Motorcycles, Headphones and Massachusetts

[Mike Qube]

What about in-helmet speakers? Are those considered headphones?

[Chippertheripper]

Just don't get pulled over. Next.

[wesvailco]

What about in-helmet speakers? Are those considered headphones?

-no, they are "speakers" not connected by wires...

-the ONLY way a LEO is going to issue a citation on headphones is due to a persons' "attitude" while in the process of being pulled over.

[LaRNZ]

like i said in another welcome thread, i rock earbuds everytime i ride. you know im wearing em too cuz i air drum like a motherfucking rockstar at red lights and such. been pulled over with em on, cops have seen me take em out an all, they hang outside my jacket for em to see. they havent said boo to me about it. could be cuz i have all my gear on and am polite. doesnt hurt that i am ridiculously good looking as well.

[NobodySpecific]

-no, they are "speakers" not connected by wires...

Um, not to be a pedant, but how do you connect your helmet speakers if not with wires? My helmet speakers have a wire that runs out of the helmet and plugs into my chatterbox unit.

[Mike Qube]

Um, not to be a pedant, but how do you connect your helmet speakers if not with wires? My helmet speakers have a wire that runs out of the helmet and plugs into my chatterbox unit.

mine have wires that I run to my ipod.

[wesvailco]

Um, not to be a pedant, but how do you connect your helmet speakers if not with wires? My helmet speakers have a wire that runs out of the helmet and plugs into my chatterbox unit.

-mine are magically connected and telepathically controlled, I blink twice and it comes alive.

[toocrazy2yoo]

This part should be your out: "No person shall operate a motor vehicle while wearing headphones, unless said headphones are used for communication in connection with controlling the course or movement of said vehicle."

So mix your MP3 player with your GPS output. Cops get after ya, flip the source to your GPS. Turn-by-turn directions in audio so you don't have to look too hard at your GPS screen. You're then "controlling the course or movement of said vehicle". I haven't tested it because cops think the C-14 is an old man's bike, no one pays any attention to it no matter how fast the pack I'm in is movin' out on the slab, some other bike or car always gets nabbed. Can't help that, but as an add-on charge, if your headphone is for the GPS, THAT part ought to slide.

[scubasteveRR]

I have a small Bluetooth reciever that i mounted to my helmet. you can't even tell i have music on unless you put on my helmet since there are no wires. i stream grooveshark, pandora and my GPS though it.

If I do ever get a ticket for it though, I now have a nice excuse to say I use it form my GPS to help controlling the course of my vehicle.

[KingCast 650R]

This part should be your out: "No person shall operate a motor vehicle while wearing headphones, unless said headphones are used for communication in connection with controlling the course or movement of said vehicle."

So mix your MP3 player with your GPS output. Cops get after ya, flip the source to your GPS. Turn-by-turn directions in audio so you don't have to look too hard at your GPS screen. You're then "controlling the course or movement of said vehicle". I haven't tested it because cops think the C-14 is an old man's bike, no one pays any attention to it no matter how fast the pack I'm in is movin' out on the slab, some other bike or car always gets nabbed. Can't help that, but as an add-on charge, if your headphone is for the GPS, THAT part ought to slide.

Dude that is brilliant.

[toocrazy2yoo]

Dude that is brilliant.

Nice of ya to say, but check with Doc, Jimmy, Da Sarge and a few others before you take my word for it. Those doods are New England plus on this technical stuff. But I beat Loudon County, Va., Fairfax County, Va. and Alexandria, Va. (Washington DC area) many, many times on these kinds of technical issues, three of them in front of 7-citizen juries back in Virginia. Never lost one. Up here in New England, I dunno. But you quote a permissable "control/navigation" issue of the vehicle via GPS direction? I'd give it a try. Waddya got to lose?

[KingCast 650R]

Oh, of course YMMV with any legal theory but it is a great out for certain unless unbeknownst to you the cop observes you head-banging for a few miles to your "navigation prompts" in which case you could wind up making him or her REALLY pissed.

[Rossco]

Oh, of course YMMV with any legal theory but it is a great out for certain unless unbeknownst to you the cop observes you head-banging for a few miles to your "navigation prompts" in which case you could wind up making him or her REALLY pissed.

Just tell the officer that there was a bee in your helmet.

[KingCast 650R]

Just tell the officer that there was a bee in your helmet.

Right Brain!
Actually you should have been in Cincinnati for the 17 year locust/Cicada infestation of '87 IIRC. One of them flew into my friend's helmet as he was trying to pull away from a stoplight on his 600 Ninja (they were brand new back then) and he just about put it down, I was busy laughing at him but shit it could have just as easily been me.
Found one on motorcycle usa website they were talking about HUGE IMPACT insects:
http://forum.motorcycle-usa.com/atta...ada.hi-res.jpg

[toocrazy2yoo]

Right Brain!
Actually you should have been in Cincinnati for the 17 year locust/Cicada infestation of '87 IIRC. One of them flew into my friend's helmet as he was trying to pull away from a stoplight on his 600 Ninja (they were brand new back then) and he just about put it down, I was busy laughing at him but shit it could have just as easily been me.

Proof positive: It STOPS being funny when it STARTS being you..

[Garandman]

Doc,
I just figured I'd use the search button instead of starting a brand new thread about the same topic. If I'd started a new thread, I'd bet money somebody would have told me to use the search.

100% correct.

This part should be your out: "No person shall operate a motor vehicle while wearing headphones, unless said headphones are used for communication in connection with controlling the course or movement of said vehicle."

So mix your MP3 player with your GPS output. Cops get after ya, flip the source to your GPS. Turn-by-turn directions in audio so you don't have to look too hard at your GPS screen. You're then "controlling the course or movement of said vehicle". I haven't tested it because cops think the C-14 is an old man's bike, no one pays any attention to it no matter how fast the pack I'm in is movin' out on the slab, some other bike or car always gets nabbed. Can't help that, but as an add-on charge, if your headphone is for the GPS, THAT part ought to slide.

Zumos have MP3 players.....

[aLive]

I wear headphones all the time but I listen to my V1 instead of music. I wonder if that'll win me some bonus points when I get pulled over again

[Loun]

This part should be your out: "No person shall operate a motor vehicle while wearing headphones, unless said headphones are used for communication in connection with controlling the course or movement of said vehicle."

So mix your MP3 player with your GPS output. Cops get after ya, flip the source to your GPS. Turn-by-turn directions in audio so you don't have to look too hard at your GPS screen. You're then "controlling the course or movement of said vehicle". I haven't tested it because cops think the C-14 is an old man's bike, no one pays any attention to it no matter how fast the pack I'm in is movin' out on the slab, some other bike or car always gets nabbed. Can't help that, but as an add-on charge, if your headphone is for the GPS, THAT part ought to slide.

Im glad my headphones are attached to my Iphone which means I dont have to deal with any of the switching BS since it has a built in (albeit shitty) GPS.

As an aside, I thought it was illegal to operate a MV while on the cell phone unless you used a headset or some other hands free kit. If I am in my truck I typically have my iphone headphones in for phone purposes. I think like everything else, its all in how bad you were screwing around when you get caught and how much of a dick you are when you get spoken to.

[NeverlosT]

If you are going to let yourself get pulled over, do the smart thing and take off your helmet way before they get to you. when they are way back in the car, still stopping, running your plates, and feel safe. This shows them that you arent trying to run again, and gives you time to tuck your earbuds in your jacket.

Some may say "ohhh no, he is going to see you doing stuff with your hands and pistol whip you". I find that this is not the case. Take off that helmet, keep your hands in reasonable places, and be polite. Its the only way to go other than redlining it.

BRAAAAAP

ps. hell yea 2005 thread!

[nhbubba]

Mental note: Stuff the headphones down the collar of my jacket ASAP after being pulled over in MA, but don't sweat it in NH.

Seriously though, the "its for the hands free phone" loophole seems about a mile wide here, no?

[freeskier]

i was just having this debate with a friend. i generally remove the helemt and pop the buds into my jacket if its a statie but if its a local guy i generally dont bother

[mzdagrl]

As an aside, I thought it was illegal to operate a MV while on the cell phone unless you used a headset or some other hands free kit.

Pretty sure it wasn't illegal yet in 2005, when the thread started.

[capitalcrew]

Good bump.

[feralchimp]

Well as long as we're all watching this thread's undead corpse stroll across the road...

"unless said headphones are used for communication in connection with controlling the course or movement of said vehicle."

Does that mean GPS directions are ok? *ducks*

[TheIglu]

Yes, I'd assume so.