States where GPS is illegal

California allows attachment to the windshield in the lower left and lower right corners of the windshield. Hands free is mandatory when driving in the Golden State.

Arizona has no regulation on cell phone use or GPS placement. However, common sense says if you can, get the unit in a spot easily visible to the driver but not in the line of site which is usually the left lower quarter (bean bag mounts are handy there).

Cheers

Have any studies been done on GPS/PND units and crashes? I'm more concerned about that then sudden enforcement of windshield laws in NJ etc. I assume most crashes would involve a sudden forward stop, so the PND would hit the windshield first. But a ricocheting Nuvi or a side impact that causes the PND to fly into a passenger's or driver's face wouldn't be fun either.

I have a windshield mount, a beanbag, and a panel mount. I much prefer the panel mount, it doesn't get in the way, is easy to see, and the unit stays cool. My unit temps can easily exceed 60 C when placed on top of the instrument panel. The suction cup is best for traveling and rental car use.

Thanks!

Thank you for all of the contributions, advice and personal experience. It all helps everyone to make the best decision for themselves. I'm relocating mine to be a bit more in my view. I got a mount that will put it on the vent.

Look here: http://www.poi-factory.com/node/34521

@Strephon_Alkhalikoi

Thanks for putting this together. I moved it into the official FAQ section and linked it to the start of this discussion topic.

Jonathan

GPS are legal in Illinois. The law you referenced is in regards to window tint.

This is from my Rules of the Road book for Illinois.

New Laws Effective January 1, 2010

A driver may not type, send or read a text message while operating a motor vehicle, except if the vehicle is parked on the shoulder of a roadway and the gear shift is in the neutral or park position. GPS systems and navigational equipment are exempt.

There is nothing anywhere saying that it cannot be mounted on the windshield. Illinois also allows radar detectors, as long as it's not a commercial vehicle.

You're absolutely correct. I must have typed "no" when I meant to type "yes". So how do I go about fixing the FAQ?

@Strephon_Alkhalikoi

There should be an "edit" tab for you at the top of the FAQ page. If not, send me a note and I'll have to see why it's not showing.

JM

In New Mexico, I've never heard of a law regarding the placement of GPS units on the windscreen (windshield) or anywhere else.

Regarding the use of cell phones WITHOUT a hands-free device, this is currently regulated on a local basis. As I write this, it is illegal to use such a device in Albuquerque, Santa Fe, Las Cruces, and perhaps one or two other communities. Use on the Inter-State Freeways through those communities is exempted as a practical, rather than legal matter.

I hope this helps.

The relevant statute for each state in the FAQ is linked. New Mexico prohibits non-transparent items on the windshield. Therefore, by the letter of the law you can in fact be fined for having the GPS on the windshield.

In some states such a thing is a secondary enforcement issue, meaning the officer has to have a primary reason, speeding for example, to pull you over. GPS on the windshield can then be added to the speeding ticket.

I just spoke with an officer from the Illinois State police. He said as long as the GPS unit does not obstruct your view, it is okay. He also stated that that's probably how the Illinois Tollway gets away with using transponders attached to the windshield. They are not obstructing the view. He referred to Illinois Law, 625 ILCS 5/12‑503) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 12‑503 c.)

(c) No person shall drive a motor vehicle with any objects placed or suspended between the driver and the front windshield, rear window, side wings or side windows immediately adjacent to each side of the driver which materially obstructs the driver's view.

Virginia may have a restriction of having it on the dash, I am not completely sure

Thats the first time that I heard of that happening out here.

They are mostly concentrating heavily on driving while texting and/or having your phone in your ear, driving without a seatbelt on, children not in proper carseats, tinted windows, and as a side note...parking tickets for about anything they can get you for.

There are several potential reasons for it:

1) Califonia is broke and tickets are an easy revenue generator. The judge will ALWAYS side with the officer unless you have video proof to the contrary.

2) On rare occasions, if the officer is training a rookie, he will give you a ticket he would normally not hand out to make a point to the rookie that THEY hold all the cards and can get away with whatever they want to.

3) Some sections of freeway are so-called training grounds for rookies when they fly free on their own, and they can sometimes be really overzealous in ticket writing to make themselves look good to their superiors.

4) They either are suspicious of you or for whatever other reason they want to get a closer look at you and see what you are up to, or if it is a cute girl, to flirt with her.

I have been driving in CA for 36 years and I have seen few other reasons for something like this. Even going 80 in a 65 doesnt always get ticketed if you are in a group and all doing 80. The one that stands out is the one that always gets it!

Stay safe all!

Let me ask you a question: do you go out of your way to ignore what I have to say? I'm quite curious, because you seemed to ignore the post wherein I said to you, and I quote:

That was posted 27 minutes after your post on 9/25/11 that highlights the error I made. The FAQ did not get corrected until earlier today due to the server malfunctions that the site was dealing with. However, it has been corrected and it was unnecessary to ask an Illinois police officer one way or another since I accepted your original statement as true.

In any event, in generating the FAQ I deliberately limited myself to the letter of the law for two reasons.

1. Erring on the side of caution ensures that you're most able to avoid getting dinged.
2. Selective enforcement of the law, as noted in the Synopsis of the FAQ.

I'm not looking for interpretations. I'm looking for facts, and the only facts I have available to me are the laws of the various states, provinces, and territories. I would rather say "no" for a particular state then to find out that you got dinged for having a GPS up on the windshield when it shouldn't be, as noted in the example case linked in the FAQ. The FAQ that I'm not sure you read.

I did not go out of my way to ignore you. In fact, I didn't ignore you at all. I did not see the message you responded to me with. I don't know about you, but when the thread gets to two pages long, it doesn't flow the way I'd expect. To go to the more recent posts, I have to go to page 2, then scroll all the way down. I scroll up from there, instead of from the top down. I thought I started where we left off, but I guess not? My apologies.

If you use the "unread posts" link, you can click on a thread and it will take directly to the first post you have not read. It works much better than trying to navigate individual threads.

It simply appeared as if you were "rubbing it in" with the second post and I took offense. I was out of line, so while I accept your apology, will you accept mine?

Looking at the question as asked, ie: "States where GPS is illegal", I don't know of any state where the GPS itself is "ILLEGAL" do you?

Nuvi1300WTGPS

They are in fact legal in every state though the conversation shifted to where the GPS can be located in the car. Washington DC though prohibits all electronic devices unless they are equipped with a hands-free device. Now, the intent I believe was to prevent texting, cell phone, and computer use behind the wheel. But the law as written in fact prohibits GPS receivers except for units that have voice recognition technology, a hands-free device.

However, you misread the OP's question. He specifically asks about the legality of GPS receivers on the windshield.

I am in Tucson and have an 03 Frontier with 12,000 miles and was wondering about the flip tray you mentioned. Can you give any more info and would it work for a 3790?

I mount mine on the front of my in dash ridio screen and it works very well.

Do you mean all electronic devices, or just those that aren't built into the car? A radio is an electronic device.

A pacemaker is probably one, too. (Edit: pacemakers probably qualify under the hands free exemption.)

I suspect your realize that your quoting a post that's almost a year and a half old.

dash is the best legal friendly place.

It's funy that they don't allow things on the windshield or dashboards because they restrict the field of vision.

Next time you see a Police car, take a look at all the garbage they have blocking their vision.... Radar guns, Globe lights, shotgun barrels sticking up, clipboards etc.

Hmmm... maybe their training allows them to see thru those items unlike us mere mortals.

You'd be amazed at all the obstructions inside an officers patrol car. Every time I go on ride alongs through my newspaper job, I'm amazed at how they can see anything.

Just took a defensive driver course in NYC. GPS is legal in New York but it is illegal to use the GPS while operating the vehicle (eg can only use the gps while parked).

for one of our vehicles. Although due to so many different dash shapes, materials, and configurations in cars, however, you sort of have to get creative in finding a permissible location that will work for your particular attachment system.

I have been a paramedic for 20+ years and I have never seen a wreck because of a GPS and have only seen 1 injury from a flying GPS after the couple got tboned. The GPS flew across the driver and bloodied his nose a little. I think all of the laws pertaining to GPS mounts are rediculous and are overstepping the powers of the government.
It isn't illegal to talk to people in the car, yell at your children, or eat a hamburger!
Texas is legal to drive with a gps, only law here to worry about is driving through school zones. You can't use a cell phone and I think that includes handsfree.

NYC is crazy. Whats the point of having one if you can't use it while the vehicle is in motion?

What is means is that the driver cannot touch the GPS unit (ie enter information, press buttons, etc.) while the vehicle is in motion.

It is okay for the passenger to touch the GPS unit.

It is okay for the GPS unit to be navigating while the vehicle is in motion.

I got a $200 ticket. 1st time offense. Pebble Beach, California.

California has a distracted driving statute, I'm willing to guess.

If you get a vent mount then you don't have to concern yourself if windshield mounts are legal - problem solved.

Not everyone likes vent mounts. Some people like beanbags and some people actually use the dash disk that you ruin your car's dashboard with.

On a serious note, getting an alternative mount is very sound advice. Knowing where you can use the GPS on the windshield however is very important, since every GPS made includes a suction cup mount.

Just a repair/warning

Maybe they were being extra careful when they told you this. But reading the actual text of the law (see http://www.safeny.ny.gov/phon-vt.htm ) it doesn't seem like a GPS is subject to the definition of a "Portable Electronic Device" for the purpose of that section of the law. According to NYS law, the definition is:

Perhaps it would be best to call the police and ask them for clarification but it seems it should be ok to use a GPS.

Many other states have no-texting/distracted driving laws and some of then have actual wording in the law that excludes personal navigation devices.

have you ever been ticketed in NJ for a GPS mounted on windshield? our cars with GPS mounted to windshield (using suction cup), right above dash board in bottom center of windshield that is, never have been ticketed, many years in NJ, traveling all across East Coast as well (down to Florida)

on a side note, a stupid NJ Inspection sticker is not transparent and is taking the view from bottom left portion of windhsield, shouldn't they ticket/sue NJ Inspection stations (or legislature) because of that?

never a problem around here. personally I use my cell phone suction mount in bottom center part of Windshield, and when I also use a GPS on my car I put it on the left from steering wheel (yea, sometimes I drive with both gizmos sucked to windshield) ... no problem when traveling from Florida to NJ/NY area, perhaps I broke the law, I don't know, but since I wasn't caught then I don't care LOL! I would have a good argue about it with either the police officer or in court.

These tickets are generally discretionary. If you tick off the cop you get the ticket. So be nice.

http://www.rd.com/slideshows/6-tricks-to-avoiding-speeding-t...

I liked the advise to wave at police officer.

Use all your fingers, not just one.

I was just reading driving laws for California. You may want to check out www.drivinglaws.aaa.com and look under California/vehicle & equipment rules / Telematics. It reads as follows: " It is unlawful to drive a motor vehicle equipped with a television receiver, a video monitor, or a television or video screen, or any other similar means of usually displaying a television broadcast if the receiver is located in the vehicle at any point forward of the back of the driver’s seat. GPS navigation systems that are mountable on the windshield or the dashboard are permitted, as are systems designed to prevent the driver from viewing them. There is also an exemption for video event recorders that have the capability of monitoring driver performance, if mounted in specific locations. ". There's also info for other states.

Perhaps you ought to read the FAQ a little more closely, since within it is a link wherein I provide a case example of someone in New Jersey who was in fact ticketed for having a GPS mounted on the windshield. Just because it hasn't happened to you doesn't make it legal.

But, just because it seems to be common for you and other people out on the Internet to not actually read documents and pages, yet again the following things need to be kept in mind regarding the FAQ:

• It's not a substitute for legal advice.
• Legality is determined by the letter of the law and the doctrine of "everything not expressly forbidden is allowed".
• Personal experiences do not trump the law. In other words, just because you use your GPS on the windshield daily without being pulled over does not necessarily make it legal in your state or province.

One last thing: the FAQ by design is not subject to interpretation. If you want an interpretation, go talk to a lawyer.

Maybe that is why it hasn't worked.

ALL Fruits & Nuts in CA so I guess it makes about as much sense as anything else from the state...

Might be Illegal where you mount them and how/when the driver touches them or changes them but not illegal to have them just operating in the car.

yeah, I understand what you are saying man, but I've been living here for 8 years and none of my family nor friends actually think (or know) about this law... in fact nearly 90% of cars here have GPS mounted to windhshield in bottom center with a suction cup.

Thing is that police do not stop for that, not alone for that at least unless someone behaves like a dick on the road. I believe this violation is kinda dead on their list like broken brake light or let's say cracked windshield or loose seatbelt and they will surely add it on the list when they pull over for something else (e.g. a traffic violation) but they won't do this just for this thing alone ...

Just saying, there's many laws that never get enforced here, because they make not much sense in real life with all the traffic, lack of space, rush hours and so on and cops know about it ... good example is prohibited street parking on streets in certain townships (residential areas) in business hours unless you have a residential sticker on side window ... never seen cars without it being ticketed because of that ... not unless you are standing by the yellow curb (means no parking plainly), but that's a different violation, similar to parking where the street cleaning takes place or too close to the stop sign or pedestrian cross walk. reason is simple, everybody does that, because there is no space to leave cars anywhere else, same goes for GPS on windshield, everybody does that because everybody gets a windshield suction cup with the device (and also becuase since you keep mostly eyes on road that's where you can easily see the GPS without distraction), so cops don't care much about it ... unless you are breaking other (more important) laws ... that's what I meant, just my 2 cents.

of course you will disagree, fine with me. maybe I will change my mind when/IF I get such ticket, don't really care about that ... useless laws that not even cops enforce ... again, just my opinion.