GPS Could Be Made Illegal In NY

How can they say a device that alerts you to the nearest Starbucks is dangerous? Seems to me if you've got a need for Starbucks it's better off to have a GPS alert you it's coming up instead of jamming on the brakes because you didn't see it until you were right up on it.
If they want to ban distractions then they'll have to outlaw kids in cars too then. I've seen quite a few drivers with heads turned yelling at the little ones in the back of the mini van!

It's pretty obvious that this guy knows nothing about how a GPS that gives voice prompts works. That's the trouble with a lot of the politicians, they jump into things they don't understand and run their mouth while their brain is out of gear. I can't see anything like that passing because it would also have to include factory GPSs also, and he would be taking on some pretty strong lobbys if all of the car manufactures and GPS manufactures got on it.

They just have to talk, What they should do is ban proven dangerous drivers, That would clean up the traffic too. But they can't do that because they will lose too much money in less fines, tolls, gas tax etc.

Typical knee jerk reaction from a politician wanting attention. Unfortunately these things can gain momentum if they are allowed to. There are good drivers and bad drivers, why not punish those with bad driving records since they are the true hazards on the road. It isn't the equipment, it is the person.

ban them, just put a cover on the display and listen to the voice.

... how would they ban the pre-installed in the cars? Ban the whole car? Or make you cover it up?

He he! One sick MoFo I'd say!

Maybe it's not the devices that should be banned, but the people who misuse them. GPSs are meant to give guidance (either with voice or audible alerts) and they should not take your attention from you main goal of driving from point A to point B SAFELY! Use a little common sense!

The people that have accidents are typically the ones who are constantly fiddling with the GPS while driving, or trying to play MP3s, or searching for addresses or POIs, or trying to dial phone numbers, or whatever. These activities should only occur if you can do them reasonable safely while keeping your main focus on driving. If you can't focus on your driving, please get off the road, do what you have to do, and THEN continue.

This is another case of politicians getting into things where they don't belong and limiting our rights instead of doing the country's business as outlined in the constitution.

But officer..... speedometer displays are illegal!
Seriously often these laws are well intentioned but ill conceived. Arizona has a new law banning texting while driving. Common sense should dictate you need to pay attention but after a fatality caused by a texting driver, we had a new law. Unfortunately there will something new to cause inattention and there will be a new law.

Lawmakers love writing laws to make things illegal that are already illegal due to some other law. They're just trying to justify their existance.

The kooks all seem to concentrate in NY and California
I am sure he would rather have drivers lost all over the place or changing lanes at the last second because they didnt know their turn was coming up.
On another note I hope he doesn't get a hold of the 800 series that has Games and use it in the hearings..

Its not the device it's Idiots that don't use it properly. Makes us all look bad.
I guess the gps manufacturers did not contribute enough to there campaigns.

Idiots are going to find a way to be idiotic, no matter how much legislation is enacted. Even before attacking GPS users, lets go after phone texting. I can plot a 2 stop route on my nuvi with far less distraction than I can type "ok" on my cell phone. Not that I would do either while driving in traffic.... strictly a hypothetical.

Reading and writing text messages is perhaps the worst example today of distracted driving. But how do you legislate it besides banning cell phones from vehicles? Most of the time, distracted driving citations are only issued when they can be demonstrated as having caused an accident, or the driver has been pulled over for another reason and was too stupid to get rid of the evidence.

If it interferes with the drivers vision, I would agree with a ban on the display. You don't need to put your unit on the windshield to use it.

it's not about the devices, it's about the money. if they ban these devices, it'll force consumers to purchase a vehicle with them already installed. Who does this benefit? Auto makers.... Each nav systems installed in cars averages $1000 or more to the consumer. These handheld GPSr run on avg $200, depending on the model.

my 2 cents

From what I can tell the article is talking about taking all these so called "distractions" from cars including those that are built-in. The silver lining is that they seem to be willing to begrudge us things that are voice command capable. If only they can hold off legislation until the price comes down for that feature and hopefully companies will make it a retro active upgrade for many products.

See how many idiots are driving while holding a phone. I say if you don't know how to talk on your cell phone and drive, then don't drive or don't talk and drive at the same time!

Use GPS with bluetooth or even better bluetooth set in your car -- it is not more than $60...

What about the computers that the police have in their vehicles? I know of a few cases where a LEO had an "incident" because he/she was looking at the computer in their vehicle. The city shall remain nameless.

Look, we all know politicians are scum and this one just needed to get his name in the press. However it is more than likely that State Senator Carl L. Marcellino did not get to wet his beak from the electronics industry political slush fund of campaign donations.

Gps's manufacturers should get back to basics, get rid of all the crap. Why do you need a MP3 Player, Phone Dialer, Movie Player or even Pictures displayed on your dash board?

If you do, get yourself an I-Phone. I would imagine those are the distractions the Senator is probably talking about and not truly
the gps device.

Bob

The only reason to make these illegal in New York, is to make money by issuing summones. They don't stop you for using a cell phone, which is illegal to use while driving in NY, so if declared illegal, would still use it.

I want my GPS to be a GPS....not a PDA, MP3 player, photo viewer.... I want my cellphone to get a dialtone...not have a 2mp camera, have internet access.... well, you get the picture.

Dump the frills!

Every time one person does something stupid, a new law or rule or ordinance is proposed or enacted. We have roughly 300 million people in this country. Imagine that.

Yesterday, I saw a driver holding ___ cell phone to ___ ear with left hand. ___ used ___ right hand to cross over ___ left arm out the window to tap ___ cigarette ash. I didn't see a third hand on the steering wheel. This driver was driving at least 40 in 35. It was kind of scary as car was heading toward me.

P.S. I left out the gender for a reason.

Dear Alan,

I live and work in Brooklyn (NYC). I know someone who was ticketed for talking on a hand-held mobile while driving.

david

The driver was steering with the left foot, which put it near the window so that the nail polish would dry.

David:
You're quick with solving the riddle. But again, the driver could mistake cruise control for AutoPilot.

Phone dialer is useful. Especially to eliminate use of hands when you use a cell phone. I believe the GPS devices with bluetooth are a bliss for those, who do not have a bluetooth set in their cars. But in all fairness I would say that you have to dial somehow. The car kits are connected usually to the radio or the board computer and use their display and the buttons on the steering wheel. As for the dialer in the GPS though you have to reach for the screen to dial.

After being born, raised and living on Long Island for 56 years, I got fed up after Hillary Clinton was elected as the NY senator. I moved to NC and love it!

This banning of GPS's is just another reason to leave NY. NY getting as nutty as California. Considering the mad house that NYC is when traveling by car, I would think that the politicians would embrace the use of a GPS to get around. It has to be far safer to listen to Jill than to try reading a map spread over you steerin g wheel.

For all you folks still stuck in the Empire State, I send you my condolences and suggest you leave as soon as you are able.

Have you ever tried carrying all those devices at once? It's not very easy, especially if you take public transport to work rather than drive.

@OP
I still have no idea why anyone would want to ban GPS nav. Maybe we should ban it for pedestrians as well, since it might cause you to walk erratically. Then we can ban it from airplanes because they need to watch the sky rather than know where they are.

I have a Palm TX, which gives wifi internet access, mp3 player as well as display photos AND videos... along with calendar, alarm, appointments, phonebook and bluetooth dialer. I keep a digital camera in the glove box. So to answer your question, Yes, I do carry these things all of the time. I have a small "gadget bag"

Given the rather short battery life of the GPS (4hrs) I don't think I will use it as my photo viewer when I want to share my pictures with others...in or outside of the car. If you are using public transportation why do you need a GPS?

this guy who wants to band GPS units is a freaking idiot

Dear David,

I live and work in Staten Island and 4 out of 5 drivers are on the phone while driving. Come out and sit with me any time. Saw a girl on her way to college and was studing and driving at the same time. Was very scary. She had her notebook on the steering wheel and was looking down, while keeping pace with traffic, about 35 miles per hour.

Be careful when you come into the forgotton borough.

Let's see, first the government invades our bathrooms by forcing us to use low-flow toilets (that don't really flush anything), now they want to ban front mounted GPS units. Yeah, that makes sense.

Feel good law, did they already outlaw POI's for Gun Stores?

I used to commute between Fresno and Visalia, CA and almost everyday a women with the same schedule would be behind me at 70mph about a car length off my rear bumper chatting on her cell phone with her kid in a carseat in the back.

I think the issue is more the guy trying to choose a route or fiddling through the screens while the car is moving. I've seen a few of these weaving around in the lane for left to right and one can't deny it's a problem. The issue is, I also see the same issue when someone is trying to text a message or dial a number on their cell phones....

Dear Alan,

I have seen the same thing when I have driven down to Bay Ridge (which has some similarities to Staten Island). About the only time I am in Staten Island is when I am returning home from upstate New York and taking advantage of the one-way tolls on the VZ Bridge. When leaving to go upstate, I take the Holland Tunnel or the GW Bridge.

david

I don't understand the need to define every dangerous or illegal act down to what color eyeliner is illegal to apply while driving.

All of the states that I have lived have long had laws against careless driving, distracted driving and impared visability. That's why we got stopped for the fuzzy dice hanging from the mirror and your girlfriend blocking the rear view mirror.

Cops used to have discretion and common sense. I guess general rules are too vague for today's cops and people who think anything they do is OK unless specifically stated to be against the law. Then when caught, it's just a mistake.

Clearly those elected to office have long ago lost sight of where they should be focused.

Just so you know, I ran with sharp sissors before the round ones were made manditory.

Bill

Personally, I see this kind of thing from legislators as being a way of taking away freedoms in our great land. Little by little... our freedoms are disappearing.

We elect public officials to protect us against such happenings, when in reality they think they have to protect us from ourselves... what a change of mindset. What a spin on protecting us.

Isn't it about time for another "tea party"?

Dude... fuzzy dice? That's what like... the 70s?
Enforcement is the word you are looking for!
Where is the "enforcement" in the "law enforcement"

2/3 of the drivers in Greater NYC area do not signal when they turn or in all fairness for all their maneuvers -- like changing lanes, exiting the highway or parking.

Actually fuzzy dice were more like the 50's. They were almost before my time, and I started driving in 1963.

Yeah, traffic cops could be issuing citations 10 hours a day without a break just by nailing the jerks who never use their signals. If they'd do it more often, maybe those drivers would finally figure out what that little lever is for...

Dear ETZ,

Folks not signalling their intentions while driving is stupid and annoying. More enforcement in NYC about that would be good. I find your figure of 2/3 for the Greater NYC area to be off the mark. Perhaps that might be the case in that little outer borough of Manhattan with those nasty yellow machines driven by those who have inhaled too much carbon monoxide during a twelve-hour shift. However, I avoid Manhattan and drive to work every workday within the inner borough of Brooklyn. We have bad drivers here too but 2/3 seems hyperbolic.

david

P.S. When I drove back from Florida, it seemed the folks in Maryland liked to tailgate on I-95. Is that a cultural affect or were their cars turned on by the tailpipe of my Outback?

Well... I am exaggerating on purpose, but the percentage you have to admit is quite high.

Yes... I notice that about the drivers in Maryland. And Virginia too... DC must have a special effect on them. That behavior is probably a habit acquired by driving daily on the Beltway with low speeds and trying to beat the next car by an inch. I have driven around DC many time. Never changes. Oh... almost forgot... Some of them also try to "push" your car to go faster, if all the lanes are occupied and they "have to get ahead".

Living in NY and CA should be made illegal.

ban politicians

Ted

What do you expect from a liberal state. Oh well let
them outlaw them. Im from the Republic Of Texas,
I HAVE BAIL MONEY

We will invite that politicion to Dallas. We will throw him a Parade

I do have to admit that the thought of having my gps mounted in the back seat does not make a bit of sense, it's going to make my neck hurt to my head that far to see where to make my turn!

Like I said dump the frills.

Remember you people in NY, are the ones that voted a woman in as a Congresswoman and she was from Arkansas to start with.
So you really can't cry about your legislators the majority of you voted them in. so now your stuck with the decisions of an Ultra liberal minded idiot that wants do be a do good-er and take away your rights.
I'm sure glad I don't live in New California I mean New York.

Oh by the way, They make small bags now a days with zippers that can hold a lot of electronic gizmos at the same time, That way you don't have to juggle them. and if your real smart you will shop for devices that will all use USB power/sync, that way in the bag you only have one AC, cig plug and USB to mini usb cords plus your devices.

Bob

To outlaw gps would be crazy! It's not like you're watching a movie which would distract you.. If anything it's much safer than the alternative like trying to read maps while travelling..

Ray