Are screens in the front illegal?

[Bec]

This might be a stupid question but some people tell me that having a DVD player (and screen) in the front of the car is illegal? I imagine its true but I thought I might as well check lol.

Thanks guys! :kiss2:

[Mr_will]

This might be a stupid question but some people tell me that having a DVD player (and screen) in the front of the car is illegal? I imagine its true but I thought I might as well check lol.

Thanks guys! :kiss2:

simply having it there is not illegal. if it is operating ie if there is an image on the screen other than sat-nav while you are driving, then it is illegal.

[gReY-oNe]

NO its not illegal unless it is ON while driving

so wen parked u are allowed to watch it yes but not illegal

you notice if u get somone to intsall it for u*professionally that is* they will set it so that u cannot watch it wen the car is moving so it dusnt cause distractions

correct me if im rong

cheers bao

[Bec]

Oh I see, I see. Awesome!

Thanks heaps :D

[destrukshn]

i've talkin to a few officers.
it's really up to them, if they wanna fine you or not.
i've asked them, is it okay to have the screen on, but showing only text, some say yes, some say no.
but there are head units that have moving pictures etc, but they won't get fined, beucase most officers, don't know that, it's only when it's noticebly bigger, then they'll say something.

[Mr_will]

you notice if u get somone to intsall it for u*professionally that is* they will set it so that u cannot watch it wen the car is moving so it dusnt cause distractions

correct me if im rong

cheers bao


yep you are correct, i believe it is required by law that they are installed that way.
however its not hard to bypass such settings, should you wish to do so

[destrukshn]

yep you are correct, i believe it is required by law that they are installed that way.
however its not hard to bypass such settings, should you wish to do so
yups, instead of putting the handbrake wire to the actual handbrake signal, just earth it.

[Q_ball]

so in a nutshell, like every other "bling bling" mod, it can get u into trouble depending on the cop pulling u over.
when the car is in motion, u can only display song info ie. text and numbers.
if you have an animation/movie showing whilst the car is in motion then it is defectable.
when car is stationary, then n e thing goes :)

jst be smart, and flip the screen away if you are in cop infested areas or are gettin pulled over...similar to turning ur music down, jst flip ur screen away :)

[Zdster]

you notice if u get somone to intsall it for u*professionally that is* they will set it so that u cannot watch it wen the car is moving so it dusnt cause distractions


Most of them link it to the handbrake.

It is odd however that some of the high end cars are able to run sat. nav. units and other sophisticated outputs while the car is in motion - but I guess you have to draw the line somewhere.

The best bet would be to contact your local road authority and ask them.

EDIT: Beaten to it :p.

Q Ball: I do remember reading on the forums about someone that had gotten into trouble for having a headunit that had like a sound level meter on the screen.

[destrukshn]

legally, no your not supposed to have your screen up at all times, even though it's just showin text.

[Mr_will]

legally, no your not supposed to have your screen up at all times, even though it's just showin text.


not true, you can have it it up as long as its onyl displaying text/numbers.

consider sat nav in the euro, bmw's, mercs etc. its perfectly legal to have it operating while driving...thats the point. just as long as youre not watching movies etc

[destrukshn]

not true, you can have it it up as long as its onyl displaying text/numbers.

consider sat nav in the euro, bmw's, mercs etc. its perfectly legal to have it operating while driving...thats the point. just as long as youre not watching movies etc
every officer i've talked to, called up the rta to make sure and all.
they said it is not allowed. and can get fined for it.

[Zdster]

not true, you can have it it up as long as its onyl displaying text/numbers.

consider sat nav in the euro, bmw's, mercs etc. its perfectly legal to have it operating while driving...thats the point. just as long as youre not watching movies etc

Well, if that is the case, what about sat. nav. that display images of roads/freeways etc as well as images like arrows ("turn left at the next juncture)???

I have no idea about local state regulations, but where do you draw the line?

[Q_ball]

Q Ball: I do remember reading on the forums about someone that had gotten into trouble for having a headunit that had like a sound level meter on the screen.
Doesnt surprise me at all.
There so much inconsistant policing in this area that no one knows what is legal and whats not as everyone u ask will tell you something different.

[Mr_will]

every officer i've talked to, called up the rta to make sure and all.
they said it is not allowed. and can get fined for it.


yes well we all know how good the rta is when youre trying to find out what is illegal and whats not.

if it was illegal to have anything at all showing, any car with sat nav would not meet Australian Design Requirements, and would thus not be able to be sold in Australia, obviously this is not the case.

as i said before, if its text, or sat nav, its ok. if its movies, it aint.

[Q_ball]

Mr will, jst because some cars come stock with sat nav doesnt make it legal in another car that DOESNT come stock with it.

Prime example:
HIDs...if they come stock in the car, then its fine - but if ur car comes stock with halogen bulbs, then fittin a HID kit on it is deemed illegal and defectable.

[destrukshn]

yes well we all know how good the rta is when youre trying to find out what is illegal and whats not.

if it was illegal to have anything at all showing, any car with sat nav would not meet Australian Design Requirements, and would thus not be able to be sold in Australia, obviously this is not the case.

as i said before, if its text, or sat nav, its ok. if its movies, it aint.
yes, well standard equipment has passed adr's.
where as aftermarket hasn't, regarding to dvd players/screens. yes sat nav is okay, even aftermarket.


and it still all comes down to the officer, if they decide to book you or not.
eh, i've had officers being fine with movies, unless it's majorly distracting like porn. lol.

i can see this going back and forth, so i'll stop here, unless i can comment something different. lol.

[Mr_will]

Mr will, jst because some cars come stock with sat nav doesnt make it legal in another car that DOESNT come stock with it.

Prime example:
HIDs...if they come stock in the car, then its fine - but if ur car comes stock with halogen bulbs, then fittin a HID kit on it is deemed illegal and defectable.


thats a solid point you make, i got nothin.

[AZ51LK]

what if you have the screen on but the only this it's displaying is that blue screen that says DVD in bold white font?

[bennjamin]

All these points and most "facts" discussed on Ozhonda or any forum , in regards to defectable parts of our cars means jack all when its to the decision and discretion of the police officer.
We already know there is some cars with GPS units , some with DVD players etc and some get defected. From what I can gather , ANY modification to ANY part of a car is illegal , unless engineered to meet current ADR's and emission standards.

The only help here i think , is to be nice to cops and you wont get defected lol.

[SINISTR]

Any 'mod' that is done past the vehicles standard equipment will always be viewed legal or illegal at the discretion of the officer - we all know that.

This applies to DVD Screens, mobile phone handsfree sets, walkmans, notepads what ever...

The only time i'd argue a point about DVD screens showing moving images is if you have Sat Nav hooked up to it. Otherwise I personally believe any DVD screen showing its 'static' images should be fine, as its not more of a distraction over a normal Double DIN CD.Radio player.

But once again - somes down to the police officer and how well you argue your point...

[TypeRice]

oh my god i never knew that !!!
i always drive around with my PSP on...
its also attached to the front of da car just above the aircon... i play Music Video Clips on it.. but i dun realli watch it.. just listen to da music from it.. i never knew its illegal.. oh wells...

havnt been caught yet.. so i'll stop doing it hehehe

[odell]

what if you have the screen on but the only this it's displaying is that blue screen that says DVD in bold white font?

HAHAHAHA! Yeah that's illegal because it will cause distraction whilst driving. LMAO!

[IS250]

Police warning on car DVD players (http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/05/24/1085389334013.html?from=storyrhs)


Depending on the position of the screen, the systems could also be illegal, he said. Rule 299 of Victoria's road rules states that it is an offence to drive a motor vehicle with a "TV receiver or visual display unit" if the screen is visible to the driver of the car or "is likely to distract another driver". In-car navigation systems are exempt.

...

An RACV spokesman said last night that the organisation had not conducted any research into the potential risk of in-car DVD systems. "It's a distraction like any other distraction," he said. "Like a billboard on the side of the road or a blonde woman in the car next to you, our advice is you've got to keep your eyes on the road."

LOL

Edit - RTA rules are the same. See rule 299.

http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/rulesregulations/downloads/p18.pdf

[krogoth]

if u want DVD, sat nav, screen watever in the front, just get one of them normal sized Head units that spit a LCD screen out of them wen u turn it on

and suck the LCD back in wen u dont want it, and then it looks like a normal headunit, but the screen is still there, so u do watever u want with it, and no way ur gona get defected from that unless u leave the screen out wile u gettin breathalised or something

therez a good example, itll set u back 1.5 at least

http://shop.uplands.co.uk/acatalog/avicx1rx250.jpg

[EK4R]

yups, instead of putting the handbrake wire to the actual handbrake signal, just earth it.

earth it, you mean connect the wire anywhere on the chassis?

[heist]

earth it, you mean connect the wire anywhere on the chassis?

Affirmative