xv920
join:2002-08-27
Campbell, CA
| the "no suction cup on your windshield" law
In California it is illegal to attach anything on your windshield(except a rearview mirror basically).
26708. (a) (1) No person shall drive any motor vehicle with any object or material placed, displayed, installed, affixed, or applied upon the windshield or side or rear windows.
»www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/vctop/d12/vc26708.htm
So those portable GPS devices should be placed on your dashboard or somewhere else(I saw other mounts using air-vent, cupholder, and cigar-socket), but not on the windshield.
Okay, but is this law really enforced? I see a lot of people hang a GPS on the windshield. I haven't heard of any incident of actually getting a ticket for doing that among my friends and relatives. Has anybody really got this ticket ever?
I'm thinking about taking a chance. The device is so tiny that it can't obstruct your clear view of the road. I think putting it on the windsheild makes more sense because then you can always keep your head forward. If you used other methods like a vent mount, you would have to take your eyes off the road.
Do you know anybody who actually got a ticket for attaching a GPS device on the windshield? |
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DrewCapu
Giant Diehard
join:2001-12-19
California
clubs:
| I have a friend who got pulled over awhile back for speeding and the cop gave him a head's up that his windshield-mounted GPS would probably be a no-no at some point.
If you ask me, manufacturers need to make some kind of conversion kit available so that people can turn their windshield mounts into some kind of dashboard mount/stand.
I'm going to wait until GPSs are integrated into a windshield head's-up-display (HUD) 
The eyes on the road argument probably won't work since just about all (?) GPS devices have audio. |
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biff420
Premium
join:2002-01-26
Oakland, CA
 ·AT&T Yahoo
| reply to xv920
said by xv920  :In California it is illegal to attach anything on your windshield(except a rearview mirror basically).
26708. (a) (1) No person shall drive any motor vehicle with any object or material placed, displayed, installed, affixed, or applied upon the windshield or side or rear windows.
» www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/vctop/d12/vc26708.htm... Interesting, as most of us attach our FasTrak
transponders on the windshield. If they wanted to pull
a "revenue enhancement" stunt, they could ticket every
Fastrak user for starters.
»www.bayareafastrak.org/static/ab···rs.shtml
TOLL TAGS
The FasTrak® toll tags must be mounted properly before use. If the toll tags is not properly mounted, it may not work and may be unlawfully positioned*.
1. Clean placement area on inside of windshield with isopropyl (rubbing alcohol) and allow to dry.
2. Remove plastic tape from back of Velcro™ mounting strips on toll tags.
3. Position toll tags as illustrated below based on your mirror type.
4. Press toll tags firmly against the windshield glass.
DOH!  |
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DrewCapu
Giant Diehard
join:2001-12-19
California
clubs: | You didn't click the link.
fastrak (along with a bunch of other things) are ok. |
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MotherNature
Chile peppers are my heroin
Premium
join:2002-08-23
Fontana, CA
 ·RoadRunner Cable
| reply to biff420
My sister got a 225 dollar ticket from the CHP for not having her transponder attached to the windshield when she went through the automated toll plaza on the 73 toll road.
And today she got one for 275 bucks dismissed in court because her transponder didn't transpond when she went under the transmitter. IOW, the battery was dead. But the asswipe cop didn't care that she had a transponder that was properly mounted, he ticketed her anyway.
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The more things change, the more they suck. |
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bobrk
4180. Over moderated.
Premium
join:2000-02-02
San Jose, CA
·SONIC.NET
| reply to DrewCapu
said by DrewCapu :You didn't click the link. fastrak (along with a bunch of other things) are ok. You mean this part, right?
(b) This section does not apply to any of the following:
(1) Rearview mirrors.
(2) Adjustable nontransparent sunvisors which are mounted forward of the side windows and are not attached to the glass.
(3) Signs, stickers, or other materials which are displayed in a 7-inch square in the lower corner of the windshield farthest removed from the driver, signs, stickers, or other materials which are displayed in a 7-inch square in the lower corner of the rear window farthest removed from the driver, or signs, stickers, or other materials which are displayed in a 5-inch square in the lower corner of the windshield nearest the driver.
(4) Side windows which are to the rear of the driver.
(5) Direction, destination, or termini signs upon a passenger common carrier motor vehicle or a schoolbus, if those signs do not interfere with the driver's clear view of approaching traffic.
(6) Rear window wiper motor.
(7) Rear trunk lid handle or hinges.
(8) The rear window or windows, when the motor vehicle is equipped with outside mirrors on both the left- and right-hand sides of the vehicle that are so located as to reflect to the driver a view of the highway through each mirror for a distance of at least 200 feet to the rear of the vehicle.
(9) A clear, transparent lens affixed to the side window opposite the driver on a vehicle greater than 80 inches in width and which occupies an area not exceeding 50 square inches of the lowest corner toward the rear of that window and which provides the driver with a wide-angle view through the lens.
(10) Sun screening devices meeting the requirements of Section 26708.2 installed on the side windows on either side of the vehicle's front seat, if the driver or a passenger in the front seat has in his or her possession a letter or other document signed by a licensed physician and surgeon certifying that the person must be shaded from the sun due to a medical condition, or has in his or her possession a letter or other document signed by a licensed optometrist certifying that the person must be shaded from the sun due to a visual condition. The devices authorized by this paragraph shall not be used during darkness.
(11) An electronic communication device affixed to the center uppermost portion of the interior of a windshield within an area that is not greater than 5 inches square, if the device provides either of the following:
(A) The capability for enforcement facilities of the Department of the California Highway Patrol to communicate with a vehicle equipped with the device.
(B) The capability for electronic toll and traffic management on public or private roads or facilities.
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Iraq Coalition Deaths | bobrk |
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jstack
join:2001-12-09
Los Angeles, CA | reply to xv920
The Santa Monica Police Department police cars all have Nuvi 350s attached to the windshield. A little hypocritical? |
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PrntRhd
join:2004-11-03
Fairfield, CA | reply to xv920
It is legal to have a beanbag mount for a GPS on the dash.
It is legal to have a clip mount for a GPS to the dash air vent.
It is not legal to have the suction cup mount for a GPS on the windshield. |
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xv920
join:2002-08-27
Campbell, CA | reply to jstack
WTF!! Police cars? Are you kidding me. |
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bobrk
4180. Over moderated.
Premium
join:2000-02-02
San Jose, CA
·SONIC.NET
| reply to PrntRhd
said by PrntRhd :It is not legal to have the suction cup mount for a GPS on the windshield. Can you show it in the CVC?
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Iraq Coalition Deaths | bobrk |
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PrntRhd
join:2004-11-03
Fairfield, CA
·Comcast Formerly ..
·Comcast
| said by bobrk :said by PrntRhd :It is not legal to have the suction cup mount for a GPS on the windshield. Can you show it in the CVC? See the link in the OP's initial post:
»www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/vctop/d12/vc26708.htm |
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bobrk
4180. Over moderated.
Premium
join:2000-02-02
San Jose, CA
·SONIC.NET
| said by PrntRhd :said by bobrk :said by PrntRhd :It is not legal to have the suction cup mount for a GPS on the windshield. Can you show it in the CVC? See the link in the OP's initial post: » www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/vctop/d12/vc26708.htm Yeah, I posted about half of it earlier, but I didn't see anything about suction cups.
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Iraq Coalition Deaths | bobrk |
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OZO
Premium
join:2003-01-17
| reply to xv920
said by xv920 :Okay, but is this law really enforced? I see a lot of people hang a GPS on the windshield. Probably not. I've been driving last ten years with anti-radar attached to windshield with no problem.
It's a stupid law. Who made those? How I suppose to look at the GPS when I drive?
I can't put it on my dashboard. If it's not attached via a suction cup to low part of center of windshield, I have to put it under the dashboard, which obviously is a stupid thing to do. Especially taking into consideration that looking on it there while driving will be plain dangerous, and will not facilitate safe driving at all. But it will probably be in accordance with the law...
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Keep it simple, it'll become complex by itself... |
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Gbcue
Shiny
Premium
join:2001-09-30
Sacramento, CA
clubs:  | reply to xv920
New law!
»gpstracklog.typepad.com/gps_trac···use.html |
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DrewCapu
Giant Diehard
join:2001-12-19
California
clubs:
| reply to OZO
said by OZO :said by xv920 :Okay, but is this law really enforced? I see a lot of people hang a GPS on the windshield. How I suppose to look at the GPS when I drive? ...taking into consideration that looking on it there while driving will be plain dangerous Doesn't your GPS have audio? |
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RR Conductor
'Boarrrd
Premium
join:2002-04-02
Redwood Valley, CA
·Comcast
edit:
June 14th, @01:38AM
| reply to xv920
Both my dad and I use suction cup mounts for our GPS and cell phones, and have been passed by and next to many CHP cars and Police on our many trips around NorCal, and we've never been asked to remove them. I mount them where they can be easily seen, but low enough that they don't interfere with my view of the road.
I remember about 10 years ago I was stopped by a CHP for going a little too fast in a construction zone on Hwy.20 between Williams and Clearlake Oaks (the limit was 50, I was doing closer to 60, however, no constuction was going on at the time), I was on my way home to Redwood Valley from Sacramento. I remember he noticed my radar detector mounted on my windshield after telling me to slow down, but the only thing he said was to mount it a bit lower than I had it, and let me go without a ticket.
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»www.freightrailworks.org
»www.amtrak.com
»www.amtrakcalifornia.com
»www.metrolinktrains.com
»www.up.com
»www.bnsf.com
»www.aslrra.org/
»www.northcoastrailroad.org
»sonomamarintrain.org |
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RR Conductor
'Boarrrd
Premium
join:2002-04-02
Redwood Valley, CA
·Comcast
| reply to OZO
said by OZO :said by xv920 :Okay, but is this law really enforced? I see a lot of people hang a GPS on the windshield. Probably not. I've been driving last ten years with anti-radar attached to windshield with no problem. It's a stupid law. Who made those? How I suppose to look at the GPS when I drive? I can't put it on my dashboard. If it's not attached via a suction cup to low part of center of windshield, I have to put it under the dashboard, which obviously is a stupid thing to do. Especially taking into consideration that looking on it there while driving will be plain dangerous, and will not facilitate safe driving at all. But it will probably be in accordance with the law... Also, having devices like cell phones, gps and radar detectors securely mounted keeps them from flying around and causing injury in an accident.
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»www.freightrailworks.org
»www.amtrak.com
»www.amtrakcalifornia.com
»www.metrolinktrains.com
»www.up.com
»www.bnsf.com
»www.aslrra.org/
»www.northcoastrailroad.org
»sonomamarintrain.org |
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Shoreline
Your Freedom Fries Are Stale
join:2003-09-29
Santa Clara, CA
| reply to xv920
Huh?
I use a top-dashboard GPS device (Tomtom).
I didn't even realize there were people attaching their GPS via windshield suction. 
Anyways, I think part of the reason they made that law was probably because of the large amount of radar detectors.
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Moore/Alexander 2008 |
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Doug Collins
join:2000-09-30
Hermosa Beach, CA
·RoadRunner Cable
| reply to xv920
Re: the "no suction cup on your windshield" law
I wouldn't get too excited about this. The law in question was effective January 1, 1999. The last time I was pulled over by the CHP, like a fool I took my Escort Solo radar detector off the windshield and stuck it in the glove compartment. The officer had seen it and told me I don't have to hide it, that radar detectors are legal in California. Still gave me a ticket, but not for obstructing my windshield.
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Doug Collins
Hermosa Beach, California |
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Just Rachel
Old Dog Learning New Tricks
Premium
join:2003-07-10
Mccloud, CA | reply to xv920
I don't own any of those fancy things. I keep a map on the passenger seat when necessary. |
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