California appeals court rules reading maps on a cellphone while driving is legal

[The Straight Story]

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THIS JUST IN: California appeals court rules reading maps on a cellphone while driving is legal

FRESNO, Calif. (AP) — A California appeals court says it's legal for drivers to read a map on their hand-held cellphones while behind the wheel.

Thursday's ruling by the state's 5th District Court of Appeal reverses the conviction of a Fresno man who was ticketed in January 2012 for looking at a map on his iPhone 4 while stuck in traffic. That driver, Steven Spriggs, challenged his $165 fine with the appellate court.

In their explanation, the judges say that the law prohibiting people from talking on their cellphones without a hands-free device doesn't apply to looking at maps on cellphones.

The court says the law a California Highway Patrol officer used to give Spriggs a ticket applies specifically to people "listening and talking" on cellphones.



http://bigstory.ap.org/article/california-court-drivers-can-read-cellphone-maps

[rafeh1]

1. i got a ticket for that and went to trial

even though the phone was hooked to hands free and is searching gps while stopped the judge accepted it all but fined me and put it on my record. I wonder if i can have it expunged