The State of California has now made it illegal for drivers and bikers to wear earbuds during their commute.
The new state law, which took effect during the first day of the 2016, further prohibits commuters from wearing them on top of their ears, whether or not music and other audio material may be playing.
While SB 491, the law against drivers and bikers wearing headphones and earplugs has been in effect for the last several years, it has expanded to include earbuds, CBS Sacramento has said.
The law further extends to any person driving emergency vehicles, operating construction-related equipment, and those wearing hearing aids.
While technically, it is still within legal bounds to wear only a single earbud while driving or riding a bike, once a person is caught putting in the other earbud, they can be fined as much as $160, as well as court costs.
The amendment in the existing law has been aimed at improving safety measures for motorists, cyclists, pedestrians, and child passengers, and further defines the rules of the road for vehicle drivers and cyclists, CBS San Francisco disclosed.
California numbers among 13 other states in the U.S. that have placed legal restrictions on earphones, earplugs, and earbud. Four other states have completely banned the audio products for commuters, ABC 7 reported.
The extended law against earbuds took effect alongside other laws, such as Assembly Bill 604, which states that “hoverboard” and other electric motorized board riders have to be aged 16 and above, and must wear a helmet.
The state’s child safety seat law, Assembly Bill 53, also requires children two years old and below to be placed in rear-facing child car seats, citing the recommendation of the American Academy of Pediatricians. Previously, only children under a year old were required to be secured in rear-facing child safety seats.
California has also raised the threshold for Senate Bill 491, which requires drivers to report incidents of vehicle accidents in the event of motorist injury, or property damage over $1,000, which ups the amount from the previous law’s $750.
