Illinois smart glasses driving ban continues ongoing efforts to restrict the techs usage but I kinda agree with this one

Date:
Thu, 18 Jun 2026 20:00:00 +0000

Description:
Illinois smart glasses driving ban gives cops license to pull over anyone
fear some.

FULL STORY ======================================================================Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Threads Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter Illinois is set to ban smart glasses being used while driving The bill makes no distinction between
glasses with and without displays Many online fear that it gives cops too
much power to pull drivers over Illinois is poised to be the first US state
to ban smart glasses of any kind while youre driving. Importantly, the bill makes no distinction between smart specs with a display and those without.

Once Governor JB Pritzker approves the bill, people caught flouting the rules could face fines of $75 (or $150 for repeat offenses) and the possibility of misdemeanor or felony charges if involved in a serious crash while wearing smart glasses. Other states, such as New York, have proposed bills limiting smart glasses use while driving, but so far none have progressed as far as Illinois has though that could soon change if states decide to take Illinois lead. Latest Videos From Watch full video here:

The hope is that this proposal will make roads safer by reducing distractions for drivers. Helpful or a distraction? (Image credit: Rokid) While theres possibly some advantage of drivers having, say, navigation on a HUD in front of them to find their destination which is something Amazon is hoping to offer its delivery drivers with its own smart glasses attempting to text
chat or watch a video on your glasses while driving is a terrible idea. You may like Pennsylvanian lawmakers want new smart glasses safety rules I love
my Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses but this summer Im giving up on them Modders
are disabling the Meta Ray-Bans most important safety feature

So, to discourage this kind of dangerous driving, its perhaps safer to just ban smart glasses and avoid any possibility of temptation. Safer, but for
who? (Image credit: Google) While many can agree that having a display distracting you while you drive isnt ideal, some are questioning why non-display glasses which are completely hands-free and boast zero visual distractions are included in the ban. Get daily insight, inspiration and deals in your inbox Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

Some have therefore wondered if theres an ulterior motive to Illinois smart glasses approach, or if its at least not very well thought out.

Over on Reddit one user pointed out that the law Gives cops license to pull over anyone and claim oh, i thought those were smart glasses which could be abused by bad actors to write invalid tickets with the user linking to a viral example of a cop using Floridas existing driver laws to pull over a woman for texting while driving using a phone in her right hand, and doubling down even when the woman shows she doesnt have a right hand.

Meanwhile, a commenter replying to Gizmodo s coverage of this story said the rules have Nothing to do with driver safety. Everything to do with law enforcement not wanting to be recorded, as its much easier to record police with your smart glasses than holding up a phone. What to read next Apples rumored Meta Ray-Bans rivals could tempt me to switch here's why Meta just debuted a duo of new AI glasses style in its Ray-Ban smart specs Here are 3 Google I/O 2026 Android XR smart glasses announcements I want (Image credit: Meta) On the flip side, Illinois does have precedent for banning audio distractions; headphones, earbuds, or other headsets that play audio into
both ears are illegal under the states vehicle code. One-ear headsets are generally allowed, and there are exemptions for some professions and audio devices that improve hearing, like hearing aids.

Because audio can be a major distraction while driving you might not hear sirens if you have active noise cancellation turned on, for example even in places where it isnt expressly against the law, it is advised against, and
can work against you if youre caught in an accident while immersed in your music.

Smart glasses dont fully immerse you because they have open-ear audio, but their audio notifications and music playing into both of your ears could
cause a distraction.

Additionally, because the tech is evolving so quickly, creating nuanced carve-outs today might lead to legal disputes or confusion down the line, especially as lawmakers arent known for being particularly tech-savvy. Theres a simplicity to just banning smart glasses outright while driving. (Image credit: Amazon) Of course, these rules are just for one state, assuming they get signed into law at all, but smart glasses regulation seems to be on the agenda for a growing number of local and national governments in an attempt
to curb bad actors.

So dont be surprised if similar rules start being proposed in your local
area, and be sure to follow any new smart glasses rules that are introduced
if you like using a pair. Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds. Today's best Ray-Ban Meta Wayfarer (Gen 2) deals 330.96 View Deal 379 View Deal deal 379 View Deal Show more We check over 250 million products every
day for the best prices



======================================================================
Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/computing/virtual-reality-augmented-reality/illinois -smart-glasses-driving-ban-continues-ongoing-efforts-to-restrict-the-techs-usa ge-but-i-kinda-agree-with-this-one


--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A49 (Linux/64)
* Origin: tqwNet Technology News (1337:1/100)