What's happening
This bill prohibits drivers from using head-mounted electronic devices, such as Google Glass, while operating a motor vehicle.
Why it matters
Expands the definition of banned devices. By adding "head-mounted" electronics to the law, this bill targets emerging technologies like smart glasses, anticipating future tech that could distract drivers in new ways—not just smartphones.
Broadens what counts as “using” a device. “Using” now includes not just holding but also wearing electronic devices while driving, making it easier for law enforcement to cite drivers for distracted driving involving head-mounted tech.
Clarifies what “head-mounted” means. The bill specifically defines head-mounted devices as those worn on the head, ears, or nose (like smart glasses), and lists examples, providing clear guidance to drivers and police about what’s covered.
Addresses evolving road safety concerns. As wearable technology becomes more common, the bill aims to proactively reduce distractions, potentially preventing accidents before such devices become widespread among drivers.
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Who cares
Drivers who use electronic eyewear
The bill would extend the portable electronic device restrictions to head-mounted devices, including Google Glass, when used for covered activities such as viewing images or reading messages.
Commercial drivers and trucking companies
Conspicuously wearing a covered device would create a rebuttable presumption of use, including during temporary traffic stops, with an exception for commercial vehicles lawfully stopped beside or off a public highway.
Police officers
The bill would extend the existing rebuttable presumption of device use to drivers who conspicuously wear, rather than hold, a covered device.
Electronic eyewear manufacturers
The bill expressly names Google Glass and Google Glasses and includes similar technologies in its definition of head-mounted devices.
Headline styles
Ban Head-Mounted Devices Driving
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to transportation
- Referred to transportation
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
1054
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE (Prefiled)
January 8, 2025
Introduced by Sen. LIU -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Transportation
AN ACT to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to prohibiting the use of head-mounted portable electronic devices while driving
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Paragraphs (a) and (b) of subdivision 2 and subdivision 4 of section 1225-d of the vehicle and traffic law, paragraphs (a) and (b) of subdivision 2 as amended by section 8 and subdivision 4 as amended by section 10 of part C of chapter 58 of the laws of 2013, are amended to read as follows:
(a) "Portable electronic device" shall mean any hand-held or headmounted mobile telephone, as defined by subdivision one of section twelve hundred twenty-five-c of this article, personal digital assistant (PDA), handheld device with mobile data access, laptop computer, pager, broadband personal communication device, two-way messaging device, electronic game, [or] portable computing device, or any other electronic device when used to input, write, send, receive, or read text for present or future communication.
(b) "Using" shall mean holding or wearing a portable electronic device while viewing, taking or transmitting images, playing games, or, for the purpose of present or future communication: performing a command or request to access a world wide web page, composing, sending, reading, viewing, accessing, browsing, transmitting, saving or retrieving e-mail, text messages, instant messages, or other electronic data.
4. A person who holds or wears a portable electronic device in a conspicuous manner while operating a motor vehicle or while operating a commercial motor vehicle on a public highway including while temporarily stationary because of traffic, a traffic control device, or other momentary delays but not including when such commercial motor vehicle is
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD02428-01-5
stopped at the side of, or off, a public highway in a location where such vehicle is not otherwise prohibited from stopping by law, rule, regulation or any lawful order or direction of a police officer is presumed to be using such device, except that a person operating a commercial motor vehicle while using a portable electronic device when such vehicle is stopped at the side of, or off, a public highway in a location where such vehicle is not otherwise prohibited from stopping by law, rule, regulation or any lawful order or direction of a police officer shall not be presumed to be using such device. The presumption established by this subdivision is rebuttable by evidence tending to show that the operator was not using the device within the meaning of this section.
§ 2. Subdivision 2 of section 1225-d of the vehicle and traffic law is amended by adding a new paragraph (e) to read as follows:
(e) "Head-mounted" shall mean wearing a portable electronic device on the head, ears and nose as eyeglasses or eyewear. Common head-mounted portable electronic devices shall include, but not be limited to, Google Glass and Google Glasses, and other similar technologies or devices.
§ 3. This act shall take effect on the thirtieth day after it shall have become a law.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to prohibiting the use of head-mounted portable electronic devices while driving
Purpose
This legislation would provide that a motor vehicle will be considered to be in motion while stopped at traffic control devices and stop signs for purposes of mobile phones and other electronic devices.
Summary of provisions
Amends Subdivision 1 of section 1225-c and subdivision 2 of section 1225-d of the vehicle and traffic law to provide that a motor vehicle will be considered to be in motion while stopped at traffic control devices, stop signs, railroad crossings, or due to heavy traffic for purposes of mobile phones and other electronic devices.
Justification
The use of head-mounted augmented reality devices while driving presents a real threat of distraction and creates an unsafe condition on the road for not only the driver but for the persons and vehicles in the vicinity of drivers who are wearing and using these devices. Existing law already prohibits the use of hand held phones, defined as "portable electronic devices" (PED's) while driving. This bill expands the defi- nition of PED's to include head-mounted augmented reality devices, such as "Google Glass," "Amazon Echo Frames," "Rayban Meta AI Glasses," etc. Such devices often allow the user to navigate the Internet, check email, and receive and transmit information while wearing 'glasses' that partially obscures the wearer's direct line of sight and distracts their mental faculties away from operating a motor vehicle. Further, head- mounted PED's have the ability to impair the driver's hearing as they function in a manner akin to headphones. The use of some of these devices require that one eye focus on the image shown inside the 'glass,' thereby significantly limiting the user's ability to give their full attention to the task of driving. Including devices like smart glasses in the existing ban on the use of PEDs while driving is consist- ent with the intent of the original legislation and will increase public safety on the roads.
Legislative history
01/03/24 REFERRED TO TRANSPORTATION
01/19/23 REFERRED TO TRANSPORTATION
01/05/22 REFERRED TO TRANSPORTATION
Fiscal implications
None.
Effective date
60 days after enactment
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.