BILL ANALYSIS
SENATE TRANSPORTATION & HOUSING COMMITTEE BILL NO: Ab 62
SENATOR ALAN LOWENTHAL, CHAIRMAN AUTHOR: portantino
VERSION: 3/26/09
Analysis by: Carrie Cornwell FISCAL: no
Hearing date: June 9, 2009
SUBJECT:
Vehicles: television and video screens
DESCRIPTION:
This bill permits a person to drive a motor vehicle if a video
screen displaying a video signal or television broadcast is
operating in the front seat area under specified conditions.
ANALYSIS:
Existing law 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. 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 are exempt from
this prohibition. In addition, existing law exempts from this
prohibition mobile digital terminals in emergency vehicles and
terminals in vehicles owned or operated by electric, gas, or
telephone utilities under specified conditions.
This bill permits a person to drive a motor vehicle if a video
screen displaying a video signal or television broadcast is at a
point forward of the back of the driver's seat, provided that
the video screen is designed, operated, and configured in a
manner that prevents the driver from viewing the broadcast or
signal while operating the vehicle in a safe and reasonable
manner.
AB 62 (PORTANTINO) Page 2
COMMENTS:
1.Purpose of the bill . The author introduced this bill to make
legal new video technology known as "splitview," which the
automaker Daimler plans to offer as an option on certain makes
of Mercedes automobiles beginning in the 2010 model year.
Splitview allows a video screen mounted in a vehicle's
dashboard to display GPS to the driver and a video or
television broadcast to the front seat passenger. The author
notes that existing provisions of the California Vehicle Code
predate this technology by specifying that video screens can
only be mounted rearward of the driver's seatback. The author
and sponsor assert that splitview technology meets the intent
of existing law - namely, preventing a driver from being
distracted by certain displays while driving - but not the
requirement to be behind the back of the driver's seat .
2.Driver distraction . This bill allows a movie or other video to
be played and viewed in the front seat of a vehicle. This
would mean that the soundtrack for the movie will be playing
more loudly in the front seat than is the case when rear seat
passengers watch a movie, as is allowed under existing law.
Staff has driven a car with splitview technology and notes
that a movie, particularly a familiar movie that may be kept
in the family auto, creates a greater distraction than other
entertainment such as the radio, because the soundtrack for
movie evokes images in the listener's mind even if he or she
cannot see the screen.
3.Previous legislation . On August 26, 2008, this committee
passed on a 7 - 4 vote AB 2884 (Portantino), which included
provisions identical to this bill. The author, however, held
that bill on the Senate Inactive File so that the California
Highway Patrol (CHP) could investigate safety concerns that
arose about placing a video screen in the front seat area of a
vehicle. CHP reports that the sponsor has now addressed its
concerns in part by adjusting the splitview such that it can
no longer be viewed by a tall driver who simply leans over and
by demonstrating the technology while driving in darkness. As
a result, CHP has taken a neutral position on this bill.
Assembly Votes:
Floor: 77 - 0
Trans: 12 - 0
POSITIONS: (Communicated to the Committee before noon on
AB 62 (PORTANTINO) Page 3
Wednesday,
June 3, 2009)
SUPPORT: Daimler (sponsor)
Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers
OPPOSED: None received.