MP3 players, Noise Canceling Ear Buds, and Riding

[mlm]

Actually they are, and I cite for it all the time. http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/vctop/d12/vc27007.htm

And I know he cannot respond for a few days.

Not the same thing. A car radio can be well within legal limits and still prevent the occupant from hearing outside noises.

It's a stupid law considering all the equivalent things that are NOT illegal. About the same as if we said it was illegal to have an open container of wine while driving, but not beer (given driving under the influence is already illegal).

 

[enki]

Not the same thing. A car radio can be well within legal limits and still prevent the occupant from hearing outside noises.

It's a stupid law considering all the equivalent things that are NOT illegal. About the same as if we said it was illegal to have an open container of wine while driving, but not beer (given driving under the influence is already illegal).

Actually, an open container of wine is legal and one of beer isn't.

 

[mlm]

Actually, an open container of wine is legal and one of beer isn't.

Well there ya go.

 

[}Dragon{]

I just want to say *ANYTHING* you wear, whether it be legal hearing protection or (illegal) noise-cancelling head phones: You run the chance of getting hit by an emergency vehicle. It's not worth it, just so you can listen to your tunes.

Really, it's bad enough for folks that have a helmet on. :|

Wearing anything that "numbs" you to your surroundings is dangerous.

For the argument of "can't deaf people ride": They are WAY more aware of their surroundings than most of us are.

 

[bte320]

as long as you can hear a siren, then your in the clear. I can have my ipod volume up pretty far and I have earplug style headphones and I've never had a problem hearing a siren. Of course this is only on rides for long distances of freeway. I usually just use those wonderful howard leight orange earplugs

 

[boney]

A little clarification about the actual ear-buds being worn would be helpful too.

A noise cancelling ear bud is typically an "active" system in which the surrounding sounds are actively deadened by creating inverse waveforms of the intruding noise. Bose makes some really nice models, and they cost a small fortune. They typically involve some sort of powersource and microprocessor, however small.

A noise damping ear bud is typically an ear plug with (usually) a rating that explains how much noise is lessened by the time it reaches your pretty ears.

OPINION: So, no, you shouldn't use a "noise cancelling" system because it WILL attempt to eliminate the sounds of horns and sirens. Music or no music.

Yes, I use noise damping ear buds with music often. Never been cited or even mentioned even though I've been pulled over while earing them.

 

[j8food]

Doesn't the best solution seem to be wear one earplug and one headphone? No noise problems and still tunes in one ear? This would be fully legal correct?

 

[JPM]

Doesn't the best solution seem to be wear one earplug and one headphone? No noise problems and still tunes in one ear? This would be fully legal correct?

But that would be using common sense and not trying to buck the system. Come on now, this is BARF.

 

[Razel]

Besides, all you really need is the audio from the GPS, inter-bike communications, and the radar detector. None of them require stereo...

 

[mlm]

Besides, all you really need is the audio from the GPS, inter-bike communications, and the radar detector. None of them require stereo...

Yeah, much better idea to talk on the phone while riding than listen to music at whisper levels.

And just to be clear, I only wear my ear buds when I'm laying out a lot of miles, and even then at very low levels. It doesn't affect my ability to hear any more than ear plugs, or even driving with the radio on and windows up. If I get a ticket I'm not going to bitch about it, but I can assure you the ticket won't be for failing to yield.

 

[Razel]

Yeah, much better idea to talk on the phone while riding than listen to music at whisper levels.

Phone? What phone? That's too damned distracting. Cell phone gets checked when it's time to fill the tank or the destination has been reached.

 

[mlm]

Phone? What phone? That's too damned distracting. Cell phone gets checked when it's time to fill the tank or the destination has been reached.

My comment wasn't directed at you so much as the fact the single earpiece loophole seems to have been put in to allow cell phone handsets. I kinda doubt they did for radar detectors, and GPS wasn't on the market back then.

 

[OldFatGuy]

this is only i minor hijacking but i'm sick of getting headaches from road noise, and the cheap earplugs always fall out when i put my helmet on, any custom and LEO approved recommendation in the bay area for some earplugs?

These are the best earplugs I've ever used. They stay in great and cut out almost all noise (yes, you can still hear sirens).

 

[Aed]

If no one questioned authority, women would not have the right to vote, Black Americans would still be slaves, and Rodney King would still be a poor criminal. I have strong beliefs and I'm now afraid of speaking out on things I disagree with.

Yes, because this is a huge human rights violation, and completely on parallel with all of the above-mentioned abuses!

When the privilege of listening to one's ipod while riding is the most pressing problem in our society, I'll consider it a pretty good world.

 

[motorman4life]

Yes, because this is a huge human rights violation, and completely on parallel with all of the above-mentioned abuses!

When the privilege of listening to one's ipod while riding is the most pressing problem in our society, I'll consider it a pretty good world.

When someone wearing NOISE CANCELING EARBUDS and/or listening to music in earbuds while driving a car, motorcycle, bus or limo is the direct result of YOU (or someone you love) not getting critical/emergency medical attention.. then you tell me how this clear violation of the vehicle code is not a pressing problem.

Maybe you need to speak with some ambulance drivers before you form your opinion.

 

[Aed]

When someone wearing NOISE CANCELING EARBUDS and/or listening to music in earbuds while driving a car, motorcycle, bus or limo is the direct result of YOU (or someone you love) not getting critical/emergency medical attention.. then you tell me how this clear violation of the vehicle code is not a pressing problem.

Maybe you need to speak with some ambulance drivers before you form your opinion.

Whoah, wait, I was agreeing with you! Sarcasm tends to get lost in helvetica font.

I was just remarking that I found it fairly ludicrous that the OP was comparing his need to whine about the law to any aspect of the civil rights movement.

I don't ride with both earbuds. It's hard enough to dodge the crackheads in my neighborhood with all my senses intact!

 

[CnDnMax]

So lets just let him do it and learn the hard way! Everything in life is "AT YOUR OWN RISK"

This statement would work if he wasn't a danger to the people around him. If someone doesn't wear a seatbelt he/she is just gambling with their own life; on the other hand, someone wearing both earphones and listening to music is theoretically a danger to the people around them also.

 

[mlm]

A couple observations:

- The law in question was passed primarily in response to accidents involving joggers and bicyclists wearing walkmans.

- I've got some of the Bose noise cancelling headphones. They are among the best and primarily filter white noise...you can actually hold a conversation with somebody while wearing them. I've never seen nor heard of noise CANCELLING earbuds. So far as I know, they don't exist (I researched this a couple years ago when I bough mine for air travel)

- I wear the maximum rated ear plugs when riding. They are legal under the law and I can actually hear BETTER than I can in my car with the windows up.

- I have a pair of Etymotics ear buds, and they provide similar sound isolation to my foam plugs when no music is playing. At low volume I can still hear outside noise BETTER than I can in my car.

- Why would helmet speakers be considered legal How are they any different from headphones. Aren't both essentially speakers that are positioned over the ears with some foam?

How about this. See someone you suspect is doing something where they can't hear a siren? Blip your siren. If they see you, then you were wrong, and if they don't write them up for failing to yield.

edit: Like I said, I'm not going to debate this with an officer if I were ever pulled over or cited. Just trying to point out this is a weak law that does a poor job of addressing how well drivers can hear outside noises.

 

[Diezel]

I'd have asked for proof of said "balance correction" function of said MP3 device. Had you not been able to provide said request. I'd have cited you for VC, and told your smart ass to have a nice day.


The irony in this whole deal about sound, is 1 item. Vehicle manufacturer, silencing external noise.

Lexus : Sand filled, double steel.
Ford : Quiet Steel
Chevrolet : over zealous use of insulation, and deadening material.

List goes on.
It's illegal for vehicle stereos to be heard over 50ft, to drive with headphones on *(so glad to see more LEO's citing for this!), and other stupid "sound" laws.

 

[ctroutnerrun]

jesus tap-dancing christ people, can't a guy post something without a bunch of people trying to teach him some life lesson irrevlant to his questions????

Somebody's gotta speak up in homeboy's defense so he doesn't come back, flip out and just get booted again

I'm confused. Did he post this?

"What up foo's, I love to listen to my music hella loud and not give a fuck about anyone around me, but the po-po's keep giving me shit. I just got these sweet headphones that I can totally pass off as noise reducers to show the pigs they aren't the boss of me. Everyone please give me pointers as to why this is wrong. Also I love kicking puppies."

Or this?

I was just reading the DMV website and found something interesting

Ok, my question...

At the races last year at Infineon I purchased some custom noise canceling ear molds/buds that this company made for me. I can hear sirens, horns, and the ambient road noises that accompany riding with a well made full faced helmet. With the noise canceling and the superb hearing protection I found that I dont have to turn the volume as high as other ear buds hence the ability to hear my surroundings better.

I was wondering since the VC is pretty vague is section (d) (omits any say about noise canceling ear buds) if my situation will fall within a loophole. Since you can reduce the volume with ear buds and can still hear horns and sirens wouldn't it be considered that ear buds fall in the gray area?

Can I get some insight from some of the LEO's on how you would handle a situation such as this.

I'm pretty sure he wrote the second one and I made up the the first one like five minutes ago, but I could be wrong

Did some of you just ignore this part so it would be easier to throw in your two cents about this guy's character??? I'm guilty of liking my soapbox as much as the next, but I like to at least attempt to make it revelant to the op's questions. The guy wants to listen to music at a safe level in both ears, legally if possible. If he can't, he'll do it anyway. He's not trying to "buck the system", as JPM put it, he is willing to blatantly break the law if necessary. How do I personally feel about that? Well gee seeing how he didn't ask about that I will keep shit like that to myself
I understand leo's have more of a job of "educating" people then alot of us do, informing folks of the laws (that they just broke!), telling them why their actions are dangerous, unsafe, ect, and this little rant is not geared so much towards you guys. Everyone that I know of that is an officer here (Razel, CnDnMax, MM4L and "excluded" JPM ) gave helpful information/attempted to answer the guys question, even MM4L, who did not seem thrilled with the OP, gave an answer before he put in his . I also understand you have to deal with ignorant people doing stupid things way too often, and it would be easier if everyone was just more aware of the consequences and repercussions of thier actions, so we should all appreciate the advice you guys give, because it's for everyone's benefit. But at the same time this thing got judgemental towards the OP quick, not that the OP helped with his blunt and passive-agressive comments, but what did you expect, did you see his name and avatar??? And +1 to Razel, who gave the most straightforward and informative opinion.

Also kudos to mlm, boney and the other few who didn't jump on the bandwagon.

I would like to get this thread back on topic and hopefully get some things clarified, if possible. I am not a leo but this is what I see.

Is it just me or is there is conflicting information here? (ironically IMO the officer the OP didn't want to comment, JPM, had the post that seems the most intriguing to the situation)

I missed the part in the section that says music has to be playing; please show it to me.

Unfortunately as posted by you in your original post and also said by others, no where in the section does it say music has to be playing. Just the wearing of said devices is a violation.

If you are wearing fitted custom hearing protection (earplugs) that do not prevent you from hearing a siren, then you should be okay, as per the code.

If you are wearing fitted headphones, it could be assumed you are listening to music. See, that is the purpose of headphones. Fitted earplugs are designed to protect your hearing, that is why they are allowed. Fitten headphones are designed to play music, that is why they are not allowed.

Yes you are aloud to have both earplugs but you cannot have earphones(speakers) in both ears. You would need to prove that music was only coming out of one earphone which is pretty hard to do.

I assume this law was made for people listening to music devices, not for people that had headphones on that lead to nothing, if such people exist . I could see why this law was made without mentioning music, to aviod having to prove if any music was playing or not, which would be a bitch because everyone would just turn their shit off or unplug their headphones. So they went a step farther and made just wearing the headset illegal, making any arguments about if the music was on or not irrevelant. But by doing so, and not mentioning a musical device (if that is indeed the case), they might have created this loophole as the OP has pointed out.
SO... the question at hand seems to be what exactly the definition of a headset covering is as mentioned in the VC. If it specifically means a musical device, this whole thing ends right there. If not, you might be good to go. Regardless, do any officers know of any other VC's that are affiliated with music, besides the one JPM linked to? I could not find any on the dmv website.

To the OP-
Either way I figure "you gonna have some es'planing to do" if an officer views both cords, seeing how that is is job and all, so if you don't mind having something on you that draws unnecessary attention, wasting your time and his time, enjoy . Personally I try to minimize these types of things.
You said you purchased them at a racetrack, not radioshack, frys, ect., a place that has merchants who are gearing their products towards consumers that have to tolerate alot of loud noise. If you have any paperwork you got with them that shows they are custom noise cancellation earplugs that are made by a company that specializes in that sort of thing, and not just nice custom headphones, you might have a stronger argument, and I would recommend keeping them on you. But as it has been pointed out, it will be up to the officer who has pulled you over and his interpretation of the law.
Sorry for hijacking your thread for my rant. You can definitley come across as cocky and confrontational sometimes, and on here people seem to love snip at that kind of attitude. (probably because alot of them can't in real life) I think people are making alot of assumptions, and normally I just try to weed through this shit and take out the useful info, but in this situation I felt it was necessary to comment, seeing how people were giving you shit for a view point you didn't even say that you had, and your not here to vouch for yourself. And based on what I've read in your other threads/posts, you seem like you might be a cool guy. (Although perhaps the type who turns into an asshole when beaten at pingpong, fooseball, ect. )

So it seems to me like yes, you found a loophole, you can safely listen to music in both ears without having to buy a helmet with speakers, be in a cage, or on a harley or goldwing that has a goddamn mantelplace.

Oh and BTW, I have never ridden while listening to music.
Ride safe all.