Transcript
STATE
STATUS ü = earplugs OK û = earplugs banned Ü = read carefully
HEADSET/SPEAKER/EARPLUG LAW
Alabama
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None
Alaska
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13 AAC 04.260. Television receivers and headsets *** (b) A driver of a motor vehicle may not wear a headset, headphones, or other headgear designed for receiving sound and transmitting sound to the driver, or wear ear plugs or a similar device which reduces the driver's hearing ability while driving a vehicle. (c) This section does not prohibit the use of television-type or headgear-receiving equipment used exclusively for safety or law enforcement purposes, used for and designed to improve a driver's hearing ability, or navigational devices such as Global Positioning System (GPS) or Loran.
Arizona
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None
Arkansas
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None
California
Ü
California Vehicle Code 27400. A person operating a motor vehicle or bicycle may not wear a headset covering, or earplugs in, both ears. This prohibition does not apply to any of the following: *** (d) A person wearing personal hearing protectors in the form of earplugs or molds that are specifically designed to attenuate injurious noise levels. The plugs or molds shall be designed in a manner so as to not inhibit the wearer's ability to hear a siren or horn from an emergency vehicle or a horn from another motor vehicle.
Colorado
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§ 42-4-1411. Use of earphones while driving (1)(a) No person shall operate a motor vehicle while wearing earphones. (b) For purposes of this subsection (1), “earphones” includes any headset, radio, tape player, or other similar device which provides the listener with radio programs, music, or other recorded information through a device attached to the head and which covers all of or a portion of the ears. “Earphones” does not include speakers or other listening devices that are built into protective headgear or a device or portion of a device that only covers all or a portion of one ear and that is connected to a wireless, hand-held telephone.
Connecticut
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None
Delaware
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None
District of Columbia
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None
Florida
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316.304 Wearing of headsets. (1) No person shall operate a vehicle while wearing a headset, headphone, or other listening device, other than a hearing aid or instrument for the improvement of defective human hearing. (2) This section does not apply to: *** (c) Any person operating a motorcycle who is using a headset that is installed in a helmet and worn so as to prevent the speakers from making direct contact with the user’s ears so that the user can hear surrounding sounds.
Georgia
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§ 40-6-250. Wearing headsets or headphones prohibited No person shall operate a motor vehicle while wearing a headset or headphone which would impair such person's ability to hear ... ; provided, however, that a person may wear a headset or headphone for communication purposes.
Hawaii
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None
Idaho
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None
Illinois
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§ 12-610. Headset receivers. (a) Except as provided under Section 11-1403.3 [intercom helmets], no driver of a motor vehicle on the highways of this State shall wear headset receivers while driving. *** (d) This Section does not prohibit the use of a single-sided headset or earpiece with a cellular or other mobile telephone.
Indiana
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None
Iowa
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None
Kansas
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None
Kentucky
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None
Louisiana
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§ 295.2. Wearing of headphones; prohibitions; exceptions A. The wearing of headphones by any operator of a motor vehicle is hereby prohibited. For purposes of this Section, “headphones” shall mean a headset, headphone, or listening device other than a hearing aid or instrument for the improvement of defective human hearing which covers both ears or which is inserted into both ears. Any headset, headphone, or other listening device which covers or which is inserted into only one ear may be used at any time. B. The provisions of this Section shall not apply to: *** (2) Any person operating a motorcycle who is using a headset that is installed in a helmet and worn so as to prevent the speakers from making direct contact with the user's ears so that the user can hear surrounding sounds.
Maine
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None
Maryland
Ü
§ 21-1120. Wearing earphones, headsets, etc., prohibited. (a) Earplugs.- A person may not drive a motor vehicle on any highway or on any private property that is used by the public in general in this State while the person is wearing over or in both ears earplugs. (b) Headsets.- A person may not drive a motor vehicle on any highway or on any private property that is used by the public in general in this State while the person is wearing over or in both ears a headset. (c) Earphones.- A person may not drive a motor vehicle on any highway or on any private property that is used by the public in general in this State while the person is wearing over or in both ears earphones attached to a radio, tape player, or other audio device. (d) Exceptions.- The provisions of subsections (a), (b), and (c) of this section do not apply to: *** (3) A person wearing personal hearing protectors in the form of custom earplugs or molds that are designed to reduce injurious noise levels. However, custom plugs or molds shall be designed in such a manner as to not inhibit the wearer's ability to hear a siren or horn from an emergency vehicle or a horn from another vehicle; ***
Massachusetts
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Michigan
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Minnesota
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M.G.L.A. 90 § 13. Safety precautions for proper operation and parking of vehicles and buses 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. None M.S.A. § 169.471. Television; headphones *** Subd. 2. Use of headphones in vehicle. (a) No person, while operating a motor vehicle, shall wear headphones or earphones that are used in both ears simultaneously for purposes of receiving or listening to broadcasts or reproductions from radios, tape decks, or other sound-producing or transmitting devices.
Mississippi
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None
Missouri
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None
Montana
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None
Nebraska
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None
Nevada
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None
New Hampshire
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None
New Jersey
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None
New Mexico
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None
New York
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§ 375 24-a. Use of earphones while driving or riding a bicycle. It shall be unlawful to operate upon any public highway in this state a motor vehicle, limited use automobile, limited use motorcycle or bicycle while the operator is wearing more than one earphone attached to a radio, tape player or other audio device.
North Carolina
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None
North Dakota
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None
Ohio
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4511.84 Prohibition against driving while wearing earphones or earplugs. (A) No person shall operate a motor vehicle while wearing earphones over, or earplugs in both ears. As used in this section, "earphones" means any headset, radio, tape player, or other similar device that provides the listener with radio programs, music, or other recorded information through a device attached to the head and that covers all or a portion of both ears. "Earphones" does not include speakers or other listening devices that are built into protective headgear.
Oklahoma
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None
Oregon
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None
Pennsylvania
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75 Pa.C.S.A. § 3314. Prohibiting use of hearing impairment devices (a) General rule.--No driver shall operate a vehicle while wearing or using one or more headphones or earphones. (b) Exception.--This section does not prohibit ... the use of communication equipment by ... motorcycle operators complying with section 3525 (relating to protective equipment [helmets] for motorcycle riders).
Rhode Island
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§ 31-23-51. Earphones and headsets prohibited (a) No person shall operate a bicycle or motor vehicle upon any highway while wearing earphones, a headset, headphone, or other listening device. (b) This section shall not apply to: *** (2) Any person operating a motorcycle who is using a headset installed in a helmet and worn so as to prevent the speakers from making direct contact with the user's ears so that the user can hear surrounding sounds.
South Carolina
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None
South Dakota
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None
Tennessee
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None
Texas
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None
Utah
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None
Vermont
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None
Virginia
Ü
§ 46.2-1078. Unlawful to operate motor vehicle ... while using earphones It shall be unlawful for any person to operate a motor vehicle ... on the highways in the Commonwealth while using earphones on or in both ears. For the purpose of this section, “earphones” shall mean any device worn on or in both ears that converts electrical energy to sound waves or which impairs or hinders the person's ability to hear, but shall not include (i) any prosthetic device that aids the hard of hearing, (ii) earphones installed in helmets worn by motorcycle operators and riders and used as part of a communications system, or (iii) nonprosthetic, closed-ear, open-back, electronic noise-cancellation devices designed and used to enhance the hearing ability of persons who operate vehicles in high-noise environments, provided any such device is being worn by the operator of a vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating of 26,000 pounds or more.
Washington
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46.37.480. Television viewers--Earphones *** (2) No person shall operate any motor vehicle on a public highway while wearing any headset or earphones connected to any electronic device capable of receiving a radio broadcast or playing a sound recording for the purpose of transmitting a sound to the human auditory senses and which headset or earphones muffle or exclude other sounds. This subsection does not apply to students and instructors participating in a Washington state motorcycle safety program. (3) This section does not apply to ... motorcyclists wearing a helmet with built-in headsets or earphones as approved by the Washington state patrol ....
West Virginia
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None
Wisconsin
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None
Wyoming
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None
City Municipal Codes
Bartlett, TN (near Memphis)
Ü
Kansas City, MO
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15-133 It shall be unlawful for any person, while driving or operating a vehicle on a public street or highway, to wear a radio/tape or any other type headset in or over their ears which would reduce their ability to hear the audible warning signals of any approaching emergency vehicle. Sec. 70-858. - Driving while wearing earplugs or headset. A person shall not drive a vehicle or bicycle with earplugs in both ears or while wearing a headset covering both ears.
Parma, OH
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331.46 Use of earphones while driving. (a) No person shall operate a motor vehicle while wearing earphones over, or earphones in, both ears. As used in this section, ‘earphones’ means any headset, radio, tape player, or other similar device that provides the listener with radio programs, music, or other audio information through devices that include, but not limited to, cell phones, iPades, iPods or other such devices that are attached to the head and that covers all or a portion of both ears. ‘Earphones’ does not include speakers or other listening devices that are built into protective headgear.
