DOT Traffic Observation Cameras & URLs...Possible to View with Garming nuvi?

 

My state DOT operates traffic cameras (safety only) mainly along interstate, but some other major, highways and in response to asking, I have been provided their website which contains the coordinates for each of the hundreds of cameras across the state. It took some work but I formatted the data for a POIs I plan to upload to this site.

Along with the coordinates and name (location) of the traffic camera is a URL to access the cam. Does anyone know of a way to view cameras (via a smartphone link, of course) ahead on your route? For example, having the next traffic cam pop up ahead would be nice. It might be a means to avoid congestion, accidents, etc. I haven't installed the Garmin link software for a smartphone (in process of getting a new one).

As always, thanks to you more experienced saavy users!

eKeith

--
Garmin nüvi 2597 & Escort 9500ix Radar/Laser/GPS + Escort Live!

it would be illegal

Even if it were possible it would be illegal as it then would be possible to stream video to the unit which is against federal safety laws.

--
Illiterate? Write for free help.

Federal Safety Laws? Really?

Box Car wrote:

Even if it were possible it would be illegal as it then would be possible to stream video to the unit which is against federal safety laws.

Okay, (1) You don't think it is possible...I didn't know if it was which is why I asked. I am eager to hear from others.

(2) It's against "federal safety laws"? Really? Can you point me to such law(s)? I know my way around state and federal statutes and I couldn't find anything during a quick check. Many, if not most, webcams do not upload continuous video so I don't see how it's regarded as "streaming" in a technical sense.

A smartphone seemingly interfaces with just about everything now. For example, I have Escort Live! which I use in conjunction with my radar/laser/gps unit which allows me to report and gives me live reporting of speed traps, accidents, etc. complete with the map location. My state DOT publishes RSS feeds of traffic information they interface with their app for smartphones for drivers. Moreover, I don't understand why but vehicles can now be installed with internet/video systems (I saw some huge dash screens at my local Best Buy recently.) and I don't think they have been deemed illegal...again, not sensible in my view. Vehicles prior to the internet age could be equipped with television. I've never heard of such activity being illegal and I'd honestly like to learn more.

It seems if I had a device that displayed the picture of the driving conditions ahead that would be a safety device and not a hazard.

eKeith

--
Garmin nüvi 2597 & Escort 9500ix Radar/Laser/GPS + Escort Live!

Box Car Is Right

Box Car wrote:

Even if it were possible it would be illegal as it then would be possible to stream video to the unit which is against federal safety laws.

In Ontario, it has been ruled that a motorist can be charged with distracted driving, just because he was holding the phone. The police do not have to prove that he was talking, texting or watching streaming video.

There was a previous post here about a driver that was charged because he was driving with Google Glass. The police did not have to prove that he was actually watching anything.

http://www.poi-factory.com/node/41433

--
DriveSmart 65, NUVI2555LMT, (NUVI350 is Now Retired)

Gotta Love Some Laws, Don't Ya?

This law (referenced in this thread) may be much like the one our beloved state legislators enacted not too many years ago...you can now legally eat road kill in my state! Boy, I was sure relieved when that law passed...felt like my tax dollars were hard at work there. "Honey, I brought home dinner...a opossum I hit in the truck!" David Letterman found that law rather humorous too.

I have heard about the Google Glasses driver being ticketed but I believe that is a rare event and not something that would be seriously and widely enforced. Of course, I was stopped by the Virginia State Police once for having a very small trinket hanging from my rear view mirror (how they saw it I'll never know!) but I believe the stop was a pretense to thinking I was operating a radar detector.

eKeith

--
Garmin nüvi 2597 & Escort 9500ix Radar/Laser/GPS + Escort Live!

.

It is illegal to have video (moving images) playing where the driver of a vehicle can see it while the vehicle is in motion.

http://drivinglaws.aaa.com/laws/telematics/

And yes, it is illegal to have objects hanging from your rear view mirror in Virginia.

Dismissed!

eKeith wrote:

I have heard about the Google Glasses driver being ticketed but I believe that is a rare event and not something that would be seriously and widely enforced.

This happened in California and the ticket was just dismissed, including the charge of speeding!

http://www.cnn.com/2014/01/16/tech/innovation/google-glass-t...

--
I support the right to keep and arm bears.

Okay...to the Original Real Question Presented

Motorcycle Mama wrote:

It is illegal to have video (moving images) playing where the driver of a vehicle can see it while the vehicle is in motion.

There are some staunch law-abiding citizens in this forum...I sincerely commend all! I may go to the "crowbar hotel" over it, but I will take my chances that I will get busted for glancing at a static image on my smartphone of traffic ahead! Please, let's get serious.

Now to the question I originally posed, does anyone know of an app or any way to do what I desired?

Replies on point appreciated.

eKeith

--
Garmin nüvi 2597 & Escort 9500ix Radar/Laser/GPS + Escort Live!

.

No. The Garmin nuvis do not have this ability.

You might (probably) be able to easily do it with a smartphone directly.

Seems like alot of work and

whether illegal or not hard to believe most people can be watching a video, calling up the next camera and driving all at the same time.

GPS has moving maps..

Motorcycle Mama wrote:

It is illegal to have video (moving images) playing where the driver of a vehicle can see it while the vehicle is in motion.

Wouldn't that make it illegal to use GPS?

It's also about the liability

eKeith wrote:
Motorcycle Mama wrote:

It is illegal to have video (moving images) playing where the driver of a vehicle can see it while the vehicle is in motion.

There are some staunch law-abiding citizens in this forum...I sincerely commend all! I may go to the "crowbar hotel" over it, but I will take my chances that I will get busted for glancing at a static image on my smartphone of traffic ahead! Please, let's get serious.

Now to the question I originally posed, does anyone know of an app or any way to do what I desired?

Replies on point appreciated.

eKeith

It's also about the liability. If you had such a device that was part of the vehicle where video was displayed to the operator you couldn't carry enough insurance to pay for the lawsuits that would be filed. The same for the manufacturer of the device. As to the Federal laws, you need to check those put out in the Dept of Transportation. The NTSB and NHTSA both both have jurisdiction over the required and allowed equipment for all types of vehicles. I'm really surprised someone hasn't gone after the cell carriers for streaming video as of yet. All you would need to show is the driver or a passenger was streaming video in a moving vehicle to raise the probability it was viewed by the driver. The in car video systems get a pass as they are fixed screens only visible to rear seat passengers. But light off a video on your iPad, you are asking for trouble because it isn't a fixed device.

--
Illiterate? Write for free help.

No

ianlin wrote:

GPS Has Moving Maps...

Motorcycle Mama wrote:

It is illegal to have video (moving images) playing where the driver of a vehicle can see it while the vehicle is in motion.

Wouldn't that make it illegal to use GPS?

GPS maps updating do not pass the definition of video to make GPSrs covered under statutes agains video displays in view of drivers.

--
*Keith* MacBook Pro *wifi iPad(2012) w/BadElf GPS & iPhone6 + Navigon*

Distracting

kch50428 wrote:
ianlin wrote:
Motorcycle Mama wrote:

It is illegal to have video (moving images) playing where the driver of a vehicle can see it while the vehicle is in motion.

Wouldn't that make it illegal to use GPS?

GPS maps updating do not pass the definition of video to make GPSrs covered under statutes agains video displays in view of drivers.

They have become, however, dangerously close to falling into the same distracting category as text has.

--
Frank DriveSmart55 37.322760, -79.511267

Highway cams

Here in BC, we have cams in the province so drivers can see road conditions. They can be accessed via a smartphone.

It does not stream video, but the images are updated regularly. Have a look: http://www.drivebc.ca/mobile/webcams/index.html

--
nüvi 3790T | Those who make peaceful revolution impossible, will make violent revolution inevitable ~ JFK

in the dc area

Juggernaut wrote:

Here in BC, we have cams in the province so drivers can see road conditions. They can be accessed via a smartphone.

It does not stream video, but the images are updated regularly. Have a look: http://www.drivebc.ca/mobile/webcams/index.html

In the DC Metro area we have both live and stop motion feeds, but I believe the ones available on the public website are all stop motion because of bandwidth requirements and not technology.

--
Illiterate? Write for free help.

Google Glass ticket

Just read where the judge dismissed the google glass ticket .

Texas cameras

http://its.txdot.gov/ITS_WEB/FrontEnd/default.html?r=FTW&p=F...

Maybe you can find a web page like this for your area.

--
Mary, Nuvi 2450, Garmin Viago, Honda Navigation, Nuvi 750 (gave to son)

.

Box Car wrote:

Even if it were possible it would be illegal as it then would be possible to stream video to the unit which is against federal safety laws.

Which federal law are you referring to? Does the same law prohibit streaming to phones, tablets, and computers?

.

Again, it is typically against the law to have video where the driver can see it while the vehicle is in motion. Doesn't matter if it is a phone, tablet or computer.