We expected Google Glass to introduce some privacy and ethical concerns once it finally launched but for one California woman, the troubles have already started. Cecelia Abadie of Temecula, California, was recently pulled over by a California Highway Patrol officer on suspicion of speeding and given a ticket for wearing Google Glass while driving.
Abadie posted the ticket on her Google+ page, asking if it was illegal to wear Glass while driving or if the cop was wrong. Her post has since garnered more than 500 replies both in support of and against wearing the device while allegedly speeding.
The California Highway Patrol (CHP) said the ticket was given as a violation of California Vehicle Code 27602 which makes it illegal to drive a vehicle if a television receiver, a video monitor, or a television or video screen or any other means of visually displaying a television broadcast or video signal is operating and visible to the driver while driving the vehicle.
In a statement on the matter, Google said the product is designed to help the wearer be in contact with the world and not make them be distracted from something as important as driving.
CHP spokesperson Jake Sanchez said anything that takes attention away from driving - putting on makeup, eating, talking on the phone, watching a video - is dangerous. Furthermore, individual officers have leeway in issuing a ticket as it's every officer's own judgment on whether the law has been violated.
What do you think? Do you think Abadie was in the wrong by wearing Glass while driving or should she not have been cited by the officer?