You should have listened through one of those single bud phone headsets. Dude would have just thought you were on the phone.

FM radio tuners suck, tons of static. Don't waste your money.

" @KaosAngel said:

" @zityz said:

"  At least you wern't texting on your phone whilst driving. That's worse. "

Dude, there's no problem with texting.  I do it all the time, and when I'm in downtown...I can connect to Comcast over the city WiFi and I place my laptop on my lap while I drive.  It's safe if you know what you're doing and it's important when I have a law paper due that day and whatnot.  Plus my car automatically stops if I'm about to hit something, as I found out one night.   "

I always write university essays on my laptop while driving though a residential estate at night at 80 MPH while playing on my DS on the side. Its safe if you know how. "

" I don't see how headphones are that different from a car stereo that's turned way up, to be honest.  A lot of people do that, why are headphones being targeted? "

" I didn't even know this was an offense. "

I have a friend that drives around listen to his music with headphones on, surprised he has yet to be pulled over for it.

I'm surprised nobody knows the real reason you aren't supposed to drive with headphones on. From what I remember of drivers education it was because you need to be able to hear emergency vehicles.

I did not know this myself but i would not think it is unreasonable for it to be a law. but the fact that so many people here are giving to such a hard time seems a little unfair. Its not like anyone here is a perfect driver or has done everything by the book. So i would sweeten up your criticism before damning someone.  i think it was a bit unsafe but nothing half as worse as textin or talking on the phone while driving. Come on I have seen people do thing far worse in my time of driving then using headphones. 
 
All i would say is you live and you learn, the police have many laws they can enforce some are needed others are to be a dick. So you learn what you should and should not do by your actions and i agree 55 bucks is a light slap on the wrist and sure the cop could have been nicer but i would say your still pretty lucky. I think a no seat belt fine is around 100 bucks now so i think 55 is not too bad.

Depends on if they're open or closed earphones.  Also the noise canceling.
 
I always use open earphones because I don't like not being able to hear my surroundings.  It's no worse than using a stereo or other speakers.  If I got a fine for using them I'd be pissed.

" FM radio tuners suck, tons of static. Don't waste your money. "

From what I understand its so that you don't have loss of awareness which would constitute a public hazard.  Also the aforementioned you need to hear Police or ambulance sirens and pull over.
 
More than likely though, the Cop was just trying to make an example and scare you into not doing it again.

Sounds stupid to me.  Don't pay it, take them to court and fight it.  Get you for anything these days.

Are deaf people not allowed to drive? Surely their hearing is impaired as it gets.

" @zityz: It's not magic and only works for city driving.  The GPS in the car knows when I'm in the city and the driver assist icon pops up, and knows when I'll be waiting for minutes on a light, and knows when to stop when I press on the gas.  >.>  That's not magic, and it's safer because I know when to look back up at my dash to make sure everything is okay.  I'm well aware of my area and know not to abuse it, plus when I text on the highway, I put my phone up to my wheel so I'm always looking.  I'm no teenage punk that takes safety for granted. "

" @KaosAngel said:

" @zityz said:

"  At least you wern't texting on your phone whilst driving. That's worse. "

Dude, there's no problem with texting.  I do it all the time, and when I'm in downtown...I can connect to Comcast over the city WiFi and I place my laptop on my lap while I drive.  It's safe if you know what you're doing and it's important when I have a law paper due that day and whatnot.  Plus my car automatically stops if I'm about to hit something, as I found out one night.   "

A) Texting while driving is statistically as bad or worse (I can't remember off the top of my head, I had to attend some seminar on this) than drunk driving. B) Other cars don't have the magic stopping device, when they're hitting you.   Anyway, you can actually listen to an iPod with one earbud in. Little known fact. "

" @zityz said:

"  At least you wern't texting on your phone whilst driving. That's worse. "

Dude, there's no problem with texting.  I do it all the time, and when I'm in downtown...I can connect to Comcast over the city WiFi and I place my laptop on my lap while I drive.  It's safe if you know what you're doing and it's important when I have a law paper due that day and whatnot.  Plus my car automatically stops if I'm about to hit something, as I found out one night.   "

That's kind of stupid for wearing your headphones while driving.  You need to be able to hear sirens and such.   
 
Either way, $55 is pretty lenient.  

" @zityz said:

"  At least you wern't texting on your phone whilst driving. That's worse. "

Dude, there's no problem with texting.  I do it all the time, and when I'm in downtown...I can connect to Comcast over the city WiFi and I place my laptop on my lap while I drive.  It's safe if you know what you're doing and it's important when I have a law paper due that day and whatnot.  Plus my car automatically stops if I'm about to hit something, as I found out one night.   "

That seems fairly obvious to me. And i don't even drive a car, man.

Thinking it's okay to drive with headphones shows you haven't been driving for very long.  
 
I've been driving for 10 years now, and I clearly understand that headphones are much better at canceling out noise than the car stereo.  Your ears are enclosed in the headphones, but they aren't when the car stereo is being used.  Although a loud car stereo isn't the best for driving either, the chances you'll hear the firetruck or anything else is better than the chances you'd hear it with headphones. 
 
That's why it's dangerous to use headphones.  I wouldn't want to be anywhere near a person who uses headphones while driving.  My life would be in danger.  

You're driving. When you have headphones, not only is it harder to focus on driving, but you can't hear anything around you. You know, if a car honks or something? You shouldn't be wearing headphones for any reason. You're putting yourself and other drivers at risk. Just accept the fine.

I didn't know this was an offense, but I find it funny that people think it's not a big deal and think it's no worse than listening to your stereo turned up. Ear phones are like ear plugs,except what they lack in blocking noise they make up for by pumping music into into your ears.  
 
Overconfident drivers are just as dangerous as incompetent ones.

After Google searching multiple sources I found that deaf people are in fact allowed to drive. Double standard?

" Who the hell drives with headphones on?    That is dangerous as all fuck.  In my Mercedes, my iPhone automatically connects into the dock so I can just stream the movies, songs, and other media from my car's dashboard.  Look into buying a dock for your car or something...but damn man, please tell me you don't live in the North Eastern of USA.  Why do you listen to headphones?! "

" After Google searching multiple sources I found that deaf people are in fact allowed to drive. Double standard? "

That is dangerous and stupid....honestly I think you should have gotten a bigger fine.

" @EkajArmstro: One is voluntary deafness, the other is not. Moron. "

" Sounds stupid to me.  Don't pay it, take them to court and fight it.  Get you for anything these days. "

" @EkajArmstro: One is voluntary deafness, the other is not. Moron. "

" @ajamafalous:  Deaf people can see and hear the flashing lights coming of a fire engine or a police car. People with headphones can as well. However, people with headphones can take them outand hear them coming in addition to seeing them. You're voluntarily giving yourself a disability. If anything deaf people are safer drivers because they're overcompensating for something they've had all their life. Your analogy might stand if they let blind people drive. A more astute one might be if someone wore glasses that made them partially sighted, and less able to drive. "

I think it's justified. 
 
You could spend less than $55 on something that allows you to listen to your iPod through your car stereo.

What's the opposite of bogus? 
That.  

" @arab_prince said:

" Wtf? I don't know what I am more shocked by, the fact that you got ticketed, or the fact that people here feel you deserved it.   I have never heard of this offense. If you can use a phone while you drive, they suggest hands free methods. Besides a bluetooth base and speakerphone, any other option will include something being in your ear. Also, playing music loudly isn't an offense is it? This makes no sense. I too use my ipod at times, specifically for the bombcast. My car doesn't have an aux jack and all the radio transmitters I used are shit.   The fact that he ticketed you when it is your first offense is also quite strange. I feel for you OP. "

Well... I live on a Military Base and the safety regulations are strict as fuck.  All bikers MUST wear a Helmet, Joggers MUST wear reflective clothing or vests, music volumes are regulated based upon how clearly someone can hear you at a certain distance...   I can't imagine there are bullshit regulations like this in the civilian world. "

" You need to hear while driving. Its justified. "

People seriously didn't know you couldn't use headphones and drive? Baffled.

alright i'll offer some real advice for the OP.
 
 
invest in a hood.

I'm going to disagree with the majority, and say that this is a load of crap. It's certainly not against the law here to drive with headphones in your ears, and I don't see why it should be. I've been driving for about 10 years now, and I have never run into any problems because I was wearing headphones. But maybe that's because I actually pay attention to the road; you know, do more than just look straight ahead.  
  
Oh, and in case anyone is wondering: I wear in-ear headphones, and I still hear sirens and shit just fine.

Be glad you only got a $55 fine and didn't instead hit another car or something due to not having your full attention on the road and end up spending a lot more for repairs, insurance, lawsuits etc. If you're listening to the podcast, it's not like music where there's just sort of a groove and you don't need to pay much attention to get anything out of it, and if you're not really paying attention to the podcast itself, then why listen at all? Simply put, don't be a fucking asshole and listen to headphones while driving.

Its pretty dangerous, you need to be able to hear your surroundings and having headphones in is MUCH worse than having strio turned up well high.

Hmm. I'm unsure about this one. At first I thought maybe he thought you were using one of those wireless thingies for when you're on the phone, but I actually think they are legal. And if they are legal, and in my opinion much more distracting than listening to a radio station on your headphones, I don't understand why you'd be pulled over. Plus people listen to music way too loud all the time so being told it's because you can't hear is a bit odd. Also, I'm pretty sure deaf people are allowed to drive. So the whole not hearing people screaming thing is a bit hmm!