A California Highway Patrol officer pulled over a female motorist for over-speeding on Interstate 15 at Aero Drive, San Diego, and issued a ticket for speeding and driving with Google Glass, Tuesday.
With Google planning to triple the number of its Google Glass owners in a latest Explorer program, Glass owners beware; a woman was fined recently for wearing the wearable tech gadget while driving. Cecilia Abadie, product Manager at Full Swing Golf, was pulled over for speeding in San Diego, Tuesday, and was given an additional ticket for driving with Google Glass.
Abadie shared her experience along with a copy of the ticket via her Google + account. With her credible contact list, the news spread like a forest fire. "A cop just stopped me and gave me a ticket for wearing Google Glass while driving! he exact line says: Driving with Monitor visible to Driver (Google Glass). Is #GoogleGlass ilegal while driving or is this cop wrong???" she wrote on her account, in addition to seeking legal opinion. "Any legal advice is appreciated!! This happened in California. Do you know any other #GlassExplorers that got a similar ticket anywhere in the US?"
The CHP found Abadie violated a California Vehicle Code 27602 in addition to over-speeding, reports LA Times. Under the law, it is illegal to "drive a motor vehicle if a television receiver, a video monitor, or a television or video screen, or any other means of visually displaying a television broadcast or video signal that produces entertainment or business applications is operating and is located in the motor vehicle at a point forward of the back of the driver's seat, or is operating and the monitor, screen, or display is visible to the driver while driving the motor vehicle."
The incident makes it the first in California to attract a fine for driving with a Google Glass. This has created a buzz online, and many disagree with the officer's decision. Some also offered to help Abadie fight the ticket in court and agreed to raise necessary funds if an attorney is needed.
"This law is to prevent people from watching TV in their car," wrote one user on Abadie's post. "Seriously. You don't need an attorney for this, you can beat this by yourself. I have won several tickets in court. I'll fly down there to help you in court if you like."
In her defense, Abadie also said that the Glass was not even turned on when she was pulled over. But the officer said that the screen was blocking her view. The Google Glass fits just like a normal glass with a tiny display fitted slightly above the right eye, giving enough room for view.
