Cantillon: When is a phone not a phone?

When is a phone not a phone? When you are using it as a SatNav, of course. In another example of laws struggling to keep up with technology, a Californian court has ruled that it’s okay to look at a map app on a smartphone while driving.

While talking and texting on a mobile phone while driving will land you a fine in California, using maps on your smartphone is not a problem. That was the conclusion of a state appeals court which found that drivers can use maps on their smartphones without risking a ticket.

The ruling stems from a legal challenge by Steven Spriggs, a Californian who was fined $165 for using the map on an iPhone while driving.

In their 18-page ruling, the judges said Californian law prohibits people from talking on their mobile phones without a hands-free device but it does not apply to looking at maps on mobile phones.

The case follows another where a Californian motorist was fined for using Google Glass while driving, in violation of a ban on using TV and video screens that can be seen by the driver.

The court dismissed the ticket, ruling that although in principle Google Glass qualified as a banned device, the law could only apply if officers could prove it was in use while driving. In this case the court said there was no proof the device was operating at the time the motorist was pulled over.

However, using your phone while driving will not be an issue soon. Tech giant Apple is expected to unveil a new integrated iPhone voice-control system at the Geneva Motor Show this week.

CarPlay will allow drivers to control their iPhones via touch and voice, enabling them to access contacts stored on the iPhone, make calls, return missed calls or listen to voicemails without taking their hands from the steering wheel. Drivers will also be able to dictate text messages, listen to music and use maps.