Drive w/ Handheld Device

[Scuba Steve]

I don't know if I have ever seen a vehicle with "tinted" windows that is legal. You need 70% vlt. Most tinted windows are less than 30% vlt.

Avoid ticket A, catch ticket B.

EDIT:
Now, privacy film on your phone might work? The stuff that sends all light straight forward so from an angle, only black can be seen. If you are holding a device but they can't see if the screen is on, is that sufficient for a conviction?

If it's in your hand it is a conviction.

Sent from my Pixel 5 using Tapatalk

 

[shanekingsley]

On a related note, I was only able to find mention of solidly mounted phones being legal to operate in Vancouver while driving, but not in Ontario. Does anyone know if the law is any different here? Reason I ask is that Apple Car Play/Android Auto on a built-in screen on your dash is no different than having your phone mounted in the same place, so why would one be legal to operate, and one be illegal?

When I was moto teaching and we had the annual recert for instructors, we had a guest speaker come in and it was the public facing OPP officer Kerry Schmidt to just talk and answer our questions. He was asked by us about distracted driving laws and specifically said that if the device was mounted on the dash or some other holder, it did not fall under the distracted driving laws. It was no different than operating your radio or other fixed item in the vehicle. He specifically said, do not use your phone while holding it in your hand at any time while driving or you were eligible for some added excitement.

Now if someone is operating their radio or mounted phone or gps and not paying attention to the road there are other offences they can be held to, but it would not meet the tenets of the cellphone ban at that time. This was in 2016 or 2017 I think.

 

[nobbie48]

I agree while driving. The stopped at the light thing has a tiny grain of reality used for excessive fundraising. The fines issued per fender bender avoided is probably an epic ratio.

If your cell phone falls on the floor you can't pick it up. You can't hand it to your wife for her to answer. She can take it out of your pocket.

 

[nobbie48]

Don't try to inject logic into political whims. You will hurt your brain. Decades ago I rented a ford with 17 buttons on the steering wheel and two screens. That's all legal as the manufacturer put it in. Touch a phone and you get a lynching. Stupid.

I think the section of the law you are interested in for handheld devices being secured here is related to one touch to answer. All of the built in stuff (and probably devices like aftermarket android screens) are covered by exemptions.

e-Laws | Ontario.ca

www.ontario.ca

"14. (1) A person may drive a motor vehicle on a highway while pressing a button on a hand-held wireless communication device to make, answer or end a cell phone call or to transmit or receive voice communication on a two-way radio if the device is placed securely in or mounted to the motor vehicle so that it does not move while the vehicle is in motion and the driver can see it at a quick glance and easily reach it without adjusting his or her driving position."

Exempt devices

7. The display screens of the following devices may be visible to any driver in a motor vehicle driven on a highway:

1. A device that displays,

i. information on the conditions, use and immediate environment of the vehicle, or

ii. information on road or weather conditions.

2. An ignition interlock device.

3. A car audio control that displays only text or static images.

4. A hand-held device that displays only text or static images and is connected directly into and operates using the audio system controls of the motor vehicle.

So you can read a six-page text?

What really bothers me is all the attention given to the physical distraction of the driver holding something in their hand while the mental distraction of hands free is ignored. A person having a stressed conversation has no place behind the wheel.

I had a call from a contractor wanting me to quote a job as I was driving along the 401. Calculations and pricing on the fly while dodging GTA traffic. It didn't happen.