Laptop GPS World

A laptop used by a professional truck operator is clearly not for her/his entertainment, even-though an Arizona DOT officer may feel otherwise. It's about the section 393.88 of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations.

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration spokesman Duane DeBruyne said: “The title of 393.88 is ‘television receivers'. Laptop computers are not television receivers; therefore, they are not prohibited by FMCSA regulations.”

Stephen Campbell, executive director of the non-profit Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance said. “If enforcement is carried to a level of ridiculousness, I think it could be a problem for motor carriers and enforcement as well.”

Land Line Magazine, the business magazine for professional truckers, is following the story.

Has any reader here ever had an encounter with a law enforcement officer that resulted in a warning (or worse) being issued for using a laptop in a car or truck?

__________________
Marvin Hlavac

PC GPS software reviews | Stores offering discounts to our members: Semsons & Co. Inc. and Deluo Electronics

Luckily I haven't. But with my setup, my laptop is physically in the sleeper. When I approach a scale, my small display is always on the GPS, so they think it's nothing more than a GPS unit (dumb cops).

I've been through a couple of traffic stops with my laptop in it's mount and open. One officer didn't mention it, but the other made a point of telling me not to use it while driving.

Rick

A few years ago a lady police officer mentioned to me she thought I could get into trouble if I use my PC while driving, and if a police officer sees me. She didn't appear to know the applicable laws, though, and she didn't ask me to turn it off.

A few months ago another local police officer, who was originally going to check my paperwork, ended up admiring iGuidance 4 in 3D mode on my 15" screen. He called his partner, and then they both started telling me how bad their map on their laptop was in comparison to what I showed them. They didn't say a word against me using a computer, and after the nice talk was over, they left without even checking my paperwork.

__________________
Marvin Hlavac

PC GPS software reviews | Stores offering discounts to our members: Semsons & Co. Inc. and Deluo Electronics

It's amazing how distracting your laptop can be while driving. Definitely a hazard!
This type of multitasking should be avoided- haven't had any close calls but sure find it difficult to keep eyes off the screen. You can train yourself to stop and fiddle with it and change settings or set up for waypoints.
A touch screen helps - but only a tiny bit -
All I can say is BE CAREFUL! - DON'T PUSH THE ENVELOPE!
Use a swivel type mount and have the co-pilot do the diddling or the driving.
Regards andgood luck to all

I don't even look at the computer screen while driving. All I do is just listen to the driving directions given out by iGuidance version 4 combined with listening to the driving directions given out by Streets & Trips 2008.

Gordon, you have a very good point. I try to keep reminding myself quite often that an accident may happen to anyone, no matter how experienced drivers we are. It only takes a fraction of a second of not paying full attention to my driving, and the consequences may be bad. Not just our laptops may be distractions, but cell phones, car radio, car CD player, printed map (anyone still using those?), lipstick (any ladies reading this?), etc, etc. Let's keep the eyes on the road, and as Alan says, all we need to do while driving is to listen to the driving directions spoken by our laptop GPS software.

__________________
Marvin Hlavac

PC GPS software reviews | Stores offering discounts to our members: Semsons & Co. Inc. and Deluo Electronics