Rep Power: 0

Hey all so i just got a ticket for "Television visible to driver" contrary to H.T.A 78 (1)(6) ..... A "Television" meaning in-dash DVD screen. Now im almost positive that i read once that as long as there is no MOVING images such as a movie, video, or Photo Slide show then a in-dash DVD player is perfectly legal.... What about all those highend cars with the build in navigation screens... I was pulled over on the lakeshore for speeding... 81 in a 60.... mind you i was just coming off the ramp fromt he gardiner so i didnt even have a chance to slow down yet... but thats not the issue here.. my dvd screen was up when the 'Officer of the Law' came to get my info.... the screen was on radio... so there was no moving images or anything... the only thing moving was the clock! lol... do i have a shot at winning this if i fight it... which i plan to anyways just looking for some input
.. please and thank you!

 
Rep Power: 719

I believe you could easily fight this and win. If you look at the law in this case, consider the purpose of the law, it is not that there can be no screen its that there is no distractions to the drive, ie video. Many cars come with in-dash screens and therefore you could argue this in court, how ever the police officer may very well turn around and say he saw video being played then the onus is on you to prove this. In the court the police are always believed over you so consider that, get the notes and review them and what the officer has against you, if he says nothing about video being played in his notes your gold cause u can then use that against him should he try and bring it up later. good luck.

 
Rep Power: 0

Check with your audio installer (that is if you installed it @ a shop) most dvd players come with a function that disables any sort of video while vehicle is in motion. I remember with mine, it was only enabled when the parking brake was set. Get you audio shop to write a letter stating this, and bring in the manufacturer's stats (dvd player) when you go to court. Good luck.

 
Rep Power: 0

yea i have the safety switch... i even told the officer about it... ok this is how it went down exactly.... ( ill leave out any parts about the speeding cause thats not the issue here)

- i get pulled over...
- cop comes up to me asks for licence, registration, etc...
- cop looks inside car and asks "is that a television screen?"
- i say "its a in-dash dvd player."
- cop says " you know your not allowed to have those in your car"
- i say "sure i am"
- cop says " oh really?"
- i say " yea i looked it up when i had it installed"
- cop says " where did you look?"
- i say " i googled it, and on the Highway traffic act... as long as there is no MOVING images like a video or graphics... then its perfectly legal."
- cop says "is that right?"
- i say " yea it even has a safety switch that disables video when the car is in drive. (i didnt have a video on me to show him) it wont let video play unless the handbreak in pulled."
- cop says " ok im gonna check my book, sit tight"
- cop walks away and comes back with the speeding ticket and dvd ticket of $110.
- i say "ok ill see you in court in a few months then."
- cop says "ok see you then."
- i leave

 
Rep Power: 603

must be off when car is in motion. GPS units, etc are exceptions

 
Rep Power: 0

are you speaking from experiance or what? your not being much help.
so what about all the new benz and beemers with build in dvd/nav screens they dont turn off when you drive... thats the dumbest thing ive ever heard.

ok etc.... as in DVD player, Image Viewer what else is there other than GPS that would be considered an exception??

come on this isnt helping!

 
Rep Power: 603

if you interpret the law and regulations

as long as it can receive a video signal and interpret it into a television, or in your case a DVD in dash screen, it cannot be on while car is in motion, from my interpretation. It IS ok, however, if it's placed away so the driver cannot see, preferably by law behind the driver seat.......

Exceptions are: GPS, electronic truck logs, currior and police dispatching equipment...

GPS does at the moment does not count, as it cannot receive a video signal, and only displays what's in it's memory. Laws change all the time, so it's hard to keep track.. They WILL be banning cell phone + driving very soon.... so who knows about other electronic gadgets...

You will notice that other vehicles, such as the NAV screens, they do not play movies.

There are a few exceptions, IE Acura TSX w/ nav screen, however, you need to make changes to the system that is outside of stock perameters.

I'm about 95% sure of this information.... Ur best bet is to bring it to court, and talk to the crown.. maybe the cop will not show..... if you want to fight it (bring to trial), you'd better get a lawyer who knows his stuff.

 
Rep Power: 593

This makes me reconsider putting in a DVD player in my P5. I hate cops that are dickweeds.

 
Rep Power: 0

this is why i always hide my screen whenever i see a cop approaching or when i get pulled over or stopped at a RIDE checkpoint

it is up to the officer on how (s)he would like to interpret the law... and if they want to be a dick, can issue you a ticket whether or not you're breaking the law, hence wasting your time in court

the way i've been told is exactly as SpHiNxXx knows the law as