A California appeals court ruled on Thursday that drivers can read maps on their phones without fear of legal repercussions.
The 5th District Court of Appeals reversed a previous case submitted by a Fresno man who received a ticket after he was caught looking at his phone to consult a map on the screen.
Driver Steven Spriggs was stopped by local police in January and ticketed $165 for taking a gander at his iPhone 4 while sitting in traffic.
Spriggs, who told the Associated Press that he does think some restrictions should be implemented on phone use while driving, stated that he believes the overall law needs some changes.
"We're distracted all the time," he told AP reporters. "If our distractions cause us to drive erratically, we should be arrested for driving erratically."
Spriggs first brought his ticket to traffic court, and lost, according to AP. He then appealed once more to a panel of three judges in Fresno County Superior Court, but didn't win again.
Spriggs tried a third time, with a legal representative working pro bono by his side.
The California judges wrote in their ruling that the law specifically bans citizens from talking on their handheld cellphones while driving, but that looking at maps on a mobile appears to be exempt.
According to AP, the legislation says that people cannot "listen and talk" on phones, but doesn't address any of the other ways people use their devices.
Driving and texting simultaneously, however, is still illegal under California law.
The State Attorney General's office is now tasked with deciding whether to appeal the ruling with the California Supreme Court, attorney Scott Reddie told AP.
Spriggs said this case is especially personal for him, since his son was hit by a driver who was talking on his phone. The boy reportedly broke his leg as a result of the incident.
