Google Glass While Driving May be Banned in West Virginia

While the world eagerly awaits the arrival of Google Glass, West Virginia lawmakers are preparing to deal with a problem it might bring.

The Mountain State legislators have advanced on Friday a bill to ban the use of the wearable computer with a head-mounted display while driving a car.

The bill, introduced by Republican Gary G. Howell, seeks to include Google Glass in the same category of law that deals with texting while driving.

According to the GOP representative, the bill’s merit is sustained by a recent review of Google Glass by Cnet.

“[Google Glass] might pose a greater distraction to drivers,” Howell said.

Google Glass defendants, however, argue that the new technology will actually help prevent the danger related with texting while driving, since it allows the driver to keep his/her eyes on the road, thanks to voice commands.

Howell, however, is not buying it. It is his understanding that full attention at all times is required while driving and Google Glass may undermine that.

If the bill passes, Google Glass will belong to the same category as cell phones and other electronic devices which use are already prohibited while operating motor vehicles. In this sense, first time transgressors will be fined $100 – a fine that will ramp up to $200 and $300 in the second and third offense, respectively.

For the records, that’s by no means the first time that Google Glass has amassed to itself enemies. Not long ago, Seattle's 5 Point Café, pointing privacy concerns, announced it was banning the search giant’s eyewear.

"Part of this is a joke, to be funny on Facebook, and get reaction," Cafe reps wrote, Gizmodo reported. "But part of it is serious, because we don't let people film other people or take photos unwanted of people in the bar, because it is kind of a private place that people go."

Google wrote off the alleged privacy concerns as people overreacting to unfamiliar technology.