Yes, you can get a ticket for using Apple Watch while driving

By

post-324080-image-8f4d80ba1900b3338af2375c45e08aa1-jpg
Don't Digital Touch and drive.

Everyone knows that talking on your cellphone while driving will get you a ticket in most places, but one driver in Canada recently found himself taking heat from the police after he was caught tapping his Apple Watch while behind the wheel.

According to a report from CTV News, police in Quebec gave Jeffery Macesin a $120 fine and four demerit after he was seen using his Apple Watch to change music.

“There was a cop car behind me and he didn’t have his lights on yet, but then he turned them on and I thought maybe he just wanted me to get out of the way. I was just confused,” said Macesin, who was using the Music glance on Apple Watch to control the music playing on his iPhone though the car stereo.

Macesin describes himself as “one of those crazy lunatic” Apple fans who jumped at the chance to pre-order the Apple Watch. He had no idea he was breaking the law at the time he was pulled over, but police slapped him with a ticket, citing Section 439.1 of the Quebec Highway Safety Code that reads: “No person may, while driving a road vehicle, use a hand-held device that includes a telephone function.”

Technically, Macesin wasn’t using a telephone. He was using a wrist-worn devices that connects through a phone, similar to Bluetooth headsets and other devices which are actually legal. The Quebec Highway Safety code leaves smartwatches in a grey area, but Macesin plans to contest the ticket and says he may even hire a lawyer to take up the case.

Source: CTV

Newsletters

Daily round-ups or a weekly refresher, straight from Cult of Mac to your inbox.

  • The Weekender

    The week's best Apple news, reviews and how-tos from Cult of Mac, every Saturday morning. Our readers say: "Thank you guys for always posting cool stuff" -- Vaughn Nevins. "Very informative" -- Kenly Xavier.