$120 ticket for using Apple Watch while driving
Pulled
over in Montreal, Quebec recently, Canadian Jeffrey Macesin received a
$120 ticket as well as 4 demerits on his driving record after police
pulled him over for using his Apple Watch while driving his car.
Detailed by CTV News
in Montreal, Macesin was under the impression that using his Apple
Watch while operating his vehicle was permitted, despite the risk of
distraction when turning attention away from the road.
Macesin
admits to using the smartwatch while driving, specifically to operate
music functions. Recounting the incident, Macesin referred to his
smartphone stating “I have it in the bag charging while the
auxiliary cable is plugged in to the radio and this controls my phone to
play the music. So I was changing songs with my hand on the steering
wheel. Going towards Vaudreuil, there was a cop car behind me and he
didn’t have his lights on yet, but then he turned them on and I thought
maybe he just wanted me to get out of the way. I was just confused.”
To
justify the ticket, the police officer cited Section 439.1 of the
Quebec Highway Safety Code which states “No person may, while driving a
road vehicle, use a hand-held device that includes a telephone
function.” This was instituted to discourage people from using their
smartphone while driving, specifically to reduce the number of people
texting while driving as well as talking on their phone while driving.
Macesin
plans on contesting the ticket on the grounds that the Apple Watch
doesn’t actually include a telephone function, but rather technology
that creates a connection to a smartphone similar to a wireless
Bluetooth headset. Those Bluetooth devices are permitted for use while
driving, assuming the driver doesn’t handle their smartphone. Of course,
it could be argued that using a smartwatch is just as dangerous as
using a smartphone while driving. Both require the driver to turn their
attention away from the road and briefly concentrate on a digital
screen.
Courtesy: digitaltrends
