GTP

geotexz71 wrote: The TV/DVD portion of the unit in not bypassed, and does not allow it through the headunit... Sure, simple enough to ground out and by-pass, but I have no use for TV/DVD while in motion as the driver... You can actually see the Nav display clearly because of the basic/primary color scheme (unlike the menus) from a vehicle with similar height, at dusk/night/overcast making for a dark cabin, and with the right approach angle. I've done it myself in our pickup while my wife was driving the burb. I assume the officer saw the same. Seeking out a lawyer will be tomorrow's task... As for the location, yes it helps to be able to glance at the screen in conjunction with the voice prompts, but more importantly the stock radio location is the center of the dash right up top... No real choice for an alternate mounting... Again, this is the point of having a Nav system right? Haven't heard of anyone being harassed for a StreetPilot and they are small screen with tiny, so distracting, buttons for routing...

NOT TRUE....The kenwood units CAN be bypassed to allow dvd while driving....I did my friends unit.......