Illegal GPS mounting

I'm safely at home right now. At least on my laptop, there's an ad on the right hand side of the screen advertising Good Sam GPS units that mount on the dash.
At my age, I know that I can't walk and chew gum at the same time. I print paper maps off of Streets and Trips and refer to them at rest areas along my route. I have to stop to "rest" more often than I used to. :)

Water-Bug wrote:
I guess all those BMW drivers with HUD (Heads Up Display)on their windshields are going to be paying some fines.

A head up display does not block your windshield. It is information "projected" on to the glass similar to the HUD's in aircraft.

I find the idea of blocking the center of your windshield with a solid piece of equipment like the GPS to be really rather questionable. To put it politely.

I had no problem seeing around my windshield mounted GPS, and never got stopped. When the GPS kept falling down I bought a vent mount (haven't used it yet). Seems to me trying to see a lower left windshield mount would distract you even more, and I couldn't even focus on a far right windshield mount.

Mine is on the lower part of the windshield in the middle. The only thing beyond it is the hood. In no way does it block my view of the road.

Now I've seen people who actually have them directly in front of them, almost to the point they need to look around them to see. And some that just have them on just to have them on!

Mounted properly, they are just fine.

Bottom line, if its illegal don't do it. If its illegal and you still do it, don't be surprised that you get pulled over. If its illegal and you still do it and you get pulled over and don't get a ticket, be happy about it.

The law is there for a reason. If you can't see a pedestrian walking in a crosswalk because you have your GPS there, its YOUR FAULT. It is a common sense rule. Since people can't be trusted to employ common sense, the state legislators had to make it a law.

HOw would I know if it was illegal? In my home state there are no laws concerning placement of GPS. SInce my vehicle is registered in NY and I am licensed in NY shouldn't reciprocity cover me?

Alan_Hepburn wrote:

donn0128 wrote:
Yea, illegal anywhere on the windshield in CA too.

If your CA refers to California, then you're mistaken - California specifies that a GPS can be mounted in the lower left corner of the windshield, so that it doesn't obstruct vision. Now, if your CA refers to Canada I'll let current Canuckian residents respond...

Correct. Lower left on windshield is OK in Calif.

DW has the GPS on her armrest, and keeps me updated as we travel.

I don't ever have to take my focus off the road to check the GPS.

However, I regularly check my mirrors, all the instruments on the dash, and the rear view camera video (also on the dash) which does take my focus off the road and traffic ahead for moments.

IMHO the mirrors require taking my attention away from the road ahead more than anything else, including how much the GPS would if it were on the dashboard.

According to this website, mounting a GPS on a windshield is illegal in 28 states and 6 provinces. If you plan on doing a trip around the US or Canada, it would appear that you either need to know the law in each state or province, or always keep it off the windshield to be safe.

pitch wrote:
HOw would I know if it was illegal? In my home state there are no laws concerning placement of GPS. SInce my vehicle is registered in NY and I am licensed in NY shouldn't reciprocity cover me?

Use common sense. If you have your GPS mounted somewhere that obstructs your vision out of your windows, it is illegal. Whether or not there is a specific charge for GPS, it is always illegal to have anything obstruct your view.

From New York State Vehicle Traffic Code;
S 1213. Obstruction to driver's view or driving mechanism. (a) No person shall drive a motor vehicle when it is so loaded, or when there are in the front seat such number of persons as to obstruct the view of the driver to the front or sides of the vehicle or as to interfere with the driver's control over the driving mechanism of the vehicle.

By the way, reciprocity applies to vehicle equipment and temporarily mounted items such as a radar detector or GPS unit do not qualify as equipment. If New York allowed a dark tint, reciprocity covers that. If New York allowed a modified exhaust system, reciprocity covers that. GPS, maximum speed limit, etc are not covered.

I don't understand the need to have a GPS mounted to a windshield at all. I use my phone's GPS. They talk to you. They actually won't leave you alone.

"In a quarter mile, turn right on Main St"
"In 500 feet, turn right on Main St"
"Turn right on Main St"
"Continue for 2 miles on Main St".

No need to have it up in my window obstructing my view, the GPS talks to you.