15' LCD screen in front seat, is this legal?

Forums › GPS, maps and mapping software › 15' LCD screen in front seat, is this legal?

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#389914 9-Oct-2010 16:57

Yeah, it's only legal if the screen turns off with a handbrake switch!

Or if it was running GPS software while driving, handbrake switch would be the easier though, just have a relax, when the handbrake is on the light on the dash shows up, so link it to that, when the light is on > the relay turns on > the screen turns on

I have moved across the ditch. Now residing in Melbourne as a VOIP/Video Technical Trainer/Engineer.

michaelmurfy

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#389918 9-Oct-2010 17:19

I used to have a 15" LCD in my car, mounted on the ceiling of the passenger's seat, powered by a inverter wired to ignition and a eeePC 701, used my Nokia N95 as a bluetooth GPS and a Vodem for internet (with wireless mouse, keyboard).

The eeePC was running Debian Linux, when it detected my home wireless network it would connect and use rsync to sync my music with my home server (Had a 320gb External connected to the eeePC)

It worked well, since the eeePC didn't use that much battery power my car battery could power it for ages (well, overnight until I used my car the next day) - Was a nice tidy setup too.

Ended up having a car accident, which broke the LCD, eeePC was fine but ended up using that as a mini server at home. Cops are fine with screens if they are not directly facing you or not going to cause a distraction. Since I was using mine for Music / Navigation and nothing like movies or anything they were more interested about the setup then writing out a ticket for having it :)

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tombrownzz

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#389922 9-Oct-2010 17:28

Not sure if this is correct:

http://www.performancecar.co.nz/articles/technical-articles/guide-to-mobile-multimedia-145

It says it is a warrant of fitness requirement that no 'dynamic' content is allowed to be viewed by the driver using the screen. Not sure what 'dynamic' content is but if it means 'moving' content then that would mean a built in GPS head unit may not pass a wof.

Had a look at a wireless reversing kit which shows you video of the back of your car but says nothing about turning off when driving forward:

http://www.dse.co.nz/dse.shop/4cafee04022bae602740c0a87f3b0698/Product/View/LA4610

There is a head unit for a vehicle with a dvd player but no mention of automatic off when the handbrake is down:

http://www.onlinecaraudio.co.nz/index.php?p=productsMore&iProduct=1707&sName=pioneer-avhp3250dvd

chaosrescue

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#389932 9-Oct-2010 18:14

Just got of phone, talking to senor traffic cop, and because im using lcd for gps and job claiming/updating and creating, he does not have a problem with it laws have changed recently, so he is scratching his head a bit, ill try nz transport tomorrow, next mission is to try getting internet to laptop through okta touch, so i don't have to borrow peoples internet while driving through town (joking lol)

its dumb, having to pull up my drive @ the end of the day, just to connect to internet through wireless, so i can go online to send jobs and claims back to office, there in the dark all day to what im doing................thinking.......mmmm... that's not a bad thing :).........summer coming up...look for shade and water

http://www.iforce.co.nz/View.aspx?i=0xdcth1m.jpg

chaosrescue

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#389953 9-Oct-2010 19:14

http://www.onlinecaraudio.co.nz/index.php?p=productsMore&iProduct=1707&sName=pioneer-avhp3250dvd

i was also looking @ while ive got the big screen i may as well connect a reversing camera

and some grunty logitech X-230 Speakers, but i may only be able to connect speaker power plug to the targus 100w power inverter after ive charged laptop, as im not sure if i could run both, if i was my boss i would have bought me a 600w+ inverter

speaker manual says

Total Peak Power: 64 watts @ <10%THD ??

could a 100watt 12v power inverter run this with laptop. or only with out laptop charging, i dont want to blow it up,

chaosrescue

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#389955 9-Oct-2010 19:15

ops wrong link i was going to post a link to jarcar as they have some cool stuff like reversing cams

sbiddle

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#389970 9-Oct-2010 20:03

vinnieg: Yeah, it's only legal if the screen turns off with a handbrake switch!

Or if it was running GPS software while driving, handbrake switch would be the easier though, just have a relax, when the handbrake is on the light on the dash shows up, so link it to that, when the light is on > the relay turns on > the screen turns on

This is certainly not the case. As I mentioned earlier the law was changed because it effecticaly made a lot of modern cars illegal.

The AA even have reference to it here http://www.aa.co.nz/motoring/tips/ask-jack/advice/Pages/are-DVD-players-prohibited-in-cars.aspx

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Niel

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#390198 10-Oct-2010 17:44

chaosrescue: Total Peak Power: 64 watts @ <10%THD ?? could a 100watt 12v power inverter run this with laptop. or only with out laptop charging, i dont want to blow it up,

You can never have enough Volvos!

chaosrescue

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#390573 11-Oct-2010 17:56

64W is a lot. You do not need more than 20W to 25W, but then again 64W is at 10% distortion and then it sounds terrible (clipping and distortion) so you will probably never play it at that level. Why not just plug the laptop sound into the car radio? FM transmitter or those tape adapters?

crap speakers in truck, and ive got the logitech X-230 Speakers siting @ home doing nothing, im not looking at blasting them just turning up a little to block out the silence, and because the logitech X-230, have great sound,

chaosrescue

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#391034 12-Oct-2010 17:03

well, i rang the Traffic cops, they said as long as im not causing trouble or being dangerous, its a Grey area, not to sure about this, best to ring nztransport, i rang them and kept getting pushed up the ladder till someone brave enough / unfortunate and took a stand, they read the law to me all versions that left me scratching my head, bottom dollar is

the police can issue me with an infringement only if i am using this equipment unwisely,

so no ac/dc concert blasting while driving down the road or watching my stargates.

its strictly for use when handbrake is on

tombrownzz

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#391043 12-Oct-2010 17:39

I am going to contact the nzta myself. I will post an update when I get a reply.

vexxxboy

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#391044 12-Oct-2010 17:44

i have a 3 screen dvd system in my car and the front screen only works when the engine is off or the handbreak is on and is the only way that the car will get a warrant, they actually test the system to make sure it comply's and they are only 7inch screens .

Common sense is not as common as you think.

rscole86

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#391224 13-Oct-2010 10:24

The law is quite clear on this matter;

Land Transport Rule: Vehicle Equipment 2004
2.5Televisions in motor vehicles
2.5(1)Except as provided in 2.5(2), any part of the image on a television screen fitted in a motor vehicle must not be visible to the driver of the motor vehicle from his or her normal driving position while the motor vehicle is in motion.
2.5(2)Subclause 2.5(1) does not apply if:
(a)the television screen is fitted in the motor vehicle only for the purpose of assisting the driver to reverse safely, by showing a clear picture of the area directly behind the motor vehicle; or
(b)the motor vehicle is a passenger service vehicle and the provisions of Land Transport Rule: Passenger Service Vehicles 1999 are complied with; or
(c)the screen ? is designed so that only information relating to the navigation, safe operation and control of the motor vehicle can be displayed on the screen while the motor vehicle is in motion; or
(d)the screen is only capable of displaying text and any change to the text on the screen is controlled manually by the driver.

The 2010 amendment removed a section, so that you are now allowed to have aftermarket screens.
http://www.nzta.govt.nz/resources/rules/vehicle-equipment-amendment-2010.html

If you break the law, you can expect a $150 infringement.

chaosrescue

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#391530 13-Oct-2010 20:33

rscole86

Thankyou

NonprayingMantis

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#391531 13-Oct-2010 20:40

chaosrescue: Thanks that works

http://www.iforce.co.nz/View.aspx?i=0xdcth1m.jpg

I have the same mug. It's awesome. nice and big. :D

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