Author Topic: State earplug laws (Read 10978 times)

Red01 · « **Reply #15 on:** October 18, 2005, 01:07:46 AM »

Quote from: "Red01"

Washington state doesn't allow them unless you have a perscription.

Looks like WA's law has been revised and it's now OK to wear them.

Looks like while they were at it, they allowed motorcyclists to have helmets wired for sound, too!

Quote

RCW 46.37.480
Television viewers -- Earphones.
(1) No person shall drive any motor vehicle equipped with any television viewer, screen, or other means of visually receiving a television broadcast which is located in the motor vehicle at any point forward of the back of the driver's seat, or which is visible to the driver while operating the motor vehicle. This subsection does not apply to law enforcement vehicles communicating with mobile computer networks.

(2) No person shall operate any motor vehicle on a public highway while wearing any headset or earphones connected to any electronic device capable of receiving a radio broadcast or playing a sound recording for the purpose of transmitting a sound to the human auditory senses and which headset or earphones muffle or exclude other sounds. This subsection does not apply to students and instructors participating in a Washington state motorcycle safety program.

(3) This section does not apply to authorized emergency vehicles, motorcyclists wearing a helmet with built-in headsets or earphones as approved by the Washington state patrol, or motorists using hands-free, wireless communications systems, as approved by the equipment section of the Washington state patrol.

PeteSC · « **Reply #16 on:** October 18, 2005, 03:22:17 AM »

Now the trick is to find the list of 'washington state patrol approved' earphones or headsets.

Quote

motorcyclists wearing a helmet with built-in headsets or earphones as approved by the Washington state patrol

I thought one of the abate type sites had a table of helmet laws, by state, with earphone or speaker stuff included. Will have to look....

B6mick · « **Reply #17 on:** October 18, 2005, 06:30:17 AM »

Quote from: "Maniac"

"Loud pipes save lives... and make you totally deaf", except they usually leave that last bit out.

And of course the very last bit,that they also leave out, "better off deaf than dead."

What officer, ya saying 105 db is not legal, you sure about that, I'm sure the retailer that sold it to me said it was legal.

Yeh I know its only 300 odd mm long, thats how I bought it, honest

jfudo · « **Reply #18 on:** October 18, 2005, 05:56:21 PM »

I don't know what the earplug laws are in NY. By the way, it is illegal to drive and talk while on the cell phone here. The other day, I kid you not, I saw a guy on his harley, skull cap helmet, sunglasses, talking on his cellphone. Yep. A regular flip-phone, holding it to his ear. In the middle of town. I have no freakin idea how one would pull that off. But then again, I don't understand how some of them can ride with cigarette in their mouths.

solman · « **Reply #19 on:** October 18, 2005, 08:08:42 PM »

Quote

I don't understand how some of them can ride with cigarette in their mouths.

My dad used to do that when he rode bikes. That is one of the main reasons why he also wore a 3/4 helmet.

Red01 · « **Reply #20 on:** October 18, 2005, 08:38:22 PM »

Back to the original topic:

Quote from: "Vidrazor"

I recently discovered some states outlaw wearing earplugs while riding a bike. Does anyone know of a database showing these states? I'd like to be prepared for such stupidity. I'm at a loss as to the reasoning, other than just revenue generation under the guise of some safety schtick.

Thanks for any info on this.
Phil

I posted this question on the Motorcycle Consumer News forum to see if anyone had any info on this since it's a board frequented by folks who tend to be long term, high mile, well-travelled riders. One respondent came back with this:

Quote from: "Gfurlo"

Article in "Friction Zone" Oct. 2005 Cover story "Laws for Motorcyclists". http://www.friction-zone.com

Quote
"The only state that prohibits the wearing of earplugs is California,(section 27400) but in 2004 that law was amended to remove the word 'custom' from the following subsection that specifies who is exempt from the law against wearing earplugs".

To made a long article short.
You can wear earplugs as long as you can hear sirens and horns. If you don't respond, pull over for a siren and a cop stops you and you have earplugs in he could write you for two things. Not pulling over and wearing incorrect earplugs.

Its a safety thing.

Gfurlo

So, Vid, what states did you discover that don't allow earplugs?

PeteSC · « **Reply #21 on:** October 18, 2005, 10:20:55 PM »

No luck on earplugs, but AMA does have helmet speaker info for each state.
http://www.amadirectlink.com/legisltn/laws.asp

If you want to be a REAL criminal, install helmet speakers and ride in Mass. They're illegal to use, or posess, there.

Red01 · « **Reply #22 on:** October 18, 2005, 10:59:55 PM »

Came across this link in looking, too, but it doesn't cover earplugs... does cover a lot of other m/c specific stuff though:

http://motorcycleinfo.calsci.com/PrintLaws.html

PeteSC · « **Reply #23 on:** October 18, 2005, 11:17:47 PM »

I bet the earplug stuff is buried in general vehicle regulations, if there is any specific language.
(Like stuff prohibiting headphones on drivers...even though I see it often. Not just one earphone/headphone....)

I wonder how many states changed laws to allow use of cellphone headsets?

If you're on a Goldwing, or big touring bike, how loud do you have to crank up the stereo to be able to hear it over the road noise, and can you still hear an ambulance coming up behind you?
I don't crank the stereo up in the pickup much, and it isn't real loud anyway, but the newer cars are pretty quiet with the windows up and it's difficult to hear emergency vehicles coming at you.
And then we have the megawatt morons 'boom....boom...booming' down the road, annoying everbody.

scooter trash · « **Reply #24 on:** October 19, 2005, 11:48:01 AM »

Quote

- the question is, where do you put it on a bike?)

Put it right next to the ashtray where else would you put it.

Silverstreak · « **Reply #25 on:** October 26, 2005, 10:43:33 PM »

What wind noise?

I'm a little deaf. Okay, I'm as deaf as a stone, but combined with an wee dose of denial and I'm only a little deaf.

The other day my daughter asked me, "If a tree falls in the forest and your sitting right next to it, would you hear it?"

The only time I really miss my hearing is for mechanical diagnostics. This summer I was at the bike races at Mosport and as I drove away on Saturday evening my buddy heard a vacuum leak. At first I didn't believe him. Within a couple of minutes there was a small crowd gathered. Each one listened as i reved the engine. Then they'd say, "I hear it. You can't hear that?"

I sure hope they don'y outlaw riders with plugged ears.

B12Teuton · « **Reply #26 on:** October 27, 2005, 08:19:32 AM »

Quote from: "solman"

I already have hearing loss from spending too many years around jets, I am wearing earplugs.

I already have hearing loss from spending too many years around my wife!! I am wearing earplugs too!

Desolation Angel · « **Reply #27 on:** October 27, 2005, 10:44:27 AM »

Quote from: "B12Teuton"

Quote from: "solman"
I already have hearing loss from spending too many years around jets, I am wearing earplugs.

I already have hearing loss from spending too many years around my wife!! I am wearing earplugs too!

Question is...

Do you leave the plugs in at home?

B12Teuton · « **Reply #28 on:** October 27, 2005, 05:04:43 PM »

That's what I meant... since I don't have a bike at the moment!

Vidrazor · « **Reply #29 on:** October 29, 2005, 12:05:16 AM »

Thanks for your replies. Well, I haven't found out anymore than what you guys posted here.

I suppose I should check over at the AMA site, considering I'm a member

This is where I incidently heard about this crap in the first place. However, I can't seem to find their user forum. Either it's staring right in the eye, or it's well-hidden. I think if I can post there, I can probably find mor einfo on this stuff. I'll let you know if a useful database pops up.