BILL ANALYSIS
AB 62
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Date of Hearing: April 20, 2009
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION
Mike Eng, Chair
AB 62 (Portantino) - As Amended: March 26, 2009
SUBJECT : Vehicles: video screens
SUMMARY : Permits a person to drive a motor vehicle while a
video screen displaying a video signal or television broadcast
operating in the front seat area, if the video screen is at a
point forward of the back of the driver's seat and that the
video screen is designed, operated, and configured in a manner
that prevents the driver from viewing the broadcast when
operating the vehicle in a safe and reasonable manner.
EXISTING LAW:
1)Prohibits a vehicle from being operated if a video screen
displaying a video signal or television broadcast is located
in front of the back of the driver's seat or if it is
operating and is visible to the driver while driving the motor
vehicle.
2)Exempts vehicle information displays, global positioning
systems (GPS), mapping displays, visual displays to supplement
a driver's view, and video screens with interlock devices that
disable the equipment when the vehicle is driven from this
prohibition.
3)Exempts mobile digital terminals in emergency vehicles and
terminals in vehicles owned or operated by electric, gas, or
telephone utilities under specified conditions from this
prohibition.
FISCAL EFFECT : Unknown
COMMENTS : According to the author, this bill is intended to
"update existing law by amending provisions that do not
accommodate advances in automotive video technology. The
development and creation of new video technology known as
"splitview" warrants this bill to make its usage legal."
Splitview technology allows a video screen mounted in a
vehicle's dashboard to display two different images at the same
AB 62
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time. A filter masking the display divides this mixed image in
such a way that depending on the seating position, only the
pixels making up one or the other image can be seen. As a
result, the driver and front passenger can view different
programs on the same screen at the same time. While the driver
is checking the navigation instructions, the front passenger can
sit back and watch a film on the very same display.
The automaker Daimler plans to offer splitview technology as an
option on certain makes of Mercedes automobiles beginning in the
2010 model year.
This bill is identical to AB 2884 (Portantino) of 2008. That
bill passed the Senate Transportation and Housing Committee,
7-4, on August 28, 2008. That bill was later placed on the
Senate inactive file.
Since then, the sponsors of this bill and the author's office
have worked closely with Assembly and Senate staff and the
California Highway Patrol (CHP) to address remaining safety
concerns related to a driver being able to reach over to the
passenger side to view an image.
Suggestions were made to reconfigure the splitview display in
such a way as to prevent the driver from leaning over and being
able to view the screen. The reconfigured technology can only
be seen if a person is located in the passenger seat.
Similar legislation : AB 2884 (Portantino) of 2008, is identical
to the version of this bill. AB 2884 passed out of the Senate
Transportation and Housing Committee 7-4 on August 26, 2008. It
was then placed on the inactive file to address concerns with
that bill.
AB 301 (Reyes), Chapter 303, Statues of 2003, prohibited, with
specified exceptions, the operation of a motor vehicle if a
video monitor, video screen, or any device capable of receiving
a video signal is located in the front of the drivers' seat, or
in view of the driver.
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION :
Support
Daimler (sponsor)
Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers
AB 62
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Opposition
None on file
Analysis Prepared by : Alejandro Esparza / TRANS. / (916)
319-2093