Warning for travel in IL

Especially in these tough times they'll do anything for a buck.

Have you ever looked into a police squad car to see all of the distractions both blocking the view out the windshield and those that don't but are still distractions?

They have laptop computers, radar detectors and even video camera's all blocking some of the vision out the windshield.

Have you ever noticed the amount of crap hanging on the rear view mirror is directly related to the age of the driver.

Anyhow I think this enforcement is a stretch.

Flip

I will not give up my fuzzy dice....

Its like my Dad used to tell me -
"Do as I say not as I do!"

We are the peon's they are the peeEE'S. Give them
the power and they will use it against us.

Welcome to the Peoples Republic of Illinois!

I live in Chicago and I have both the windshield mound and dash (or beanbag) mount for my GPS. I know the windshield mount is illegal in a few states, so when I drove to Calif, I used the beanbag mount. Is the windshield mount now illegal in Illinois? Or are these overzealous officers interpreting their version of obstruction?
I'll stick with the dash mount to avoid harassment

Well, they are aren't they?

The Trib article says:
'An increasing number of drivers are being cited for windshield and window obstructions, which can include anything an officer deems to "materially obstruct" a driver's vision.'

The cop can cite you, but the state's attorney would have to prove to the judge that there is a materially obstruction to vision. That's like getting a ticket where the cop says "he looked like he was going too fast." Most laws are not so subjective.

And no, they are not obstructive to my driving, as all my GPS covers is a view of my fender.

I have my GPS mounted on the lower dash with the disc. It is below dash height level and doesn't interfere at all.

As a bonus, I don't worry about thieves seeing the 'ring'. It's closer to me, the BT sounds better, and there's no worries about any obstructions.

Good for you, I wish all drivers did something similar. Too many are in the middle of the windshield.

And I'm told that "law abiding citizens have nothing to worry about."

Right.

interesting article - saw it when it came out. But, as long as you can prove that from your height, the GPS does not obstruct your view to the roadway -- it'd be fine.

Evidently, 'law abiding' may be the opinion of the officer.

"Driving is a privilege, and drivers should take every precaution," he said. Hanging anything from the rear-view-mirror "could be a dangerous if not deadly error," Vega said.

Honestly, is the crime rate so low in IL that they have nothing better to do? Gang violence is expanding in the suburbs, but rest assured, Grandma won't get away with having that GPS on her dashboard!

I expect to be traveling in Chicagoland, unfortunately, near Christmas. Appreciate the heads up.

That's ridiculous. my rearview mirror is an obstruction, i dont see them having those removed.

Relax everyone. The tribune had a slow news day and had to pad the paper with something sensationalistic. This law has been on the books forever. Most police officers (speaking from 30 years experience) could care less what is hanging from your mirror or what is on your dashboard or rear deck. There are a few, however, overzealous cops out there that like to screw with people. Like someone above me said, the prosecutors would have a hard time proving this up in court. Just use some common sense if you have to hang something from your mirror.

Oh wow, I guess I will have to take the crown out of the back window and the clinched fist off the dash board.

The only thing in my window is my radar detector-the GPS stays on the seat, since I use the voice to give me directions. I remember quite well when the woman got the ticket for the rosary beads, because my first thought was what a stroke the cop was for doing it. He sounded like the kind that would give a nun a ticket.

Glad to live in MI where they repealed this silly law. However I do frequently travel to IL...

It's just like the law IL past awhile back about not driving in the left lane for more then 1/2 a mile. I asked a state trooper, if you are sitting below the crest of a hill and I come over that hill in the left lane how do you know if I've been in the left lane for a tenth of a mile or ten miles? His reply was, don't know and I don't care, if the people in Springfield want to make dumb laws let them enforce them. I've got more important thins to do.

I thought the fist and crowns went out with the diamond in the back and the gangster lean!

Thanks for the memories!

It must be a super police state if the cops are driving around with radar detectors.

Sorry, in most..if not all states...patrol vehicles are exempt by state statute from some rules that apply to civilian motor vehicles. The same applies to vehicle operation statutes, although, department SOP's do apply rules officers must follow when operating a police vehicle.

Would using windshield visors be soon considered obstructing vision in IL also?

In my Camry, the radio has a large plastic face. I can't see what radio station I have tuned, but my GPS is within easy reach and below the line of the dash. Maybe the radio will crack some day.

Thanks for the heads up.

Wear a seat belt, don't speed. You should be OK. My personal peeve here in Illinois is people driving with one hand while making a turn. The other hand holds the phone to their ear.

I saw that I made a mistake after posting but I hoped no one would notice. Of course I meant Radar Gun.

The other mistake is consenting to a search of your vehicle. If the officer does not have probable cause they cannot search you. If you say yes all bets are off. Another misunderstood part of the law

This Illinois resident thinks this law is too vague to be enforceable, particularly if you are careful to place the GPS-beanbag on the dashboard in such a way that the obstruction to road vision is minimal, which I am careful to do. It's clearly safer to position it there than it is to put it down at the base of the middle console where you really have to take your eyes off the road to see it. And I believe most judges would agree. Still a hassle if you have to go to court for this alone, or if you're from out-of-the-area, and any court appearance is a roll of the dice you can lose.

Probable cause or consent is required to search more then what is considered the lungeable area of the vehicle. Meaning whatever the driver can reach while they are in the drivers seat. A locked glove compartment is off limits without a warrant or consent. If you do not give consent and no probable cause exists then the only other alternative is to impound the vehicle and apply for a warrant to search it. The kicker is.....if no probable cause to search it existed the chance of getting a warrant is not very good. The trunk is also off limits without consent PC or warrant.

So I assume that as long as my Garmin is beanbag mounted and only blocks the view of the dash, I should be OK. I am on my way to Chicago for the holiday and don't really want to incur the wrath of the local police.