NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A4879
SPONSOR: Ortiz TITLE OF BILL: An act to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in
relation to prohibiting the use of head-mounted portable electronic
devices while driving
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
The purpose of this bill is to prohibit the use of electronic devices
like Google Glass while driving.
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:
This bill makes conforming changes to the existing law which bans the
use of hand held cell phones while driving to include a ban on the use
of head-mounted electronic devices like Google Glass. A new paragraph
(e) is added to Subdivision 2 of section 1225-d of the vehicle and traf-
fic law to explain that "Head-mounted" means wearing a portable elec-
tronic device on the head, ears and nose as eyeglasses or eyewear.
Common head-mounted devices shall include, but not be limited to Google
Glass and Google Glasses, and other similar technologies or devices.
JUSTIFICATION:
The use of devices like Google Glass while driving presents a real
threat of distraction and creates an unsafe condition on the road for
not only the driver but for the persons and vehicles in the vicinity of
drivers who are using these devices. Existing law already prohibits the
use of hand held cell phones, defined as "portable electronic devices"
(PEDs), while driving. This bill expands the definition of PEDs to
include devices like Google Glass. Such devices allow the user to navi-
gate the Internet, check email, and receive and transmit information
while wearing a 'glass' that partially obscures the wearer's direct line
of sight. The use of the device requires that one eye focus on the image
shown inside the 'glass,' thereby significantly limiting the user's
ability to give their full attention to the task of driving. Including
devices like Google Glass in the existing ban on the use of PEDs while
driving is consistent with the intent of the original legislation and
will increase public safety on the roads.
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2014: A.8496 Referred to Transportation
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:
None to the state
EFFECTIVE DATE:
30 days after becoming a law
