What does &quot;resting on&quot; mean in Vehicle Code 27400 VC (drivers aren&#39;t allowed to wear headphones in California)?
<p>The California state law <a href="http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=VEH&amp;sectionNum=27400." rel="nofollow noreferrer">Vehicle Code 27400 VC</a> (<a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20190717052331/http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=VEH&amp;sectionNum=27400." rel="nofollow noreferrer">mirror</a>) states that:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>A person operating a motor vehicle or bicycle may not wear a headset covering, earplugs in, or earphones covering, <strong>resting on</strong>, or inserted in, both ears. </p>
</blockquote>

<p>What does "resting on" mean? Does that mean touching? Covering more than x % of the ear? etc.</p>

<p>I believe it refers to the fact that some earphones are built in such away that they hook over the top of the ear (a common feature in earphones designed for fitness as those without the hook may become loose) or a feature where the speaker can swing away from the ear for better listening to a person.   Additionally, it is entirely possible to not have earphones covering you ear and still perfectly hear the sound from the device due to it's general proximity to the ear drum.</p>

<p>The reason for this ban is because there are several audio cues that are required for safely driving a vehicle.  Earphones may prevent you from hearing a siren of an emergency vehicle, the beep of a horn from a car that you are about to accidentally merge into, or the distinct beeping of a reversing truck to warn people in it's driver's blind spot.  </p>

united-states california driving