IPOD while riding - ILLEGAL?!

I was getting my Ipod playlist ready before heading home this afternoon after stopping for a haircut - I look good by the way - and I notice a police officer keep looking in my direction from the UPS store next to Supercuts. Hoping he doesn't notice my expired inspection sticker, I don't pay much attention to him until he starts to walk over..

"Hey, do you know that's illegal"

"What is?"

"Listening with headphones while you ride."

"No, I had no idea."

I had no idea it was illegal in the state of PA to listen to tunes while you ride. Shoot, I made 5 or 6 playlists for my bike rides only. Turns out the leo was a rider too, and has tried to find loopholes in the rules to get around it.

Basically, without installing a bike stereo onto your ride, we can't legally listen to Miley Cyrus while cruising around on the weekends.

The rule varies from state to state, some states you're allowed earphones in both ears, some states only one ear, and in others, such as PA, no go on either ear.

Here are the rules by state:
Motorcycle Riding Laws by State


...thought I'd led you fellas know

 

Yep. I know in CA, it is illegal to ride (or drive) with earphones in both ears. They legally want you to have one ear open at all times. I believe that it is legal to listen to music in ONE ear only in most states. Even if you are driving a car, it is illegal to have headphones on each ear. What state do you live in?

 

still doesn't stop people...folks still talk while holding their cell phones...personally IMO I believe it is the act of talking that impairs people not the acrt of holding the phone...but thats just me

 

I agree 200%.

 

I believe the reason for this is if you have an earphone in each ear, this would prevent you from hearing what is going on around you. Not so much a distraction, though I do tend to agree somewhat, but an inability to be properly aware. So I kinda wonder though, what about the helmet mounted earphones and mics readily available. ANd the way I read that chart, in California, you can have kids in one ear only. Go figure

 

I have had ear buds in each time I have been pulled over on the bike. All the cops were concerned about was my speed. Neither of the cops(in 2 different states) even mentioned my headphones which were clearly hanging all the while they spoke with me.

 

I ride with them on long trips. at a quiet level. If anything, with the music turned down to a low but audible level and with properly fitted ear buds they act as ear plugs and cut down on excessive wind noise and it really makes for a much more peaceful/enjoyable ride.

Also when wind noise is really cut down you can hear your engine better, not your exhaust but your engine itself. Any constant, moderately loud, sound level will take a toll on your riding skills especially on lengthy rides.

 

crusty - I totally agree with you on that it is the tallking that distracts the driver. The cop asked if I had a bluetooth in my helmet as well (I don't, and never would), but is perfectly legal.

Has anyone ever been cited for the use of headphones in a car or on a bike?

 

I hadn't heard of this either so I looked it up. This is what I found:

PA Vehicle code
§ 3314. Prohibiting use of hearing impairment devices.
(a) General rule.--No driver shall operate a vehicle while wearing or using one or more headphones or earphones.
(b) Exception.--This section does not prohibit the use of hearing aids or other devices for improving the hearing of the driver, nor does it prohibit the use of a headset in conjunction
with a cellular telephone that only provides sound through one ear and allows surrounding sounds to be heard with the other ear, nor does it prohibit the use of communication equipment by the driver of an emergency vehicle or by motorcycle operators complying with section 3525 (relating to protective equipment for motorcycle riders).
§ 3525 refers to helmets.

It's a stupid law that's not well defined. I wonder if earplugs are considered "hearing impairment devices". I wear them every time I ride. I also have speakers in my helmet.

 

I think..that the built in head phones are ok because they are not "placed in the ear" just like in your car. you can put in head phones and not hear a damn thing, just like turning your stereo up so that you rattle the rear plate and can't hear a damn thing as well.. thats why there are loud music ordinances as well

 

Ok I guess it's good I'm an Oregonian so I don't have to worry about this but how the hell can someone make headphones illegal but still give hearing impaired/deaf people licenses... I understand one is by choice but a visually attentive person is just as safe in my opinion.

 

I use molded ear buds, unless I turn the music up I can hear just as well as having foam plugs in. I know that in CA you cant use them in a car, but mine are primarily for ear protection with music added. I know the CHP use head phones with a microphone and I am looking into putting head phones in my helmet. There are helmets with them already in them, and I think they do a better job of cutting out ambient noise. I’m hoping that mine will cut down the wind noise more so than the ear buds. Legal? I have found that in this state that laws like that apply when the Leo wants them to. I have found that if your polite they are much more understanding.

 

pretty sure the CHP have only one side covered, but then again they aren't jamming music in them...the law for cell phone usage while driving says thaqt emergency personnel don't have to comply with it in the performance of their duties.... but some of them abuse it. just like the rest of us.

 

It's not legal to wear earplugs in Maryland unless they are custom molded. What kind of weird law is that? If they are custom molded and you can still hear a siren or horn, they are legal. Guess I need to get some new earplugs... That or not get caught... The sad thing is that I can hear better with the plugs in because it cuts the high pitched wind noise.

 

Next thing you know they'll come out with a law that prohibits riding with your eyes closed, or with no hands on the bars. What is this country coming to? :shocked:

 

Way back in my younger days when I smoked I once had a CHP pull up next to me in my car on the freeway, at 60 mph, as I was trying to light up & steering with my knee. He got on the speaker and told me to put the cigarette down and keep both hands on the wheel, as we were cruising along.

 

In WA state a moto rider can have both plugs in, however a car cannot.

 

I think my point is that earplugs that you can hear horns and sirens through (and that's pretty much all of them) are illegal, but if they are custom molded they are legal. I think the custom molded earplug lobby must have some serious pull in Maryland. Personally I think I can hear other sounds better with earplugs since they cut the high frequency wind noise first.

 

In my opinion (which includes many years of observing other drivers' behaviors while talking on cell phones while driving), people are clearly most oblivious to their surrounding when they are holding a cell phone up to their ear, rather than using a hands-free device such as a BlueTooth ear bud, or an in-car, hands-free BlueTooth system, including a phone/system that allows for voice-prompts. Example:

Driver's voice prompt: "Call Julie, mobile..."

Phone: " Did you say 'Julie' or 'Judy' mobile..."

Driver: "Julie"

Phone: "Calling...Julie, mobile" And so then the call is placed, while your eyes never need to leave the road. Compare this voice-activated technology with manually having to frequently look down at your phone as you fumble around and first push your "Contacts" button... then scrolling through your list of contacts starting with "J".... then selecting "Julie"... then selecting Mobile or Home... then finally pushing the Call button on the phone!

Moreover, drivers who unwisely choose to hold a phone to their dominate ear (which is usually dictated by their hand dominance) rather than using a hands-free device, often results in their quickly becoming rather oblivious to their surrounding, particularly on the side of their head where the phone is being held...

Let's say they have their phone held up to their left ear... this will cause them to tend to NOT be much aware of what's to their LEFT, and to rely more on only their left mirror (which of course has a blind spot), rather than really turning their head to the left to check and double-check that blind spot before passing. Why? Because their left-side awareness is preoccupied with the phone mashed against their left ear. Reverse the ear, and you will often see relative unawareness to their right.

Regardless of which ear the driver is holding their phone up to, there also often seems to be a lack of awareness and monitoring of their REARVIEW mirror, and these are the folks who are most often found to be blissfully driving along at a slow speed in the passing lane while jabbering on the phone, totally unaware of the same-lane traffic BEHIND them. If you can eventually get their attention by flashing your lights, they may then become angry and passive aggressive (or worse), refusing to move over because you have so rudely jolting them out of their coma.

In my opinion, religiously using hands-free devices while driving, and thus being able to freely conduct frequent left<-->right head-checks, while keeping both hands on the wheel with eyes always forward, is safest.