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I had an interesting thought today. Here in Manitoba ( Winnipeg ) a new law was recently passed banning the use of hand held devices while driving. I know this law has been in effect in other provinces ( and states for Steve )for some time. Has anyone heard of someone being ticketed for using a scan tool while driving? I know most of us don't watch the tool while we're driving but because it is there on the front seat and it is an electronic device it could be a ticketable offence. Anyone have any experience with this or have any comments about it?
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If you don't learn something everyday, you're not paying attention.
Allan, the way I believe it reads in BC is that a Tech doing diagnostics is exempt but the device must be in plain view, on the dash, not the seat beside the Tech or you have to have two people one driving and one reading the scanner. If using the latter, you would of course have to bill appropriately. I would talk to your local association and see if they have interpreted the law and it's application to the industry.
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Sean O'Gorman
Glenn's Import & Domestic
Nothing here in Arizona yet on that. We have a texting law in the cities so I suppose if you were typing something into the laptop and you were seen that law might apply. Worth looking into.
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Steve Penrose
Glendale, Arizona
It's only an offense to talk on the phone or be using an electronic device while driving. Not illegal to have it sitting on the seat. If your not watching the screen or touching it, there should be noe problem.
Hello everyone. Good news. Just got off the line with the MTO and there is indeed an exemption under Ontario's distracted driving law for auto technictions who sometimes need to use hand-held scanning tools while taking a vehicle for a test drive.
Here's the MTO's response verbatim: Section 4(4) of the distracted driving law's supporting regulation under the Highway Traffic Act (Ontario Regulation 366/09, "Display Screens and Hand-Held devices") provides an exemption for auto technicians that permits them to view computer display screens while driving, if it provides diagnostic information about the vehicle's performance while it is being test driven."
07/28/2010 11:33 PM
